What was the change from three to four like? We have three kidlets... DD1 is 9, DS is 6 and DD2 is 16 months. I'm feeling clucky!! I have always said I wanted four kids. DH would be happy to stop at three, but I think he could be convinced pretty easily to have a fourth. The gap between my first two is 2 years 4 months and it was a great gap. I wonder if Miss P might like a sibling more her age? A little friend...
We can afford to feed, clothe and educate one more. Life is already busy with three, one more couldn't make much difference... could it??
Or am I insane?
I reckon you regret the kids you don't have, not the kids you do. Right?
We had our first three pretty close together, then we were undecided for ages about a 4th, so there is a larger gap between DD2 and DS2 - she was 3yr 3mths when he was born. It was pretty full on for a little while, because I had one child in preschool, one child at school and one at home still, so when he was born he just got dragged from pillar to post at times LOL, but it was fine. He was pretty cruisy for the first few months and by the time his reflux started causing problems we were already well adjusted to life with 4. I don't think you get busier the more kids you have, I think once you have kids you are busy period. If you only had two I reckon you'd be doing just as many activities as you would be with 4 kids. I reckon you should go for it!
I am pregnant with number 4 so I can't tell you what it's like. But we have similar gaps, dd10 dd7(8 in june) dd2(in a few weeks) first two are 2years four months apart, then a 6 year gap and now the last two will have a 2.5year gap. I think it will be pretty good, the major change for us is a car. Besides that the house is ready for a baby to join, many hands make light work, the girls have jobs around the house and the eldest is starting to cook confidently which at times will be such a great thing to have.
I do imagine this baby will be in and out alot more then the others have been, that is the thing about being the youngest.
I have just had No 4. I have had 4 in 6 1/2 years. My eldest 2 are 16 months apart so it has actually worked quite well in that I have 2 at school this year so it helps to ease things a bit.
Like Trillian said I think you are jusy busy when you have kids, I found going from 2 to 3 challenging but that was because I was doing kinder runs and live 50km from town so it made for long days with a baby.
My biggest gripe with 4 children at present is all the baby seats and boosters in the car. But given your eldest 2 are a bit older it hopefully wouldn't be as frustrating.
I was a bit like you I really really wanted 4 kids, Dh not so keen, took about 6 months of heavy discussions before he came around to the idea, and I love my 4 boys and can't imagine life without them. People ask if I'm going for a 5th (just for the girl) but I happily say that I only ever wanted 4 children and have no desire to go back again.
You are all correct, life is busy with kids, period. But so much fun!
Car seats are not an issue as DD1 is already out of a seat and DS will be old enough (and I expect big and heavy enough) to come out of a seat in August, when he turns 7. The car itself is a problem as my car is only five seats. I would need a new car, a seven or eight seater, but that is not a big deal. Although, I really love my car, it is my 'dream car'! I think I would love a child far more than any car though...
Our house is four bedrooms, so someone would be sharing, but I don't really see an issue with that? The rooms themselves are quite large with plenty of room for two beds. Miss P has been in our bed every night of her life so I guess her room is currently 'spare'... wonder if she'll see be co-sleeping in 10 years? I wouldn't be surprised!
Nickle, I have two of each gender so they share a room - we only have a 3brm house but it works out fine. Yes you will need a new car though, but there are so many awesome ones that don't seem like a big box on wheels. I've been trying to think of a negative and in all honesty there aren't many. The only thing that would be hard are the medical/dental costs we've had for the kids - we'd be screwed if we didn't have PHI covering most of it. So that is something to consider I suppose - you might be able to *afford* 4 kids, but can you afford it if you end up having 2 or more in braces (like we will be - their teeth are terrible) or glasses etc? It's not so much that we can't afford it, but it certainly makes it a bit harder at times kwim?
AS you can see I have 4 boys, at the moment I have 3 boys in one room and the baby on his own, once A is older I will put the younger 2 together etc. We do have a 4 bedroom house but the 4th room is needing a lot of work and I won't allow a child to sleep in it til it is done. (plaster very cracked etc).
Negatives, well not so much negatives but there is a lot more washing etc, but again with you eldest being older she would be at an age where she is more independant and can also help out with chores around the house. Like Triilian said I think the medical costs can be the most, somedays I feel like I'm at the Dr's clinic every month, didn't help that last year my 2nd son broke his femur, and whilst he was in the early stages of that recovery my 3rd son perforated his eardrum. So to say lots of Drs appts.
We also have PHI so that helps a bit at least.
I think from the way you are talking then you are really keen for No 4, any little odd moments where I think to myself what was I thinking are very much short lived. I am really loving the dynamics of 4 (even if No 4 is only 4 months).
Considering a fourth child.
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