moms of older kids, preschool age and older.

CaitlinJ22 · May 2011

does it get harder as they get older? in general I mean. My sister has a 7 yo, 4 yo and 20 month old. She keeps saying, "wait til their older its so much harder!" its annoying and I feel like she is trying to deter me from having more than 2 kids, so Im curious what others say.

She says when they are in school and you are trying to drop off/pick up kids, dragging the little one around etc. She says they argue and are just wild, in general its more exhausting--so she says.

just wondering what you all have experience with?

LDQAM516 · May 2011

I can see where she is coming from...but the beauty of older children is how independent they are...which I LOVE and am counting down the days until DD turns three. It is easy for us because we only have two...DS puts himself in the SUV and I only have to worry about DD and then buckling DS as I come back around. But I love being that kind of busy...running kids around...I do not love the kind of busy with really young kids. Everyone is different.

CaitlinJ22 · May 2011

thats what I was thinking, I mean DS is able to climb into his seat now and I just have to buckle him. Her older kids can buckle themselves, get in and out, walk near her etc. I guess she also doesnt have a helpful husband and has kids that kinda get out of control often. I love her, but she isnt that consistent with them and disclipine.

LDQAM516-Congrats on #3!!! I hope to be there in the winter.

LDQAM516 · May 2011

Thanks! Now that it's a reality...Iam scared!!!!

hellopoppyseed · May 2011

I was going to ask this question too and I like the first answer! It is hard when they can do nothing or almost nothing for themselves. I don't mind wild enthusiastic playing and driving around (or I don't think I will).

CaitlinJ22 · May 2011

hellopoppyseed:
I was going to ask this question too and I like the first answer! It is hard when they can do nothing or almost nothing for themselves. I don't mind wild enthusiastic playing and driving around (or I don't think I will).

I agree, I dont mind driving around, I think it would be fine. Its one reason I want to have kids close in age so I dont have a newborn and a 7 year old who needs to be dropped off at school. I think thats where it gets hard, waking a baby to go pick kids up. But I just can't see how its gonna be that much harder.

I can see how when they stop napping I will NOT be a happy lady (but my sisters kids rarely napped...she wasnt very good about trying to get them to sleep on their own)

MammaBear81 · May 2011

I think it gets easier as they get older, agreeing with PP about how they are much more independent. My older three are all PT, can dress themselves, and climb in the car/start to buckle themselves in. There are more arguments, but with consistency and teaching them to "use their words" they are already working small problems out on their own. I'm sure different obsicles will arise as they get older, but I really don't think anything can be harder than a newborn that can't do anything for themselves and an 18 month old that wants constant attention!

HarrietNJMommy · May 2011

It's not "harder", it's just "different". I am dreading as my kids get older, especially because I have 3 and they are close in age. I can only really be in one place at one time, and with activities, etc. for 3 kids, my calendar is going to look NUTS!

My oldest starts K in September, and we have full day K, which means that all of her "extra" activities (greek, dance, swim, etc.) will have to be after school hours. That means, I have to drag my other 2 kids with me, since I don't have help (no nanny/babysitter/au pair, etc).

It also means that I'll have to be way more organized and routine oriented since things will be run on a much tighter schedule.

I do see my friends with 2 kids have a much easier time, and my friends that have 3 kids are a bit more bonkers with the driving around..........

And I'm really just dreading all the scheduling and driving around. I love the fact that they are more independent, etc.

GL!

Halo79RN · May 2011

harder in some ways, easier in others. when their little, it gets complicated going places ... holding hands and managing a crying baby and toddler who tries to outcry the little one.. then they get older and go from loving each other one minute to fighting and screaming the next. and then they start teaming up against us! lol. I didn't find haivng two babies 19m apart that difficult. sometimes now I want to pull my hair out when they are fighting and are loud. but still, we get out of the house earlier b/c they dress themselves.

some people love the newborn period. others don't. same difference. ; )

JenninMA · May 2011

I only have two, so I imagine it's harder with three. But for me it has gotten much easier as they have gotten older. I realize that might change- I'm only at 3.5 and 20 months but I'll take where I am now to where I was a year ago any day. There are rough patches but mostly I'd like to freeze them at these ages- they are so sweet and so much fun! I keep thinking about a third but am terrified by the idea and wonder how crazy/busy I'll be with school, sports, and activities in a few years. What life really needs is a crystal ball!

SweetBaby2004 · May 2011

DD#1 is 6 1/2, DS is almost 5, and DD#2 is 15 months. Overall, I think it gets easier. DD#1 and DS can get themselves dressed and buckle themselves into the car. They play really well together and are beginning to incorporate DD#2 into their play now.

When we go places, it is much easier now. We homeschool but the kids are involved in a lot of activities and it is nice because the older two have similar interests and friends.

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