I think I was pretty aware of what I was walking into when we decided to have a third child. I was aware that the cost implication was going to be huge. I needed a new, bigger car. Holidays would become even more expensive. Only having two arms could be problematic if they went in three directions. What I didn't appreciate was how isolating it could feel.
When big man was little I went to every baby class around. He went to college, music, baby signing and swimming. It was to keep me entertained more than him. But we had lots of fun and made lots of friends. Middle man came along. Things changed, but not too much. My friends had second children too, and the only real difference was the amount of children we needed to fit in a house for a play date.
However, now big man has started school and middle man is at pre-school, all I do is rush from one place to another. Arranging a class for baby man to do is easier said than done and there is no chance for a coffee and chat afterwards as middle man needs collecting from pre-school. Meeting at the park, generally means my friends sit and chat whilst I go running after baby man, as he is still too small to go around by himself. Afternoon meet-ups are out of the question as baby man has a nap, and then it is off to get big man from school.
Trying to speak to any of the mums at the school gate without the interruption of one of my children playing on the slide that they aren't supposed to go on, is near impossible. So strangely, having a third child has become quite isolating.
I wouldn't change it for the world, but it is not something I had considered at all. I also know that it wont last forever. So this is why I am looking forward to the summer holidays. I wont be rushing around as much and I get to see more of my big man too. I know that I wont be able to do lots of day trips as having baby man makes that hard, but we will be able to have some lovely time at home being a family. Just me and my boys. And that makes me very happy.
I do of course reserve the right to totally change my mind two days into the summer holidays when having all three at home is driving me bonkers! But for the next week I will look forward to them!
Louise is a full-time mum of three who gets through her day with the help of A Strong Coffee
Blogs at: A Strong Coffee
Twitter: @astrongcoffee1