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Becoming a family of 5 – What to expect.

Becoming a family of 5 – What to expect.

So here we are a family of 5. Our 3rd child Alfie arrived on 29th December 2016 and he has fitted right in. Becoming a family of 5 was a little bit of a worry for us. Our girls have such a strong relationship. I know there are lots of siblings that don’t get on. We are lucky and we were nervous about rocking the boat.

When do you know if becoming a family of 5 is the right decision?

The answer is simple, you don’t. It is always a worry when introducing another child into the family. Would becoming a family of 5, and adding a third child into the mix upset the balance. I remember experiencing similar concerns when I was expecting Harri baby number 2. How would Meme cope not being the only child anymore? How would she manage having to share our attention? One on 1 time is already impossible at times.Β  We honestly never needed to worry as Meme loved becoming a big sister. I can honestly say there has never been any issues with jealousy.

As I right this Alfie has just turned 5. I can honestly say that becoming a family of 5 has been the best decision that we ever made. The girls adore him. They always have since the moment he was born. Alfie was quite a tricky toddler and there have been many times when we have had to cancel days out because of his behaviour. But the girls never once resented this or are angry with him.

The cons of becoming a family of 5

There have been times that I have felt a little overwhelmed with trying to look after and entertain 3 children (especially during homeschooling and lockdowns). When Alfie was first born, Harri was still only 3 and still needed a lot of attention which was hard to juggle.

It is really hard trying to get any one on one time with my children. This last year my eldest has been working towards her 11 plus assessmentΒ it was important I spent time with her, having 2 other children all at home this was difficult.

Finally the expense of being a family of 5 is a lot. Holidays generally cater for a family of 4. A car to fit a family of 5 is another factor to think about. Now Alfie is old enough, like the girls he is doing after school clubs. Ours clubs bills are like paying another mortgage!

The Pros of becoming a family of 5

The pros of having more children will always outweigh the cons. I cannot believe they are all mine and they bring so much joy.

There is always someone around to play with. They will always have each other. There is so much love in a family of 5. You get to experience the joy of bringing a baby into the world 3 times. That moment they are placed in your arms is so so special. The oldest helps the youngest and it is lovely to watch.

However what I love the most is that our 5 year old keeps is all young. My 11 year old stills runs around with us, plays with toys, comes on bike rides, runs into the sea. He keeps us adults young too.

So whilst it is a bit of a juggling act at the beginning and even now there are times when I do not get a moment. There are too many demands from too many people. I will never regret becoming a family of 5.

If you are thinking about have a 3rd child then go for it. It is a little crazy at times but lots and lots of fun!

29 thoughts on “Becoming a family of 5 – What to expect.

  1. Congratulations on your new arrival. Lovely news to read. Love that photograph, such a precious moment bringing back their little brother x #TheOrdinaryMoments

  2. That photo is wonderful Natalie. Sleep deprivation is tough lovely, don’t be too hard on yourself. Those first few weeks are some of the hardest. You need to recover from the birth and everyone needs to adjust. Take care xx

  3. Oh gosh it’s such a difficult time with a little one isn’t it? And I agree it’s so difficult to know how to cope with your last ‘baby’ still being a baby themselves, they grow up so quickly when a younger sibling comes along. I’m glad you’re managing to enjoy this newborn time though. That photo of the girls in the hospital is adorable.
    Nat.x

  4. What a lovely photo and i found myself nodding along as I was in your shoes just a few months ago. It is amazing but it does take some adjusting. You soon find your groove though. Although with us sleep has never returned, we have a bad sleeper here! xx

  5. That photo is just gorgeous. It’s bound to be overwhelming but I hope you find your routine and it all becomes the new normal soon. Lots of love to your new, bigger, family xx

  6. Huge congratulations on your third baby πŸ™‚ I can’t even imagine how tough is must be with three kids (I’ve only got one!) but I hope you will settle in to new routines soon. What a cute photo of the girls πŸ™‚ #theordinarymoments

  7. Aww a huge well done for getting through the crazy christmas and new year period. That part of the year can be so exhausting. It sounds like things are so lovely with your big girls and their little brother. I hope the sleep comes xx

  8. aww congratulations. I love the pic with the ballon and how cute are those coats? I am glad I read this. I was eorried about the same thing. I can’t wait to read more about your life s 5. Thank you for linking up my love. #MaternityMondays

  9. Congratulations on your sweet little Alfie! I’m expecting #2, and definitely nervous about how things will play out with my son not being the only child anymore. It sounds like you’re all adjusting nicely though, but I know you must be excited to just have some alone time with baby. <3 #KCACOLS

  10. Congratulations on the birth of your little boy – love his name! It’s brilliant that he’s fitted right in and I’m sure your girls will love having a baby brother! #KCACOLS

  11. Firstly congratulations! And well done on keeping it together with 3 little ones. I’m not at all surprised you’ve cried with tiredness. I feel like that with 1, and our daughter is very good (I know, I’m biased but she really, really is!) #mg

  12. Aww congratulations and you sound like you’re doing amazing. I want 3 kids, my husband thinks I’m mad and 2 is enough, but I really want a big family. xx #mg

  13. Gorgeous picture and congratulations on the new addition to your family! I have not yet made the jump from one to two! How lovely for you to have a little boy as well, I am glad they are settling into having a new sibling and I send you lots of sympathetic new baby energy! Give it time and be kind to yourself. Thank you for linking to #KCACOLS and we hope to see you next Sunday xx

  14. That photo is super cute! I remember having all those fears too, how would a third child change everything? I would have been thrilled with 3 girls, but somehow having a boy I was relieved that the 2 girls would always have just one sister each. Now at 12, 9 and 7 I can honestly say they are amazing friends, and I really mean that. Right now my eldest is on school camp and it is nice that the other 2 still have each other. So happy for you!!! #mg

  15. Aw I love the photo πŸ™‚ how old are your girls? I remember having my first baby and my step-daughter got quite clingy and “look what I can do/look at this mummy” etc for a few weeks but that eased off when she realised she was old enough to help with bathing and picking out clothes for her brother. They’re the best of friends now! Congratulations on your newest addition! #KCACOLS
    Becky x

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