My kids are SUPER spread out. Oldest boys are 23 and 18. My DD is 10, I have a 16 mo old and im 14 weeks along with #5. The 'starting over' feeling is the hardest. But it's nice to have helping hands. My daughter absolutely adores the baby and still is so active in helping out. I was prepared for the novelty to wear off and for her to get bored of him, but still hasn't happened. I am more nervous about this new baby, since I've never had 2 under 2... yikes! But I'm game.
BTW, the first question everyone asks when they learn my kids' ages is if it's a 2nd (or 3rd) marriage... nope my DH and I are just nuts!
Your oldest will be so helpful! If all goes well this year ds will be 4 to 4.5 yrs older than #2. We are going to do the wait and see approach for a hopeful #3.
Are your kids excited? I'm pretty sure ours won't be. We're putting off telling them!
We are afraid to tell ours too! My 23 year old was just telling us that it's kind of embarrassing that we have a 1 year old, lol! I hate to see what he'll say about this new baby! Yikes!
Are your kids excited? I'm pretty sure ours won't be. We're putting off telling them!
We are afraid to tell ours too! My 23 year old was just telling us that it's kind of embarrassing that we have a 1 year old, lol! I hate to see what he'll say about this new baby! Yikes!
My step children will be 32, 31, 28 and 19 when this little peanut is born. The 28 year old will have a 1 year old son. She is very excited that our children will grow up together! The oldest two are pleased for us and their dad especially as they remember how much he loved being their dad. The youngest doesn't know yet. She has been away at Uni and very focused on her life (as would be expected)
I'm a little bit worried about her reaction. She has always been the baby and I've been in her life since she was four. In the past she had been very vocal about not wanting a little sibling (although she was much younger then and it could have just been teen embarrassment at the idea)
Not my kids, but my sister and i are 6 years apart and we have been the best of friends all our lives, even when I was like 14 and she was 8... I laugh every time i hear people freak out that they must have kids super close in age 1-2 yrs apart, to make sure they are friends etc... So silly. Age has nothing to do with it. It is all in personality and disposition. And if anything, bigger age gap will ensure that there is no jealousy and competition. I just had this convi with DH how i don't remember ever being jealous or resentful of my sis bc I was bigger and self assured by the time she was born...
I wish I could have my kids at least 4 yrs apart but as is, I am already considered 'elderly' by my doc (yes really!!) and I don't need any more worry and stress about complications so our kids will be just under 3 yrs apart.
DS1 is 4 now, he'll be almost 5 if we concieve this month or 5 if we don't. I also have a stepson who is 18 years older than my son. My son loves his older brother even though he's been in college most of his life so far! lol he's local so they have been able to build an amazing relationship
I have a huge age gap, my daughter is 21 and we are expecting our second we didn't plan it that way, but hey I'll take it! Enjoy it, love is love and sometimes the older kid may try to parent as well!
Just wondering If there are any mommies here with a large age gap between kids. My DS will be 8 when DD arrives. The gap bothered me at first. The more I've thought about it though, the more I like it.
Just wondering of anyone is in a similar boat...
I think there are some huge advantages to a bigger age gap. My 20 year old daughter and 15 year old son did bicker and fuss when they were small but she is great with him now, spoils him, advises him and he looks up to her. Not that he would ever admit that!
@nikkiuk Do you anticipate any issues with the 20 year old and a new baby. My daughter is 21 and is very excited but I want them to share some closeness.... I was actually thinking my daughter might develop jealousy.
@iheartscraps No, not in a million years - that's just not the way she is. I think because she is fiercely independent and is 21 going on 41 herself!
However, there may be a little jealousy at first with my 16 year old son who is a self-confessed Mummy's boy - he was my baby. Even if he does get a little jealous, I don't think it will last long. He will want to be involved with the baby (we know it's a boy) and I think he will actively enjoy being the big brother. My DD is at university so my DS will be the 'main' older sibling and I think he will love it.
I have two boys who will be ages 9 and 11 when baby is born! A couple of years ago it bothered me when thinking about it. However today I could imagine it any other way! My boys are over the moon excited too!
This is a very reassuring post! Thank you to all! This LO is a surprise, so my DD will be 9 at birth & my DS 6. I was also wondering: how in the world will that work? My 1st 2 are best friends & play together non stop. This post had definitely soothed some fears. Thanks.
My son was almost 6 when his sister was born and the age gap worked very well for us. He is extremely helpful and was pretty-self-sufficient, which made the first few months easier.
He'll be 9 when our third is born. I am more worried about the 3.5 year age gap that I will have between the third and my daughter. She is very spoiled and likes to be the "baby."
I am FTM, but I was 16 and my sister 12 when baby brother was born. It was great, my mom had help, my brother got away with nothing.... and has turned out to be the best of the bunch, least troublesome :-) Good luck!
I have a daughter who will be 14 when the baby arrives...another who will be 12 and one more that will be 7. There is a 10 yr gap between my oldest sister and me and my twin brother ( the babies of the family ) So nervous about 14 age gap.
Proud Mom to Kaleigh (14yr) Emma (12yr) and Hanna (7yr)
I worried about the age gap, too - DS turned 8 a few days after DD was born - but there are pros and cons to all age gaps. Big pro here is that they are old enough to understand that babies take a lot of time and energy, and the few times he's been frustrated at limitations having a baby may impose (the whole family going to see Captain America on opening weekend, for example) he has never once gotten upset at or resented the baby. He is absolutely in love with his little sister - this is a pic of them tonight. And she is madly in love with him. They have a really tight bond already - we're thinking of adding a third (why I'm checking out this board!) so I'm not quite sure how that will change the whole dynamic. But that 8 year age gap offers a lot of positives!
Mom to DS - 9/24/2005 Ectopic Pregnancy - 5/7/2012 Miscarriage - 12/13/2012. Mom to DD - 9/13/2013
Re: Age gap?
For what it's worth, my 16 year old who is headed to college in the fall is thrilled and even chose to stay in state after we shared our news.
We also have a 7, 12 and 14 year old. All happy. I hope yours are too.
DS #1 1/10/2004
DS #2 2/1/2006
EDD #3 10/5/2014
I'm a little bit worried about her reaction. She has always been the baby and I've been in her life since she was four. In the past she had been very vocal about not wanting a little sibling (although she was much younger then and it could have just been teen embarrassment at the idea)
*fingers crossed*
I wish I could have my kids at least 4 yrs apart but as is, I am already considered 'elderly' by my doc (yes really!!) and I don't need any more worry and stress about complications so our kids will be just under 3 yrs apart.
[url=http://www.thebump.com/?utm_source=ticker&utm_medium=UBB&utm_campaign=tickers][img]http://global.thebump.com/tickers/tt1a1ae8.aspx[/img][/url]
This LO is a surprise, so my DD will be 9 at birth & my DS 6.
I was also wondering: how in the world will that work?
My 1st 2 are best friends & play together non stop.
This post had definitely soothed some fears. Thanks.
There is a 10 yr gap between my oldest sister and me and my twin brother ( the babies of the family )
So nervous about 14 age gap.
Baby #2 MC June 2008
Baby #3 Born April 2009
Baby #4 due date February 2015
I worried about the age gap, too - DS turned 8 a few days after DD was born - but there are pros and cons to all age gaps. Big pro here is that they are old enough to understand that babies take a lot of time and energy, and the few times he's been frustrated at limitations having a baby may impose (the whole family going to see Captain America on opening weekend, for example) he has never once gotten upset at or resented the baby. He is absolutely in love with his little sister - this is a pic of them tonight. And she is madly in love with him. They have a really tight bond already - we're thinking of adding a third (why I'm checking out this board!) so I'm not quite sure how that will change the whole dynamic. But that 8 year age gap offers a lot of positives!