No, I wouldn't change from 3 to 2 if I could "rewind and redo" my life. My 3 kids get along really well and love having each other. I don't take credit for that, it just happened. I didn't/don't have that with my own siblings.

The times when I have had a wave of jealousy of those with 2 are due to
(1) financial contraints - I have to spread my money over 3 rather than 1 or 2. And I don't spend much money on myself.
(2) scheduling/time management - I have to run around more than those with 1 or 2. I have felt this at girl scout meetings. I have to manage 3 girls (selling cookies, going on trips).

Anonymous wrote:Is there anyone that if you could rewind knowing what you know now, would only have 2? Not that you don't love the third but just think maybe 2 might have been good? Honestly?

Absolutely not.

That said, when my last DS goes to school, I'm ready to quit my job. I think I'll need to be there more and more. Like a PP said, it gets physically easier and emotionally harder. I can't be there for them emotionally if I'm at work all day. Dropping off and picking up at daycare is as easy as it gets.

Is there anyone that if you could rewind knowing what you know now, would only have 2? Not that you don't love the third but just think maybe 2 might have been good? Honestly?

Can we all meet for a drink and end this topic?!!??!

I have 3 school aged kids and its mentally more challenging. Sure you can be less vigilant and take it easy but then discover some not so nice results for your kids. So you have to followup on homework, keep tabs on how they are preparing for future challenges, teach them social skills, get them to practices and prepared for sport events, push music even if they don't want it and so on.

Little kids=little problems

Big kids=big problems

Anonymous wrote:I have 3 young teenagers. 3 small kids are tough - everyone here knows that. When they get older, the problems get different....homework, bullying, alcohol use, porn on the computer, making wide choices, mood swings...and, as they get older, prepare to become a 24-hr on-call limo service. Does it get easier? Physically, yes. Emotionally, it is harder. Wow did my own reply bum me out!

Exactly. And the consequences of their behavior are far more serious, like impulsively getting in the car with someone who has been drinking.

I have 3 young teenagers. 3 small kids are tough - everyone here knows that. When they get older, the problems get different....homework, bullying, alcohol use, porn on the computer, making wide choices, mood swings...and, as they get older, prepare to become a 24-hr on-call limo service. Does it get easier? Physically, yes. Emotionally, it is harder. Wow did my own reply bum me out!

My three kids are 7,9, and 11. I feel that it just gets easier and easier. True, each year there is more driving around to different events, and we just don't do some extracurricular things that people with only 1 or 2 kids do. But as they age they are more capable.

I do realize that we haven't hit the teenage years yet, which makes me appreciate the peace we have now even more. We have only one more year of them all being together at the same school. I imagine it's going to get crazy busy in the near future.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Harder. The homework will kill you and them. Plus when they get up around the tweens they start smelling AND have a fresh mouth.

I would gladly take a raging 2 year old over a brooding 11 year old.

Seriously three 2 year olds is easier than three 11 year olds? That's very hard for me to imagine.

Yes. At least 2 year olds are cute or want to go to the park. 11 year olds aren't cute and just want to push your buttons.

Anonymous wrote:Harder. The homework will kill you and them. Plus when they get up around the tweens they start smelling AND have a fresh mouth.

I would gladly take a raging 2 year old over a brooding 11 year old.

Seriously three 2 year olds is easier than three 11 year olds? That's very hard for me to imagine.

Easy Peasy

Harder. The homework will kill you and them. Plus when they get up around the tweens they start smelling AND have a fresh mouth.

I would gladly take a raging 2 year old over a brooding 11 year old.

I think the hard part is remembering who has what due, who needs to be where, who was supposed to bring X, etc. It's the scheduling and the managing of requirements that is hard.

Easier or harder than when toddlers? How does it change?