3 kids or 2?

[3 kids or 2?]

I have read the recent thread "How many kids do you want" but have a specific question for parents of 3 kids, or those who had 2 and maybe regretted not having a 3rd.  For those with 3, how different are your lives compared to when you had 2 children? We're considering a 3rd but the biggest concern is that our hard-won equilibrium will never be achieved again as we will always be swamped with too much to do, not enough time to pay individual attention to each child, and we will always be outnumbered and therefore too tired to go on adventures. Any comments?

[Mum23]

We've found three much more challenging than two, but absolutely wouldn't have it any other way, chaos and mayhem aside.  We're both from families of three, so three was just our 'magic' number.

[3rd in the family]

Three is an uneven number. My 2nd sister to this day has a hang up about being the middle child and being neither considered old or young. It's apparently such a common problem that there are books written on it. Make sure your 2nd doesn't feel like piggy in the middle, esp if all your kids are the same sex or 1st and 2nd are

[sister of mercy]

just stating same as prev poster - would say my sister who was middle child of 3 had real issues which still show in her 40's although we are very close now.

[Pro-democracy]

You will be outnumbered by the little people and as a result democracy is no longer possible

[young dictator]

Heh heh, pro-democracy, you are right, I have four and mine is definitely an autocratic household with me starring as autocrat.  I can't say I really want any of my children sitting up until midnight with me or choosing chocolate for breakfast because they think that they have equal rights, because quite simply, they don't.

[from 2 to 3]

Two boys were busy, now three boys and it is hectic.  Always at least two fighting.
For sanity reasons I wouldn't go past one if I could turn back the clock!