Advice and Perspective on Having 3 Kids

Last night we sent off our birth announcement to our general e-mail mailing list. This blog site and our website have never had so many hits in 24 hours since our first child arrived in 2002. I haven't had time to read most of the responses yet. However, it's been encouraging to see visits from many friends in different parts of the U.S., Canada, France, and England, as well as places like Norway, Brezil, Spain, Taiwan, Singapore, Senegal, Australia, etc.

In it, we asked for parents of 3 children (or more) or those who grew up in homes with 3 or more children for encouragement and specific advice. This has been very helpful and encouraging.

Scott, father of 4 daughters and mobilizer of missional churches with our organization, wrote the following: "Having 3 or more kids pretty much means you are both "on duty" all the time. In some ways it's easier that way. No more arguments over who gets a break or who gets a warm meal. The obvious answer now is "no one"."

With the extra domestic work that seems to have come since #3's arrival, this "on duty all the time" seems to be a reality.

Lynn, mother of 4 and from my home church in New Jersey, wrote the following: "We pray God will give you much wisdom, patience and REST as you seek to nurture and guide and teach your 3 little ones. Coming from one who had 3 just like you, in 4 years, there will be days you will think you can't do it all but God gets you through with the help of others. Just focus on enjoying each one for the gift they each truely are from a gracious, loving God! They grow so fast, so treasure each day!!!" (Bold mine)

Cathy, college friend of my wife from South Dakota and mother of 5 (with twins due next month), wrote the following to my wife: "YOU are looking great...a job well done. It brings back memories when we had 3 kids ages 3 and under. Definitely the hardest, most challenging parenting time. Now we have 5 and are expecting twins the end of March. Our oldest is 10 and our youngest is 3. This is a lot easier than having 3 small children! Advice: take one moment at a time." (Bold mine)

Our oldest two had a hard time winding down and getting to sleep tonight. It seems like they are realizing that this new baby is here to stay and takes lots of mom's time. They seem to need reassurance that we love them and that they won't lose their place in our home.