Anonymous wrote:It looks like a disaster of epic proportions from the outside. I have several friends with 3 kids. I know they love their kids and profess to be happy, but it looks like a lot more yuck than yay.

Really? A disaster of epic proportions? If I'm one of your several friends with 3 kids, PP, I assure you that I am not professing to be happy. I AM happy. It's louder, messier, and more chaotic with 3 than 2, but I love it. Not just love my kids, but love having 3.

Three kids at once? Delivering naturally?

It looks like a disaster of epic proportions from the outside. I have several friends with 3 kids. I know they love their kids and profess to be happy, but it looks like a lot more yuck than yay.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have three. Not that hard. I wonder how hard it is to have four.

Yeees! Same here But seriously, I need to stop...

I have four, its awesome and seriously the hardest transition was from one to two.

We've got a 5, 2 and 1 yo. I love it. I really love it.

I have four. My two oldest have a big gap between the two youngest, so going from two to three was hard for me. But going from one to two was easy and going from three to four was easy.

You'll have an easier time than me since you won't have a nine year gap between two and three. Once everyone is toilet trained things will be much better for you. First three years will be hell.

How will you afford 3 -- do you stay at home, will you have a nanny, etc.?

Mine are almost 6, 4, and 1.5. It's great. It's busy, but great. The downsides mentioned above are true (we moved to a bigger house, we bought a mini-van, we get suites when we travel, it's much cheaper and easier to drive than fly, etc.), but none of that compares to how fun it is to see the three of them together. The younger one is getting to be a real person and the older ones love making him laugh. The older two are best buddies and play together so nicely.

I'm a SAHM and spend a lot of time with them by myself, and I don't really think it's that much harder than when I only had two. Your expectations change to accommodate what you're able to achieve, and that really helps.

Things may be different when they are all in activities and sports, but I can't imagine a set of circumstances where the craziness of an over-scheduled life will cause me to regret the family we have. Maybe famous last words, but I hope not.

Anonymous wrote:Sahd here. Three is really hard! What are you talking about?

But I'm glad we did it.

and I'm glad I'm getting the snip soon.

This was not the case for us. Three is hard but not very much harder than two.

Three was easy compared to four. My younger two are only twenty months apart. The first 2.5 years were hard.

I love our kids but wholly cow. Tonight was a reminder on why not to have a third! And the night is not over yet. 36 yo, 3.5 and almost 2. Work full time.

we had a third at your ages--it's awesome.

We have two and going to 3 in spetember. We will have a 5 yo, 3 yo and newborn. I will be 37 when done! I know it will be tough but thought the PP about minivans, houses and vacations was a little over the top. We are going to have three plus a dog in a 3 bedroom condo. The two older will share a room (and can't wait to do so). As they get older, we will probably end up moving to get more room to run around. As for the car, we have a highlander which has a third row. My oldest will go to the third row in his car seat. Some sedans even fit three car seats across...you don't need a minivan. And for vacations, we will probably stick close to home so we can drive somewhere, rent a house or get a suite with a pull out couch....no big deal. People make it work all over the world (with more than 3 children) and don't have the luxury of minivans, large houses, etc. you just have to know what your priorities are and how your family works together. Sacrifices will be made financially and socially to have three kids but I can't think of anything else better in this world than giving my children another sibling.

Anonymous wrote:I must be in the minority here but I think 2 to 3 was the easiest transition. Mine are 5, 3 and 1. As one poster said, it's basically wash, rinse and repeat. I've truly enjoyed my 3rd and find her to be the easiest one of the bunch. I was a SAHM when I had her but went back to work when she turned 1 (with a demanding job no less).

+1 to all of thus, except mine are 5, 3, and 7 months. My baby is definitely the easiest now that colic has passed and my older are finally somewhat independent. I'm enjoying being a mom now more than I have at any point before.

Agree 1 to 2 was much worse than 2 to 3 but I had good age gaps (2.5 years each.) If 1&2 weren't already able to play well together when #3 arrived it would have been a different story.