Do you have more than 2 kids?

[2sweetangels]

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"






that is a good question to ask yourself, I want at least 1 more in a few years though, but DH doesn't want anymore, I know in my heart I truly want another baby sometime I just don't think it will ever happen for me.

 

[Patricia]

We had our perfect little family of 2 girls, both very much planned at 4 years apart. I was about to hit my 10th year of teaching and have my pension vested, my younger daughter was to go to Kindergarten the next year and my oldest was 9 and growing up and I would have been able to skate home free of all the difficulties of young children. But... we just couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to come. So after much debate and discussion, we decided to have a third. Everyone thought we were crazy! So, just as my daughters were turning 10 and 6, their little brother was born.

I will agree with the posters who tell you how much more it costs and how much it changes your vacations and dinners out,etc. etc. But those changes pale in comparision to watching the girls with him. THey have been able to stay in touch with their childhoods thanks to having their little brother around. When my oldest, then 17 and 18, was on a college search, her little brother, then 7 or 8, walked hand in had with her all around colleges. He gave great input especially the one about Fairfield University having too much Canadian Goose poop around. Those memories are priceless.

We are able to still get away with all the WDW kiddie stuff, and I am sure if he were not here, we would have been done with all of that. Taking the girls shoppping and watching them pick out some cool clothes for him is a blast. He LOVES whatever they get him and treasures it. He waits for my oldest to come home from college so patiently and comes to all DD16 cheerleading events and keeps track of the scores and reports to her all he saw. He has been the best decision we have ever made by far.It's interesting to note that many people believe he was a surprise due to the age gap between my kids. He was the most debated baby of all...

There is a lot to be considered for sure, but for us, the plusses far outway the negatives. FOr me as a mom, I have loved having him to help me shake off the stresses of raising teens. Even on our worst day, I look at him and it all melts away.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[Shepherdess]

I have 5 children. 4 boys ages 6, 8, 10, and 12, and a daughter age 14. I can't imagine only having two kids. It would be way too quiet! I thought going from 2 to 3 was a challenge. Suddenly you had more kids than adults and more kids than hands. Adding 4 and 5 to the family was pretty easy. I wouldn't have minded having one more, but my husband thought five was plenty! We took our first trip to WDW 2 years ago and got a lot of looks from people. It's great to hear there are still large families out there!

 

[Octoberbeauty]

Patricia, your beautiful story brought tears to my eyes.

My boy/girl twins just turned 7 last weekend. I have always wanted more, but their father and I have been through our share of problems. (mainly emotional abuse & drinking leading to divorce) However, he got saved on Christmas day and it has changed everything. We are on the road back to marriage and rebuilding our family and I would love to have a 3rd. I've always wanted 3. He's not convinced, but I just feel that "something missing" others have talked about. So, I'm hoping he'll come around. Even though I would have liked them closer together in age, it doesn't matter. I want to hold another baby of ours in my arms again.

 

[mom23boys]

We have three boys (12, 7 and soon to be 4). There is 5 years between the first and second. After 2nd DS was born I felt something was missing. I could not wait to have a third.

My house is so loud, they wrestle constantly, and sports is my world now but I am so glad I had three. It made our family complete.

 

[Sleeping~Beauty]

We are ready to start trying for our third child. We have two beautiful children. They are my everything. My husband and I always wanted to have at least three.
This decision for me was more based on when to try for the third. My children are 3 and 21 mnths, 18 mths apart. So I am still in the diaper stage.

 

[Alice28]

We have three. DH talked me into #3. I thought I was 'done.' I'm so glad he did- our daughter is delightful and I can't imagine life without her! The best part is watching her two big brothers absolutely DOTE on her (esp my 8 year old). I think that's the thing I love most about having children- watching them love each other. As an only child I always thought siblings just argued; my kids have shown me there's a lot more love than bickering! My kids are 8, 4, (will be 5 in June) and 1.

We did have to buy a bigger car- we're managing to squeeze in our home, but will have to remodel the basement into a rec room in the next few years. (We have just under 1500 square feet, but the basement would make it more like 1900). I just look forward to my kids continuing to care for each other- when I read someone's post about their younger child visiting their older sibling at their dorm, it made me smile, cause I can totally picture my older son and my daughter in that situation someday.

 

[poohandwendy]

The third is a charm. Seriously, I struggled with the idea of a third and I am so glad my DH talked me into it. She is sunshine on a dark day. I can't imagine a world without her.

Of course, I feel the same way about all of my kids, but my youngest DD is really, truly a very positive soul. Every single teacher she has had repeatedly has told me what a JOY it is to have Hayley in their classroom. And that is true, she is a joy.

Definitely a personal decision, but one I would guarantee you will not regret.

 

[poohandwendy]

Wow Alice, looks like we both had the third charmer! Your posts is so similar to mine.

 

[justhat]

Well technically I just have 1 kid, but #2 is on the way and I just know I don't want him to be the last. BUT, I can totally see where you're coming from getting cold feet about the decision to start trying for #3. My daughter was a surprise, but we knew we wanted kids and were planning to start trying soon anyway. She was a challenging infant (and now a challenging toddler!) so I wanted to wait till she was around 2.5yo before trying for #2. Well surprise again cause #2 is due 2 days after my daughter turns 2.5yo! But I realize now that it was the best way I could have ever 'planned' to have another child. My daughter, though definitely a 2yo in all aspects, has become very easy in many ways. She can talk pretty well, she's potty trained, more or less sleeps all night (finally!!), eats what we eat, etc. By September (when we had planned to ttc) I think I'd be pretty comfy with having an 'independent' child and I think I would have put off ttc out of fear of going back to babyhood. I'm so looking forward to our trip to DL next week just cause I can travel without a diaper bag! But honestly I can't wait for my daughter to meet her little brother and I think he'll be a great addition to the family. And after the horrible sickness I had for 4 months of this pregnancy I told my husband that #3 will have to be a surprise too cause I'd have to be insane to consciously put myself through that again intentionally! It's a big step to make, but my feeling is that if you have that feeling somewhere in your mind or heart that you want another, all those fears about what life will be like with another one will fade away once you're pregnant. And I say this as someone who, though happy, was quite terrified and anxious when I first found out I was pregnant (both times ) but now I can't imagine things any other way.

 

[Curious]

Do you have more than 2 kids?

Had one. Got rid of it. Had another one. Kept it longer, but eventually got rid of it too. Haven't had anymore, but it does get tempting when it's time to mow the grass.

 

[poohandwendy]

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"

Amen! that is an excellent way to put it!

Before my third the answer would have been yes, I will regret it (not totally sure of being 'done')...after her, I was done and totally at peace with the family we had, so my answer would have been no, I would not regret it. And I never have.

 

[Alice28]

Amen! that is an excellent way to put it!

Before my third the answer would have been yes, I will regret it (not totally sure of being 'done')...after her, I was done and totally at peace with the family we had, so my answer would have been no, I would not regret it. And I never have.

This is how I felt too. My DH was much more into wanting the third; I wasn't entirely opposed, but my 2nd pregnancy was very difficult AND my 2nd child was quite the momma's boy. I remember thinking, "I'm just not sure I can do another Joshua again!" (Not that I don't love the little buggar to pieces, but you know!) And, I admit, there was that wondering of, "I wonder if it might be a girl this time..."

Now that I have three, I completely, 100% feel done. The thought of another child sends me into a panic! I just don't think I could handle it. I'm getting a new sterilization procedure done in June called Essure....a non-surgical way of getting ones tubes blocked.

I think you really know when you're done- if you still feel that little voice in your gut, than you're probably not done. Good luck with your decision! As a PP said, you will never be on your death bed wishing you had less family or fewer children!

 

[Snow Brite]

I have four children, a DD11 and DS's 9, 7, and 6. I agree with the poster that said going from 2 to 3 is much, much easier than from 1 to 2. The older one helps so much, running to get the wipes when you forget them, entertaining the baby in their swing while you make dinner or take a shower, carrying the diaper bag out to the car while you deal with the baby, car seat and middle child. I have always told my daughter I don't know how I had a baby, without her as my helper.

I also love that the two youngest are the best of friends. They do everything together and even sleep so that the are face to face in their beds and can talk as they fall asleep. They fight of course, the normal stuff, but these two little guys will be friends forever. I LOVE that.

 

[Kitty 34]

I have three sons, 25, 19 and 17 and we're taking them all to Disney!!

 

[grlzmom]

We have SEVEN kiddos, dd 16, 14, 11, 9, 4 and 3, and ds 3. We thought our family was complete after baby number four.

How wrong. If you've ever seen that little commercial about bringing home a souvenir from the Disney Cruise. Two trips on the Magic resulted in dd4 and dd/ds twins 3.

Wouldnt trade my bunch for anything. When we go to Disney we are a Grand Gathering all to ourselves.

I am surprised to see others moms of 6 and 7 on here. I thought I was an oddity.

People see ds3 and assume we were "going for a boy". How wrong.

I love being mom to six princesses and one little prince.

 

[loveysbydesign]

Thanks you for bringing up this subject!! My ds will be 7 in 2 weeks and my dd will be 4 in August. Whenever I talk about adding a 3rd I hear "You already have a boy and a girl so what do you need a 3rd for?!" It drives me crazy!!!!!

that is a good question to ask yourself, I want at least 1 more in a few years though, but DH doesn't want anymore,

I must admit that as much as I'd love a 3rd my dh tells me he doesn't know if he'd have enough patience for a 3rd. Then my best friends always tell me "Does your dh really have a choice?" -LOL...especially since their dh's think that they're 3rd and 4th were a "surprise".

 

[funhouse8]

I have four and love it. 22DS,20SS.16Dd&15DS There is always something going on. The hardest for me was the first because that changed your life. I'm thinking if you are thinking about it then go for it. I'm glad I did.

grlzmom Having twins after five kids the youngest being 1. WOW what a surpise for you. You must had been so tired during those early years. You are trurly blessed!

 

[Tigger&Belle]

We have 4 kids and having the 3rd was scary. We were outnumbered for the 3rd and making the decision for #4 wasn't as hard. Staying pregnant for #4 proved to be the challenge, however. It all worked out eventually and we have 4 kids--6, 12, 15, and 18. Nice and spread out with a child in kindergarten, middle, high and college.

 

[4nana]

Lots of good advise to consider from everyone and best wishes in your decision! Lots of food for thought...only you and DH know what's in your hearts.

DH and I tried 3 yrs before we had any children, then bingo , were blessed with 4 kids in 5 yr period - three in diapers at once....yikes !!! It was pretty hectic when they were little, but looking back at all the wonderful memories made, their love and closeness even today, having 4 was a true blessing. However, having 4 in college at once was really tough going! Thankfully, they are all responsible adults now at 34, 35, 37, 39 - with families, homes, careers of their own and never fail to amaze us.

Our 3 daughters and DH's went through exact phase you are!! Each had 2 children, felt something was missing, and each made the decison too have one more to complete their family! I can tell you w/o a doubt, not one regretted their decision...the siblings love the third child and parents enjoy all the activities, involvement and hustle bustle of keeping up. Needless to say, all had to upgrade homes (one finished their basement, one added on and one moved), all had to get bigger cars/SUV's and all the necessary changes that comes with larger family.

The best part of the deal is they have thus far blessed us with 9 adorable grands (1-18yo), who put a bright spot in each day, plus our son married a young widow and blessed us with 2 step grandsons we've adopted as our own and they are expecting their first blessing together due any day!!!

I can assure you our family reunion Disney cruise, family trips, birthdays and holidays together are quite wonderful and exciting with never a dull moment!!