[thelms]

I have three beautiful children (5, 3 & 1yrs) and can't get the thought of number four out of my head.

I work part time (stressful at times), DH has a great job that whilst it can be stressful, it's not too demanding time wise, he is home a fair bit.

Life is hectic but doable and enjoyable most of the time.

I am worried that if we have a forth baby it may push us over the edge (trying to juggle house, work, school etc)... I would expect the first year to be difficult but after that do things settle down? Is four a lot more work than three?

What's your experience?

[MotherClucker]

Yes but only because 3 & 4 came at the same time and I had a 1 and 3 year old at the time

I still went back for #5 though so it couldnt of been that traumatising.

I think where there is a will, there is a way. You will be fine. I am guessing you have up and down days now and the same will apply when/if #4 comes.

You have some nice gaps. I say go for it

[PippityRoo]

Nope, I've managed fine. My 3 were 5, 3 & 18mths when #4 came along. (Now 6, almost 4, 2 & 6mths).

It's been no more hard work than it was with 3. You kinda just gotta deal & get on with it. The older 2 are pretty good at helping if I needed (especially my 6yr old), so it's not as full on. We all adjusted pretty quickly, and after a few days it was like #4 had always been with us.

I'm eager for #5, but that won't be for another 5 years, IF I manage to convince the husband.

[crazyhappy]

hasn't pushed me over the edge yet - however our 4th child is only 3 months old. I expect it will get harder when he is on the move.

I haven't found it more work in terms of household work, I am used to being woken overnight and already needed to be organised with 3 kids to make sure we all got to where we need to go on time. The things I have found difficult aren't really because he is the 4th child, but just because he hates the car and screams when I have to take the other kids to swimming etc.

4 is my limit though, I know that I would feel to stretched with more and I like to be able to spend time with each child indivdually. I guess everyone has different limits. My DH and I are so happy to have 4 and its perfect for us even though its very busy.

[gizboo]

Nope. I found 4 to be easier then 3!
#4 is turning 2yo tomorrow and we survived unscathed so far

DD2 turned up 3wks after DD1 started school (so all were under 5yo at one point), so we had to balance out school runs, with other activities. I think we were lucky in that she has always been pretty easy going. No edges in sight, so far!

[SummerStar]

I've managed. And it's easy enough because I have older children who help out alot. But she has by far been my most difficult child, though I wouldn't be with out her now, I probably wouldn't have gone again had I known... If that makes sense.
Couldn't imagine life without her now though.
She's cured me of ever contemplating any more though... That's for sure.

This post has been edited by SummerStar: 20/02/2013, 03:07 PM

[mum2five]

We have five so four must have been okay

One thing I have realised is when they were younger things were a lot easier to manage. This year with five kids across three different schools and all with differing interests/sports/activities plus two full time working parents things are starting to get a little stretched. I think I may be looking over the edge of that cliff for a soft landing place some day soon - I don't think I could get a more diverse lot of kids if I tried.

[emwill]

No, it's a really nice balance in our house, we were blessed with 2 boys and 2 girls and although there are large age gaps between them, they always have another sibling to play with, ask for help, snuggle with etc.
I only wish the age gaps hadn't been so big (just they way it turned out for us - no reason other than that) as it feels like we play 'deja vu' with the younger two after having done it with the older two. Some days it feels like my life is on repeat

This post has been edited by emwill: 20/02/2013, 03:18 PM

[KarenBubMachine]

I struggle with 3! But DH is fifo so, half the time, Im doing it by myself.

Now that older two are nearly 8 and 6, its the bickering and argueing that drives me batty. I think I liked it better when they were babies, waking me every 2 hours, changing horrible pooey nappies and not being able to do anything for themselves.

I think you know in yourself what your own personality is like and how much you can handle without going nuts.

[bec4]

No, but 5 did.

I think it is just because they are so far apart in age and all have different interests and lots of sports etc. Some days I want to just jump off the cliff.


Our oldest isn't even living at home anymore, I don't know whether this has made is harder or easier.

Bec

This post has been edited by bec4: 22/02/2013, 11:06 AM