are you still glad you had 3 kids? now that they arne't babies?

[Anonymous]

Everyone always says having 3 is even harder when they are older than it is in the baby phase. Do you find that to be true? Do you wish you'd stayed with 2 kids instead of 3? Is life with 3 kids just harder than you imagined it would be? I just simply can't imagine that kids are harder then they are when they are toddlers! But maybe I'm just not yet in that phase and don't know how much harder it can get!

[Anonymous]

I have two teenage boys and a 10 year old daughter.

My oldest was an easy baby, toddler and kid. He is tough now. We are going through teenage issues much earlier than I would have thought. He requires a lot of supervision because he is smart, sneaky, and charming. I find it to be a deadly combination (literally).

My middle son was a very difficult baby and toddler. He didn't sleep through the night until he was 4 1/2. He was very needy and moody. Now that he is older, he is very easy. He does what he is suppose to do, doesn't argue much, and is very upfront and responsible.

My daughter was the easiest of the three during the baby and toddler stage. The verdict is still out on how her teenage years will be.

I do find raising teenagers to be more difficult. I was never up late at night worrying about my toddler's future.

[Anonymous]

I don't know anybody who says that 3 kids is harder as they get older. I'll be honest, there was a particular period in their babyhood where I seriously wondered if I had gone mad having 3. Now they are older - all are in school - and it's great. They are so much fun to be with, even my middle schooler. Seeing their love for each other (don't get me wrong, they fight like crazy sometimes) is even better.

The only downside to 3 is that travel becomes logistically harder - we just graduated to paying more for giant hotel suites or two rooms - and everything is more expensive. That said, I wouldn't trade it at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have two teenage boys and a 10 year old daughter.

My oldest was an easy baby, toddler and kid. He is tough now. We are going through teenage issues much earlier than I would have thought. He requires a lot of supervision because he is smart, sneaky, and charming. I find it to be a deadly combination (literally).

My middle son was a very difficult baby and toddler. He didn't sleep through the night until he was 4 1/2. He was very needy and moody. Now that he is older, he is very easy. He does what he is suppose to do, doesn't argue much, and is very upfront and responsible.

My daughter was the easiest of the three during the baby and toddler stage. The verdict is still out on how her teenage years will be.

I do find raising teenagers to be more difficult. I was never up late at night worrying about my toddler's future.

These issues have nothing to do with having three kids. You could be in the same situation with just two. If the third turns out to be the hardest and you think that was because of her brothers in some way, then you'd have an argument that three was the downfall. I think raising any amount of teens is a challenge -- even just one.

[Anonymous]

We have three - 17, 15, and 11. Yes, teenagers are much harder than toddlers. Navigating grades, friends, cell phones, driving, extracurriculars plus the attitudes and eyerolling is exhausting. Of course we discipline but having a grounded teenager around is painful for everyone. And our kids are generally good!

As PP said, the worry and emotional toll are something we didn't expect.

[Anonymous]

It's hard - I envy my sister with one kid. I really do. I have 2 with college degrees and can't find jobs in their fields. Both working low level jobs making barely enough to cover rent.Very possible they will move back home (I am not opposed to this but also not sure how to navigate house rules with an adult!). Terrified of what the future holds for them. One is a high school senior who has caused so much stress for the family (drugs, bullying). My parents are baffled -it wasn't like this when we were growing up.

It was fun when they were little - now, not so much.

[Anonymous]

If you're asking because you're debating having three, I'll tell you I waffled back and forth for two years-- it really took over my life and drove my husband crazy. But we went for it, mostly because we decided I'd never get over it if we didn't, and I haven't regretted it for one second. They're now 7, 11, and 14. So, so happy we did it, and so is my husband, who was very hesitant about it as well. Sure, balancing everything is hard sometimes, but to have another child in your family makes up for everything. I am glad we spread them out though-- having three close together looks very, very hard. And it is very nice to have a young kid at the same time you have a teen. I think it makes the teenage years a little more bearable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have three - 17, 15, and 11. Yes, teenagers are much harder than toddlers. Navigating grades, friends, cell phones, driving, extracurriculars plus the attitudes and eyerolling is exhausting. Of course we discipline but having a grounded teenager around is painful for everyone. And our kids are generally good!

As PP said, the worry and emotional toll are something we didn't expect.

I agree with all of this. I'm working part-time so I can keep a handle on these teen years.

[Anonymous]

I have three - 15, 13 and 10. It's easier now that they're older than when they were little. I am 100% glad I had three and have never wished for an easier situation. Once you have another baby, I can't imagine ever wishing I could turn back time because you fall in love and there's absolutely no looking back when it comes to a child, IMO.

It's harder due to logistics of their activities, but you learn to jump right in with the other moms on those soccer teams (for example) and make use of carpooling with friends. And yes, they argue and fight, but they love each other so much. Now that I have three, having two seems so tame and for some people, that's fantastic, but that's not what we wanted.

I also look forward to our family life as they are all grown and have families of their own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know anybody who says that 3 kids is harder as they get older. I'll be honest, there was a particular period in their babyhood where I seriously wondered if I had gone mad having 3. Now they are older - all are in school - and it's great. They are so much fun to be with, even my middle schooler. Seeing their love for each other (don't get me wrong, they fight like crazy sometimes) is even better.

The only downside to 3 is that travel becomes logistically harder - we just graduated to paying more for giant hotel suites or two rooms - and everything is more expensive. That said, I wouldn't trade it at all.

How on earth did you all fit into one hotel room up until this point? We have three 9-6 and we have needed two rooms or a suite for years now.

I love my older kids, but sometimes I miss the pure sweetness of m babies/toddlers. It does get busy, we have 5 soccer practices in three days and my husband is out of town so I'm doing it all solo. Staying on top of homework, reading time/night and putting good meals on the table etc is busy. I worry more about my parenting now than I ever did when they were so young ~ am I giving them the tools that they will need to be happy? Will they make good choices here in the next few years as they approach adolescence? I never, ever, regret having three. I love it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have two teenage boys and a 10 year old daughter.

My oldest was an easy baby, toddler and kid. He is tough now. We are going through teenage issues much earlier than I would have thought. He requires a lot of supervision because he is smart, sneaky, and charming. I find it to be a deadly combination (literally).

My middle son was a very difficult baby and toddler. He didn't sleep through the night until he was 4 1/2. He was very needy and moody. Now that he is older, he is very easy. He does what he is suppose to do, doesn't argue much, and is very upfront and responsible.

My daughter was the easiest of the three during the baby and toddler stage. The verdict is still out on how her teenage years will be.

I do find raising teenagers to be more difficult. I was never up late at night worrying about my toddler's future.

These issues have nothing to do with having three kids. You could be in the same situation with just two. If the third turns out to be the hardest and you think that was because of her brothers in some way, then you'd have an argument that three was the downfall. I think raising any amount of teens is a challenge -- even just one.

Yeah, you'd still be facing the same problem if you'd had an only child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you're asking because you're debating having three, I'll tell you I waffled back and forth for two years-- it really took over my life and drove my husband crazy. But we went for it, mostly because we decided I'd never get over it if we didn't, and I haven't regretted it for one second. They're now 7, 11, and 14. So, so happy we did it, and so is my husband, who was very hesitant about it as well. Sure, balancing everything is hard sometimes, but to have another child in your family makes up for everything. I am glad we spread them out though-- having three close together looks very, very hard. And it is very nice to have a young kid at the same time you have a teen. I think it makes the teenage years a little more bearable.

This makes so much sense. But when I think about spreading out the kids like this, all I can think about is an entire decade of diapers!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know anybody who says that 3 kids is harder as they get older. I'll be honest, there was a particular period in their babyhood where I seriously wondered if I had gone mad having 3. Now they are older - all are in school - and it's great. They are so much fun to be with, even my middle schooler. Seeing their love for each other (don't get me wrong, they fight like crazy sometimes) is even better.

The only downside to 3 is that travel becomes logistically harder - we just graduated to paying more for giant hotel suites or two rooms - and everything is more expensive. That said, I wouldn't trade it at all.

How on earth did you all fit into one hotel room up until this point? We have three 9-6 and we have needed two rooms or a suite for years now.

I love my older kids, but sometimes I miss the pure sweetness of m babies/toddlers. It does get busy, we have 5 soccer practices in three days and my husband is out of town so I'm doing it all solo. Staying on top of homework, reading time/night and putting good meals on the table etc is busy. I worry more about my parenting now than I ever did when they were so young ~ am I giving them the tools that they will need to be happy? Will they make good choices here in the next few years as they approach adolescence? I never, ever, regret having three. I love it.

Not the PP. My kids are ages 17 to 8 and we still only get one hotel room. Everyone just puts their things away. Sometimes we take sleeping bags because they like to sleep on the floor. But we've never had trouble sharing space.

I think there are so many more things to worry about and the consequences of decisions can be so much bigger - both good and bad. But I love having three. If they weren't so expensI've I'd probably have had more.

[Anonymous]

I never even knew that hotels would allow 5 people in one room. The idea of sleeping on a hotel room floor skeeves me out!

[Anonymous]

I am from a family of five and we always shared a room, with a rollaway bed from the hotel.