anyone plan to have another in the far future?

[SomedayMaybe3]

I just started school and should be done in 4 years. I have two kiddos already, 2 1/2 and 1 year. I sometimes want another one sooooo terrible bad but know it wont be for a long time...probably 5 or 6 years...That would leave a pretty big gap...Anyone plan this or btdt? I'm just sooo torn. We short on money now and always have been but once i have my degree too and work we'll be able to afford a third and not have to worry about money...then again once i have a degree my kids will be 5 and 7 and i'll be feeling a lot more freedom and we could use that money for travel and nice things like that..

Ugh..see my confusion?!

Maybe i should just wait and see...i just can't stop this feeling of wanting and wish i could:/

[~cassie]

We are hoping to have one more in about 5 yrs. I tell dh I want to wait until all of the ones we have are in school full time and I have a 2nd degree and a job. It sucks b/c I won't be able to be a SAHM with our next child b/c I plan to get my nursing degree in the next few years so I can help support the family, but maybe dh will be a SAHD instead. I'm worried if we wait that long I may change my mind but I'm not anywhere ready for #4!

[Nicole730]

If I was in your situation I'd do one of these two things. If I really only wanted 3, I would have another one right away. Or wait until I was done with school, then have 2 more close together.

[nolonger]

I wound up with sixteen years between my youngest two. It wasn't what I or anybody else in their right mind would have planned, but life was just crisis after crisis after crisis until I woke up one day and realized that I had to just go for it and try to have a baby under less than ideal circumstances and hope that I hadn't waited too long.

It has been wonderful. The sibling relationships are "different", but very loving, close, and heart-warming. The perspective the spacing gives me benefits all of the kids.

Families don't have to be exactly alike. Please don't rule out large age spacings or feel as if it is "too late" if you can't have all of your children close together.

[Super~Single~Mama]

I want another in about 4-5years. I never thought I'd say that, but I really really really do!!

I'd have another sooner, but with the custody fight thats going on over my ds right now, finishing law school, trying to make it without child support in a big expensive city, its just not going to happen. I'm hoping that I'll be in a secure relationship by then, but if not I'll do it myself!

[teachma]

Last year, when I gave birth to my third, my oldest was nearly 9 years old and my middle had just turned five. Everything about our family is great the way it is right now, and I wouldn't change a thing! Make the choices that are right for you, and you'll be happy with the result.

[Gendenwitha]

When we got married, I wanted one child, maybe two if spaced far apart. Dh wanted 6 kids spaced close together. Our compromise was two close together, talk to me again in 10 years.

So my kids are 12/96, 6/98, and 6/06, and I've agreed to one more. The idea was to have two close together again, but thing$ kept getting in the way.

Have to say it's wonderful having the older two. It's almost like he's got two extra parents. There's two more people making sure he doesn't hurt himself, two more people to read him stories or take him outside on his trike. And if he goes running off, it's two people with younger legs and more energy to go running off after him.

Also, the oldest likes baseball, and dh and I are totally clueless... so as he gets older it's two more people with diverse interests to help him with things like learning to hit a baseball, or play violin.

And they love him. They love teaching him stuff, and playing with him. They were there at the birth, and his 8yr old brother cut the cord. And he adores his older brothers. Gives them hugs and snuggles and tells them he loves them.

[Ileapb4Ilook]

Yes, I know exactly how you feel. I have two little boys, ages 5 and 2 (both born in January) and am desperate for another child. However, I don't have the resources right now, and am within 9 hours of completing my B.S. degree. Still, I can't do much with a degree in biology, so I'm planning to start grad or professional school next year, because I want a "guaranteed" career that I actually enjoy. That decision came with MUCH chagrin because I REALLY want another baby! The thought of putting that on hold for 4-6 years makes me want to scream. But I have to do what is best for my family now, and hope that everything will align for a happy, healthy pregnancy and family later. I loved the 3 year gap between my boys, and my oldest son asks for a baby sister regularly, but we'll be patient I guess. I hope I don't change my mind later either My boys are dreams come true but I don't feel my family is complete. I guess a small part of me would like to get married also, though if I didn't feel like my children deserved a father in the home, I likely wouldn't. Best of luck in your decision.