Do you have more than 2 kids?

[aes74]

I have two beautiful daughters, 5 and 2. I love being a mom. My DH and I decided in May we would start trying for a third. Well May is cruising on over and I am getting cold feet. I really do want another kid, I feel like someone is missing at the table, I just.....I don't know, I am petrified to jump back in.

Have any of you been in this situation? Are in this situation? What are your thoughts and feelings? Experiences?

Not to mention, that is another seasonal ticket to buy!

 

[trip]

Our 3rd was a "suprise" -other girls were 8 & 10 at the time. While I wouldn't change things, we really wouldn't have had a 3rd if it wasn't a surprise.

Some things to think about ....some may seem superficial but ......You don't fit in a booth anymore, you don't have one child per adult, you need a bigger car, you start over with diapers, sleep lose etc. Also, you now have one more to put through braces, camps, college and a wedding. It could put a delay on your retirement goals. Money central predicts is costs 250,000 plus college costs to raise a child born this year.

There are all of the great things that go along with another child.... all of the firsts, hugs, laughs, sharing love with the family, being Mom to another, etc.

But if you don't think your family is complete (and a dog or cat won't do it ) Go for it!!! Good luck with your decision!!!

 

[Barb D]

We were playing on the beach on vacation the other day when, out of the blue, DS14 said, "I love [DD6] so much! Thank you for having her!"

There was a six year gap between DD12 and DD6, and in some ways it was rough jumping back into the diaper thing and all, but in the long run it's been very worth it. She is a joy.

 

[dbogen]

Does my DH count as my third son? If not sorry I can't help as I only have 2. Friend that have had 3 say that everything changes. You need a bigger everything. Good luck in whatever decision you make.

Deanna

 

[cepmom]

I have 3 girls ~ 16, 8 and 5. I never really thought about it before we had the third...we just knew we wanted three. It does change a lot in the way others have already mentioned....WDW onsite hotels with 5 means more $$, a bigger car, college tuition costs etc. but I wouldn't change any of it for those reasons. Having three makes us feel complete....money is secondary to that

 

[MidgeD79]

I have had 3 boys and 3 girls. The oldest is 26 and the youngest is 7. I wouldn't change anything. I have become very creative.

 

[minkydog]

I have three kids, 19,13,and 11-next-week. None of them were planned but all of them were much wanted. I always wanted 3 kids. In fact, i wanted a 4th, but DH put his foot down.

You see, our last child has severe disabilities.He needs constant care & supervision. He will be living with us or in a group home all his life. He is a joy to be with. Thankfully, our whole family embraces our son and looks past his handicaps. This has indeed impacted our lives in both positive and negative ways.

First of all, we are now saving for our retirement AND Christian's.

Of course, we will not have to supply college money

We will be buying diapers forever

Life in the "slow lane" is relaxed and fun

Five in a hotel room is a crowd

Consider camping as family entertainment/bonding

Third children are grateful for the attention

I never thought I'd have a handicapped child and it is something we had talked about before(I was 40 when I had him.) It has not been the worst thing, but it is a huge consideration. If having a third child would mean sacrificing the life you have now AND you cannot live with the idea the things might not turn out perfectly, don't do it.

I have never regretted my decision to have Christian. He is the light of our lives. But I'm glad we stopped with him. I don't think I have enough energy to do it again.

 

[transparant]

6 kids here. You have to do what both of you are comfortable with. But I can tell you that have as many kids as I do - it is so much darn fun! It's so darn expensive too! Some of them were planned, and some were surprises (best surprise I've ever gotten!) Seriously though....my kids and their different personalities really brighten my days It makes driving from PA to ORlando with 8 people tons of fun LOL!

 

[AtlantaSue]

I came from a family of 3 kids, as did DH. Three always sounded good to us, so we went for it. I had 2 girls, and I was a little nervous about maybe adding more hormones to the home...but we ended up w/ DS. He has been a whole new experience...but we love all three, and I couldn't imagine it any other way!

 

[poohlover]

Another family with 6 kids here! Guess we aren't THAT rare after all.

3 girls 3 boys

I wouldn't change a thing! My kids get so much from one another! Even if they don't realize it at the time.

But...there are drawbacks...going ANYWHERE is expensive...even dinner out! Esp now with a few "growing" boys!

But having my "little" 7 yr old DD spend a night at my DD's college dorm last year was the best!! All the kids were perfect! They hung out with her & watched Little Mermaid & got to "be kids again"! My little one loved it & I think the college kids enjoyed being "little" for a night too.

Having a first grader tell the teacher she spent a night in a college dorm was interesting, until I talked & explained what they all did! All the adults I've told were really surprised & IMPRESSED with the kids.

It's work I won't lie, & it's NOT for everyone, but it works for us. We are very blessed!

 

[Nite0wl71]

I have 5 kids, DS27, DD25, DS23, DD21 and DD13. I didn't plan any of them either and the last one was a lovely surprise. Now she is the only one at home, i always said she is the one who keeps me young.

 

[MUFFYCAT]

I have 2 girls,ages 12 & 15. I never wanted more.
A family of 4 works perfect for us.

I give credit to all that have more, my patience couldn't handle anymore

 

[laura001]

We had a Millionaires family (DS and DD), and thought we were done, that is until the day we were told that if we wanted more children it was now or never. (I needed a hysterectomy)

Well...........that changed everything, you see, all of a sudden the "choice" was out of our hands. We couldn't decide 2 or 3 years later etc., we had to choose immediately. We went ahead and I got pregnant (I never wanted to be sorry that I hadn't had a 3rd.) , our DD is such a blessing!!!! I can't even believe that I thought of not having her, if we had had a choice after, I am sure we would have had 4.

The change from 2 to 3 wasn't that big of a change for us, although cheap WDW vacations are tougher

Whatever you choose, take your time and do what is right for you, not for everyone else.

 

[Minnie824]

We also have 2 DDs...aged 4.5 and 2. We still discuss having a 3rd, but as of now, I say no. IF we did, would not be til the 2 yr old is at least 5. I like a nice even number. We're finally able to be able to do more, vacation more, etc. I'm not sure if I'd want to start over again. I'm sure DD2 would be a great big sister though, and unlike DD4.5, she LOVES babies. We'll see in a few years I guess.

 

[Jeafl]

I have an almost 17-year old daughter, a 13-year old son and a 10-year old daughter. Everybody assumed my youngest was a mistake because we already had a boy and a girl. However, our third was planned and very much wanted.

We just always felt that someone was missing, it was a hard feeling to describe. Once she was born, we just knew that our family was complete.

Honestly, we travel all over, go on cruises and eat in restaurants all the time and have never felt it was a burden to have 5 people instead of 4. I think the most important consideration is probably the financial aspect. As far as handling the kids, going from 1 to 2 kids was much harder than from 2 to 3 kids. (For us anyway!)

 

[transparant]

We just always felt that someone was missing, it was a hard feeling to describe.

No need to describe here - I know EXACTLY what that feeling feels like

 

[DisneyMomx7]

Okay I beat you all. Seven here. You'll know when you're really done. With me, until I had our last child I would always get a heartstring pull when I saw a baby or a pregnant woman. Definitely not getting them anymore. Mine range in age from 29 - 5.

I had cancer and chemo and the doctors told me I probably wouldn't be able to have any more children. I already had 4 and was quite satisfied with our family. Well surprise - 6 months after I finished chemo I found out I was pregnant with #5. I was 39 and this was quite unexpected. I figured if dd made it through all that she was meant to be. There were 12 years between #4 and #5. We didn't want her to be an only child so we decided to keep going.

Out of the 7 5 were planned and 2 were a "surprise". I'm grateful every day for those two surprises.

 

[SeeDisney]

As you can see from my signature I have four and LOVE it.


I do remember DH and I thought about having a 3rd and I too was scared at the time. Scared of lots of things. But having the third and fourth I wouldn't change of thing. Everything was great at the time having two kids.

I remember asking myself "When I'm 60 years old, would I regret not having any more children?" and I said to myself "Yes, I will regret it"

So we tried and obviously I have two more and I'm very happy.

I've taken tips and advice from other friends and the DIS on raising kids more than four.

Good Luck to you.

 

[MsLeFever]

My husband and I were JUST talking about this....if my health situation was different that is. Both of my kids were preemies (emergency c-secs at 30 and 32 weeks) because of pregnancy induced hypertension (aka toxemia). My kidneys almost stopped working. Both were just over 2 pounds. No doubt that a third would have the same early birth.

By the grace of God both of them have had no serious side effects from their tumultuous births and neither have I. We decided that we shouldn't risk a third.

But now we are thinking about adopting a hard to place older child or perhaps starting to become foster parents........

 

[2sweetangels]

I am DD25 of nightowl71 who posted on page 1, I have 2 beautiful DD's as well 2 and 8 months and I am very happy with them, I do want a 3rd sometime in the future, to try for a boy, but right now the 4 of us are happy and we will leave it at the 2 girls for now. Im sure my mom felt the same way, a little afraid to jump back in when she found out she was pregnant with my sister when I was 12 years old and her youngest then was 8, she was well out of all the baby stuff with her first 4 kids.