ok...this is the only bit that scares me about having a third child. They will outnumber us! And I also only have 2 hands LOL.
So I thought I'd ask the experienced mums here for some tips on the logistics of having 3! Things like shopping etc don't worry me as DS is at preschool 2 days a week, and I know I can shop with 2 whilst he's there etc.
But if they're all running riot aroudn the house or something.. OMG.. think I'd go crazy! LOL. Altho last night I was talking to DH about it and he was freaking out at the thought of 3.. but I reminded him that by the time the third is in the terrible 3's.. DS would be around 7 or 8! (eeek!) So the dynamics of the house will be different anyway. I think we tend to plonk the 3rd child into the immediate mix, but it wouldn't be like that once the baby came and even then the first year isn't that hard.
And what if we're at the park and all three run off in different directions?? LOL.
Help put my mind at ease that it IS possible to manage 3 children!
Dont worry - It is enitrely possible to manage 3 -
I admit, back when I only had 2- I was really worried about having less hands than children BUT I have learned that
- a stoller solves that problem
-kids learn from each other (and this works predominantly for Good rather than evil!)
-usually kids stick together and play together and are unlikely to run in 3 different directions as they will compete for your attention and as such want to stay in your sight so you can see they are being wonderful
-there is this wonderful innate invention called 'perfect angel syndrome' where if one child is getting in trouble or being told off - the others become perfect little angels (Temporarily)
-the eldest usually becomes a leader (hence the birth order theory) and loves to tell the younger ones what they should and shouldnt be doing!
- children are naturally 'dobbers' so if there are any problems you will have lots of warning
- Childrens loyalty is usually to the parent rather than the siblings (hence sibling rivalry) - well at least until the teenage years I am told (arent there yet)
HAVING SAID THAT
- never show fear (children can smell it)
- never forget the pusher when you go to the shop
- always stick them in a trolley if you do forget the pusher
- avoid shopping with them all at once if at all possible
- ear plugs are a marvellous invention, I'm sure they were first invented by mothers who were inspired to invent them whilst on long car trips
Mumeee (mum to soon to be 8 - 12,11,6,5,3,3,2,due Aug)
Sometimes here it is absolute bedlam with all the noise they can create - especially if they are all playing together. Like last night I nearly went mental because they all had a truck and they were all running around the house with them playing chasies and I told them they needed to play another game or they could go to bed early - and that did the trick cause it was only 6pm at that stage LOL. It can be hard when I'm here on my own while DH is on nightshift, but manageable if you can distract them into doing something else. As for the playground situation, I've yet to have it happen where they all run off in different directions and I always had at least one that was still in a stroller or small enough that they never ran far and there is always one that likes to stay close to you. I found kiddie 'leashes' worked well when I had the first three and they were all close (eldest was 3yr 4mths when I had #3) as well as the skateboard things for the pram, but if you're going to wear bubs then that's not an issue. I often have to go out on my own with all 4 du to the hours DH works, but its fine - like on Thursday night we had a community get together and DH was on nightshift and I had Alister in the sling as I knew he wouldn't get cranky if he was being held, but if he was in the stroller he would have cracked it after 10mins. It was so much easier too because I could get the older kids their dinners (BQ and salad etc) and then get my own and kept Alister in the sling while we ate off the same plate.
Don't forget too that a lot of the behaviours they might have now that completely put you off having that extra child (like bolting LOL or not staying close to you when out and about) they usually grow out of by the time they get to a certain age, so you can always space them out so you don't have to worry about having 2 toddlers and a baby etc.
It's fine! You need to be organised. Be firm about ground rules. Have a high tolerance to repeating yourself multiple times to (in my case) 5 kids - that can send me batty!
It gets noisy - but we have a designated quiet room where there is zero tolerance to rough noisy play. This works well. They just get asked "where is the quiet room"? Then they vacate said quiet room!
I wouldn't have it anhy other way. It's the best. If I was younger I would have more!
Surprisingly, its not as hard as we tend to panic it will be.Yeah my 5 are driving me completely NUTS right now - but they are full of sugar.
School is a blessing when it comes to shopping. I only take one. Kids also don't normally run in 3 different directions, but when pg with Harry, I had Lyta and Sam take off up two different hallways at the hospital after an antenatal appointment. I was tired, hormonal and didn't know which way to go, so I broke down, lol. A couple of nurses and interns went off looking for them for me. Thats the ONLY time it has happened, so it does happen, but not often at all. Its never happened to my siblings with their kids.
Spread them out!!! I have never had 3 little kids since mine are spread so far apart but I lov ehaving 3 kids, I wish we had the time and the money to have more
When the kids outnumber the parents..
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Oh that is so sweet
and there is always one that likes to stay close to you. I found kiddie 'leashes' worked well when I had the first three and they were all close (eldest was 3yr 4mths when I had #3) as well as the skateboard things for the pram, but if you're going to wear bubs then that's not an issue. I often have to go out on my own with all 4 du to the hours DH works, but its fine - like on Thursday night we had a community get together and DH was on nightshift and I had Alister in the sling as I knew he wouldn't get cranky if he was being held, but if he was in the stroller he would have cracked it after 10mins. It was so much easier too because I could get the older kids their dinners (BQ and salad etc) and then get my own and kept Alister in the sling while we ate off the same plate.
Kids also don't normally run in 3 different directions, but when pg with Harry, I had Lyta and Sam take off up two different hallways at the hospital after an antenatal appointment. I was tired, hormonal and didn't know which way to go, so I broke down, lol. A couple of nurses and interns went off looking for them for me. Thats the ONLY time it has happened, so it does happen, but not often at all. Its never happened to my siblings with their kids.
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