https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 15 Jun 2026 18:23:36 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-kid-question#post-2874569 Fri, 01 Mar 2019 21:51:59 +0000 SupernovaJ 2874569@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh my goodness inspired and encouraged by all<br /> of you mamas juggling three! Expecting our third in June. I’ve always known “in my soul” that I’d want a third and now that it’s three months away, I’m so excited but crazy anxious too. So great to hear of your experiences so far and honest thoughts. :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-kid-question#post-2874564 Fri, 01 Mar 2019 21:07:27 +0000 LadyDi 2874564@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@My Only Sunshine: this is the same age gap that my three will be! I’m glad that you love it. I’m having a lot of anxiety about the youngest two being so close in age and how I’ll handle it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-kid-question#post-2874560 Fri, 01 Mar 2019 19:37:02 +0000 MsMini 2874560@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I guess part of our chaos is we both work out of the house! I am a nurse who works a minimum of 30 hours a week, and a mix of days, nights and weekend shifts. I also have a bad habit of being stuck at work late of having to go in early as I am a senior staff nurse in NICU and when the poop hits the fan I get called in for OT. Luckily DH has a normal Monday-friday job but he averages 50 hours/week. He pulls a LOT of weight at home, but the combination adds a lot to our juggling act, We both like pretty things though so we both need to work. Our calendar is a mess of my shifts, daycare, school days off, before and after school care, and 3-5 different sports/activities depending on the season etc. We use a lot of technology to manage our life for sure. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-kid-question#post-2874455 Fri, 01 Mar 2019 09:54:28 +0000 nwm 2874455@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@HappyBaker: you are officially my idol, haha! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-kid-question#post-2874433 Fri, 01 Mar 2019 04:48:06 +0000 My Only Sunshine 2874433@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@AnnabelleG: I have 3 and they are super close together. 5, 2.5, and 1. I love it so much.</p> <p>I heard someone describe having 3 kids as a “small big family.” I do think having 3 tips you over into that “big family” feeling. It’s loud and chaotic and there are shoes everywhere and I buy milk every single time I leave the house. But it’s also fun and funny and full of books and toys and play. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-kid-question#post-2874430 Fri, 01 Mar 2019 02:08:08 +0000 birdofafeather 2874430@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i agree with @Mrsbells: and some others in that 1-2 was WAY harder than 2-3. </p> <p>i love the way they love each other, there always felt like a missing seat at the table and now it's filled with DD3. yes, there is more chaos, crying, whining and craziness. when someone gets sick, it feels horrible (but i think it feels this way no matter the number of kids!), and there will be more juggling to do when the kids are older with more activities, but we've traveled and will travel with all 3 kids and just budget accordingly. for us, 3 is the magic number and i actively encourage those on the fence to do for it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-kid-question#post-2874415 Thu, 28 Feb 2019 21:44:20 +0000 azaela 2874415@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Going from 2-3 was the easiest transition for my family. The biggest problem these days is that there is not enough room in the tub for them all. Seriously though the hardest thing was the first winter and all the germs shared by the older siblings. Having a young baby and older kids needing to have activities and school and other things that require a lot of running around can be challenging too but these are all problems for a short period of time. I do love my third and I couldn't imagine not having 3. I would never tell anyone to stick to 2.<br /> The laundry is totally insane though. Not gonna lie about that! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-kid-question#post-2874402 Thu, 28 Feb 2019 19:18:22 +0000 HappyBaker 2874402@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@nwm: yes! I work 40 hours and have a 30 minute commute, DH works 45-55 and has a 45 minute commute. He’s gotten better at making sure to be home by 6 at the latest though and will just do work from home after the kids go to bed if he needs to! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-kid-question#post-2874390 Thu, 28 Feb 2019 17:14:01 +0000 nwm 2874390@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@HappyBaker: Ha--this sounds like you are describing my marriage and also marriage goals. Though we're working and getting better at getting the dickishness out in the open and working through. Do you mind if I ask how many hours you and your DH work out of the house? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-kid-question#post-2874387 Thu, 28 Feb 2019 16:54:22 +0000 misolee 2874387@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>🙋🏻‍♀️ I have three (currently 6, 3, and 1). Not gonna lie, it’s not all roses and unicorns. But it’s not that bad. It’s a little bit frazzling to remember to take everyone’s stuff when we leave somewhere but you adjust. The newly 3 year old was still in diapers when baby was born but now that he’s potty trained, it’s a little bit better. My 3rd is also super laid back and chill and kind of still goes with whatever the flow is so that helped. </p> <p>For reference, I work part time mostly on weekends. My husbands job requires him to travel during the week so I solo parent also. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-kid-question#post-2874383 Thu, 28 Feb 2019 16:46:26 +0000 HappyBaker 2874383@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@nwm: some days are hard and I’m tired for sure,, but I honestly feel like my marriage is better with 3 than it was with 2 because we just don’t have time for any BS. Like in the past if we argued about something we’d let it stew and both be dicks to each other for a few days, whereas now we deal with stuff immediately and talk through it because our daily life can’t handle us not being a team. </p> <p>Also yes we needed a bigger car, and some situations are certainly trickier with 3 kids but in reality we travel maybe 1 week a year and I’d rather deal with getting two rooms or a condo than to not have this entire person in family! He is more than worth the inconvenience:-) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-kid-question#post-2874382 Thu, 28 Feb 2019 16:40:11 +0000 agold 2874382@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LCTBQE: Hi. You and I are basically twins. Omg. I also feel the same about NOT trying for a third!!! :crying: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-kid-question#post-2874365 Thu, 28 Feb 2019 15:56:14 +0000 nwm 2874365@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@HappyBaker: wow, this is great to hear. you make it sound doable! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-kid-question#post-2874361 Thu, 28 Feb 2019 15:45:37 +0000 LCTBQE 2874361@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@agold: exactly what you said, on everything. Even though I’m really patient with our kids, my husband and I both have an exceptionally low tolerance for chaos and disorder, which is something I really never considered (or rather, never realized about us) before we actually had our first.<br /> @Mama Bird: your description is what I’d expect but articulated better than I could have guessed. I’m 36 and a half with a 6-month-old second baby, and I think we’re done—but I can’t shake this disappointment in our choice to not go for a third—it feels selfish to me to choose a clean house and rest for a couple of years instead of a precious life. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-kid-question#post-2874360 Thu, 28 Feb 2019 15:42:12 +0000 DesertDreams88 2874360@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My best friend is a SAHM of 3, ages 7, 5.5, and 3 and while she loves her 3 personally, she often says she feels much more overwhelmed, stressed, and chaotic when they're all home / together. She also says it's so much more expensive due to cars, hotels, groceries, and BOGO deals aren't as helpful. </p> <p>She often kind of jokes , "maybe I wasn't meant to be a mom of 3 but well here I am" </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-kid-question#post-2874354 Thu, 28 Feb 2019 14:44:29 +0000 HappyBaker 2874354@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We waffled about having a third for years and finally decided to just give it a shot and if we didn't get pregnant by the time my youngest turned 3 we decided we'd just be fine with 2 kids and stop trying. We ended up getting pregnant, and the entire time I was pregnant I was really nervous about how #3 would change things. </p> <p>He's 10 months now (older two are 6 and 4) and seriously the best, and I am so happy with how things have worked out. Yes life is a little crazier and more chaotic, but the extra love and family dynamics having him add to our family are worth the chaos x 1,000. We both work FT out of the house but DH is super involved and helpful and it honestly doesn't feel that stressful or crazy. We both still have "me" time out of the house at least once a week, our house is actually less of a mess with 3 than it was with 2, and things generally are just great. Times it is stressful so far have just been when kids are sick and it feels like we will never all be healthy again, but it feels like that with 2 kids anyway! For me especially, this year I've really focused on self care and what *I* need to help run this family, instead of being a martyr and just running myself into the ground. I ask for help when I need it and let DH know when I'm overwhelmed, and we're a good team figuring out how to make things run smoother. The other thing that helped a lot is that my older 2 were 3 and 5 when he was born and were pretty independent already, and we are actively asking the kids to help more than we were when we just had 2 (i.e. we now make them clear their plates after eating, which is such a simple thing but makes OUR lives way easier to not spend time cleaning up after them!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-kid-question#post-2874352 Thu, 28 Feb 2019 14:38:15 +0000 nwm 2874352@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hitchhiker: this is my thinking 100%!! if i could just have 1.5 the current amount of time i would do it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-kid-question#post-2874351 Thu, 28 Feb 2019 14:29:19 +0000 agold 2874351@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hitchhiker: Ditto to everything you said!!! :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-kid-question#post-2874349 Thu, 28 Feb 2019 14:27:33 +0000 hitchhiker 2874349@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@agold: I agree about going for 3 if I was a SAHM. In some ways I would really love to have a big crazy circus family, but I know I couldn't balance it with my crazy circus job that I really love. It seems like the third baby has been the breaking point for several of my intense career-minded mama friends. I like having the mixture of work, family, and me-time, so I don't think 3 is in the cards for us. But I sometimes miss the idea of a big chaotic family! (Clearly, since I am reading through all of these posts!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-kid-question#post-2874342 Thu, 28 Feb 2019 14:02:40 +0000 agold 2874342@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mama Bird: Everything you said is why I think I shouldn't have a 3rd!! And if I wait for number 2 to be reasonably independent, I may be too old! </p> <p>@MsMini: "have a high tolerance for chaos" is definitely NOT something I have. And so may of these responses mention chaos! :silly: But your picture is so sweet!!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-kid-question#post-2874340 Thu, 28 Feb 2019 13:56:54 +0000 AnnabelleG 2874340@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bees_knees: So sweet, and yes, expensive!<br /> @MsMini: Such a beautiful picture! That's a great point about your tolerance for chaos. My tolerance level is still undecided...<br /> @Mrsbells: Being outnumbered is definitely on my brain!<br /> @Pumuckl: Absolutely! Involved SOs make all the difference..<br /> @ElbieKay: The age gap sounds really important... My 2-year old would freak out now, but maybe in a couple years he'd enjoy a baby...<br /> @Lindsay05: Having family around is so helpful! We wouldn't have had our 2 so close together without my parents nearby, that's for sure!<br /> @bhbee: Sounds so exhausting! I'm solo a lot right now too, it's rough sometimes!<br /> @Mamatimes3: Love it. More chaos, more love, more exhaustion.<br /> @ChitownRo: If I knew I'd get a chill 3rd my decision might be a little easier... Our 2nd is like 2 kids rolled into one, so I worry a little about getting another (beautiful, sweet) firecracker!<br /> @tysonja: Good luck and congratulations! Yes, I wonder if our house is so chaotic with 2 busy little boys that a 3rd wouldn't make it all that much more chaotic...or maybe I'm just fooling myself!<br /> @agold: Yes about being a SAHM, I think that might make my decision a little easier too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-kid-question#post-2874338 Thu, 28 Feb 2019 13:46:23 +0000 agold 2874338@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@AnnabelleG: Most everyone I know with 3 kids tells me not to do it. And then the ones with 3+ kids that say its no big deal also seem to live like a circus! :silly: I am still on the fence about a third, but really don't think its in my best interest. :silly: :crying: ETA: if i was a SAHM, I would probably be more willing to have a 3rd. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-kid-question#post-2874326 Thu, 28 Feb 2019 13:13:22 +0000 tysonja 2874326@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>hmm... i'd say having 3 was only a tiny change in comparison to going from 0-1 and 1-2. maybe we were just so used to everything being loud and busy coupled with our third being a pretty chill baby, but in many ways it didn't change much. just more to love! They are currently 6, 5 and 3. LO4 is arriving in a few months, we'll see how that goes! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-kid-question#post-2874325 Thu, 28 Feb 2019 13:11:55 +0000 ChitownRo 2874325@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Love having 3. Honestly the 1 to 2 transition was harder than 2 to 3. However our third baby is very chill and the 5 year old is finally helpful. The 3 year old is easier than her brother was at 3 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-kid-question#post-2874319 Thu, 28 Feb 2019 12:44:31 +0000 Mamatimes3 2874319@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have 3 all approximately 2 years apart (currently 2,4,&amp;6). It is undeniably hard, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. There is more chaos, but there is more love. I knew in my soul that I was a mom of 3 and my heart felt incomplete until my 3rd arrived. Our family is now whole. </p> <p>I am a FT working mom and it is HARD. I have almost no time to myself and I’m always tired. But they are my world and when I see them all together it is :heart: </p> <p>I think you have to really want it to go for the 3! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-kid-question#post-2874286 Thu, 28 Feb 2019 09:06:27 +0000 bhbee 2874286@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think @MsMini: put it well! Mine were 6.5 and 3.5 when little sister was born, so pretty independent. I wanted another one so much and we love having another baby - especially for my oldest it has been really fun. Seeing the kids together, having another little person, those are the awesome parts. </p> <p>On the down side it really made my 3 (now 4) yo crazy, he just loses all sense around her which can be hard. I solo almost all the time during the week and SAH and 3 is the number that really made that hard for me, hard to get things done. I think a big part is the amount of time I need to spend nursing and then scheduling that around dropoff and pickup and life for two kids who are in different schools due to age. Just a lot of running around. On the plus side even though my dh is not home a lot, especially when kids are awake, he has really stepped up on things around the house he didn’t do before. Part of the chaos also is that our third seems to have a reflux issue - it made her a little more difficult and there’s so much laundry and she doesn’t sleep well (6m now). I don’t know what it will be like when she’s mobile - then I’ll be constantly chasing down legos and markers to keep them from her! </p> <p>If I could go back I would not change a thing. But it has been a hard year between end of pregnancy and baby and we’re exhausted! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-kid-question#post-2874285 Thu, 28 Feb 2019 08:53:22 +0000 Mama Bird 2874285@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't know, it's been easier to go from 2 to 3, then from 1 to 2, because my third is much more laid-back then my second. It also helped that we waited until the second LO was more or less reasonable and independent. But the downsides: more years of not sleeping enough, more years of not traveling far, more years of child care drop-offs and mad dashes to make it to pickup, and (for me) more years of putting medical issues on hold because logistics and nursing. More years when your well-being comes last because even when you're sick, someone needs you. My husband helps as much as he can, but the baby is still velcro-ed to me by nursing so I haven't had a time in months when I can just fall on a bed and lie there, or run off to see the doctor without planning my visit in great detail.</p> <p>@bees_knees: yes, OMG the grocery bills! And I never stop cooking!!! It's like Groundhog Day with the food here.</p> <p>@MsMini: awww so cute!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-kid-question#post-2874278 Thu, 28 Feb 2019 07:09:45 +0000 Lindsay05 2874278@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have seen no difference going from 2 to 3. Ours are 6.5, 5 and 9 months. It really helps that my two older girls were very independent when I had our 3rd. They are more helpful than needing help. I think giving my two older girls a baby sibling was the best gift they have ever received. They play with her and hold her. It is the most heart warming thing to watch our baby laugh and smile with them. For us I think it will be the most chaotic once all 3 are in activities at the same time. But we have grandparents close by who will be willing to help out with that. I love the saying “you may regret not having another child but you will never regret having a child” or something along those lines. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-kid-question#post-2874276 Thu, 28 Feb 2019 06:50:28 +0000 ElbieKay 2874276@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We were aiming for two, but our second turned out to be twins. They are currently 7mo. I never expected to have three kids and really braced myself for utter chaos. So far it is... not easy, but not as bad as I expected.</p> <p>People talk about divide and conquer... well it still works with three to a certain extent. Obviously it’s not one-on-one, but we often do things like have one parent wear a baby while taking our older one to a birthday party. The other baby stays home. So we are each only dealing with one baby which seems way easier when you are used to two.</p> <p>I would also pay attention to your age gap. My son is 4.5 years older than the babies. He is pretty independent and does not really get jealous of them. In fact he is super sweet towards them and even helpful sometimes. This is a sharp contrast to when he was two and he used to get jealous when I held our cat 🤣 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-kid-question#post-2874275 Thu, 28 Feb 2019 06:19:09 +0000 LadyDi 2874275@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Following bc I’m about to have three in June. Although @MsMini’s response didn’t really make me feel confident :grin: such a sweet picture though! </p>