OT: Age difference between your children

[tiff211]

chiming in late:

I have 4 girls, 9 years difference between the first 2, 15, 6, 4, 1. I see that DD15 has a special bond with DD1 that I didn't see with the rest. DD6 and DD4 have a love/hate relationship. I predict that will stay that way. I wonder how the dynamics will change as DD1 gets older and joins in. Right now, she prefers to be a loner.

DH and I figured out that in 4 years they will all be in the same school in 5th, 3rd and K. Anyone else have all siblings in the same school, that aren't twins or triplets?

 

[PrincessasMommy]

I have 3 girls...so far! And my age differences are pretty close to the pp.

I have 7 years between the first 2 girls (too far imo but dd#1 was special needs and finances made us wait), I thought I would make up for lost time with the 2nd 2 and they are 17 months apart - this was alot of work but now that they play together, they are so wonderful and fun. And the new baby due in June will be 3 years apart from our 3rd dd.
I think that is going to be the perfect spacing, because at 7 yrs old my oldest was an only child too long, at 17 months my middle wasn't the baby long enough, and at 3 my "baby for now" will be old enough to understand baby, can put her own velcro shoes on, knows patience, and will feel big as she goes to preschool a couple days a week!
As for 3 in school at the same time, we have it figured out that this baby will start Kindergarten when DD #1 starts University!! Our elementary school kids will be in Kindergarten, Grade 2 & Grade 3!
And I'll be 38!! Where does the time go??

 

[DisneyPhD]

chiming in late:

I have 4 girls, 9 years difference between the first 2, 15, 6, 4, 1. I see that DD15 has a special bond with DD1 that I didn't see with the rest. DD6 and DD4 have a love/hate relationship. I predict that will stay that way. I wonder how the dynamics will change as DD1 gets older and joins in. Right now, she prefers to be a loner.

DH and I figured out that in 4 years they will all be in the same school in 5th, 3rd and K. Anyone else have all siblings in the same school, that aren't twins or triplets?

I have to say I have noticed a very special bond with large gaps between ages too. I am the youngest of 4 children. I have 3 older brothers who are 10, 8 and 6 years older then me. I am close with them all, being the "super baby" I had a very protected relationship.

Now my girls are very close with their older cousins (who are more like my other kids then my niece and nephews.) The older kids are very good with the younger ones too, I see a whole new side to them around the babies.

I think it is good for older kids to have younger siblings. It is great for the little kids to have big brothers and or sisters too! I guess I really believe that just because your kids aren't close together in age, doesn't mean they won't be close.

 

[Michigan]

8 years difference they are 9 & 17. Sometimes they are close and sometimes the oldest one acts younger then the youngest and they fight like cats and dogs.

 

[PaulaSue]

Mine are 2 years and 2 months and 2 years and 3 months apart. It was really hard when my 3rd was born but now at almost 4 years old is it great, IMO.

I really think there is no perfect age difference. For me, I was 25 when I got married. I wanted to have my kids ASAP with my risk of early BC (My mom was 36 and her sister and my other GM had it too) and both Dh and I are onlies.

 

[belle&beast]

MIne are 2.5 years apart exactly. We actually wanted them to be closer, but it was not under our control. IMO 2.5 was a really hard age for DD to accept DS. She hit the "terrible twos" just about the time he was bornanf asked when he was going back! I think it would have been a lot easier if she was younger or closer to 3.5-4. But now they are still close enough in age to have some common interests and far enough apart that they are independent of one another.

 

[MissyDVC]

DS8 and DD 6 1/2 are 16 months apart and we LOVE it! We had a hard time having a first child so started trying almost right away and DD was a wonderful and quick surprise They are great friends and have been from the start. They go through things almost at the same time and yet they are two very different children. I wouldn't trade it so anything.

 

[SGB13]

belle&beast- You made me laugh. My DD is 2 1/2 years older than her brother also. When he was a couple weeks old she asked if we could take him back to the hospital now. We had a long talk about the fact that he was here to stay, and I guess it worked. Now the are the best of friends and play together constantly. I'm a lucky Mom. Hope they don't start fighting too much when they're older.
My sister was only 1 1/2 years older & 1 grade ahead of me in school, we were always fighting. My husbands brother was 4 years younger and they didn't do much together at all. So we aimed for some where in between. It has worked well for us. But I did feel like I did diapers forever. (DD just getting out of them when DS was born). So I can see the appeal of having them closer in age.

 

[LCtonra]

I have a boy and a girl and they are almost five years to the day...my daughter is June 8th and my son was born this past June 7th. The pros...my DD is self sufficient. I just have to tell her to go brush her teeth, get PJ's on, etc. She was never a mommies helper like everyone said she would be, but I knew she wasn't into babies. Cons....even with just being 5 years apart. It was like starting over. We were in our routine. She was in school full time this year and we welcomed a baby. I wouldn't change it for the world though. We have a new routine, which is basically that we do not have one at all

 

[TheDizMom]

Mine are 41/2 years apart and I like it most of the time. I like it the most because I'll only have to put one through college at a time, but mostly because they are so far a part no one can compare them. My sister and I are 14 months apart and like night and day. We were constantly compared and I usually got the raw end of the deal because she NEVER did anything wrong. We fought so much by the time we hit middle school my mother used to try and keep us from being in the house together so she could have some peace.
Over all I think 3 years would be perfect and that is what I wanted, but God felt differently so 41/2 years it is. They get along pretty well though and my DS is good about doing things like playing house which most big brothers wouldn't. There are times when he doesn't want to play with her and she frustrates him, but I think that would happen anyway. For me the one down side is she thinks she should be able to do what he gets to and doesn't understand when she can't, and it's always a fight. But as they say "this to shall pass" or will it.

 

[mrs. magoo]

We did the 4 kids in 5 years thing. The first two ds #1 and dd #1 are 14 months apart. The next one, dd #2, is 2 years 12 days from dd #1 and finally ds #2 is 2 years and 2 months from dd #2. It is crazy around here, but now that all are potty trained and the youngest goes to school in the fall I am a little sad for the old days. Then I remember and say what are you crazy.

DS 9 DD 8 DD 6 DS 4 in 2 weeks

 

[mlraabe]

Ours are - #1 and #2 3 yrs 3 months apart, #2 and #3 3 yrs 3 months, #3 and #4 19 months. I really liked the 3 years difference but when we were discussing #4 realized that just as we got out of the baby stage we were starting it again. With oldest DS starting to get involved in activities we decided that the last two should be closer. We knew four would be it. The last 2 DS are now just turned 5 and 3 1/2. they are a handfull but, best of friends. DS3 won't know what to do next year when DS5 goes to all day Kindergarten! They go to preschool together right now. Ds11 and DD 8 fight most of the time. When they were younger they played well together but I think now the gender difference is the problem. Plus, DD11 is starting to get that "teenager" attitude and DD knows exactly how to push his buttons! It is funny though that both DD11 and DD8 get along great with the three year old but not always so well with the five year old. I think it is more personality conflicts than anything. DD5 is really our wild child and has a little too much energy!! As I'm writing this right now the youngest two are very involved playing with the Imaginext Castle - a daily event. They just love to play together. But, life was hard (getting easier) when they were babies and we had 2 others too! If we could go back we would probalby have the first 2 closer and 3 yrs with the rest.

As far as elementary goes:we have a preschool program so for the past 2 years I have had 3 kids in the same school. Last year 5th, 2nd, and preschool. This year 3rd, and 2 in preschool. DD11 is across the parking lot in the middle school. They will all be in the high school/middle school at the same time though! And I teach at the elem building part time so most of our family is in the same place during the day.

 

[Fintastic]

We're looking at having a baby this time next year (give or take a month) so DD will be almost 4½. I wanted baby #2 to be between 3-4 years younger than DD so I guess we're just slightly behind schedule. I just haven't been ready any sooner.

 

[mommytodarlings]

My sister is 9.5 yrs older than me and my brother is 11 yrs older than me, so it was like I was an only child and did not want than for my children.

My oldest is 5, 14.5 months older than #2, 17 months between 2 & 3 and 2 years between 3 &4. My oldest is a girl and she gets along great with the other 3. The only fights we have are between #2 & #3, but they are both boys, so I think that is the biggest reason for fights.

All of them were planned. We wanted them close in age. We wouldn't have it any other way, except for the stares we get from some people when we go out, lol.

 

[LisaNJ25]

Mine are 14, 7, 2 and 1.

I loved having the age gap... didnt have 2 in daycare at the same time.. many things were easier... not sure how i feel yet about the last 2 being 12 months and 6 days apart lol.. some days are better than others.

 

[arielsleepingbeauty]

17 months. One is 5 and one is 6. Also had 3 miscarriages before my first.

 

[homedad]

DS5 and DD3, good split for us as they really like to play together

 

[sharlon]

Let's see
DD9 and DD8 are 22 months apart (DD9 will be 10 in March) They are exactly the same age difference as my sister and I are and now we are best friends, although we fought like my two daughters do. They also play well together though and obviously share secrets and giggle alot. They are also both very smart and very competitive with each other.
DS1, no not an accident, real life just got in the way of having our third. He is 18 months old, so DD8 was 6 1/2 when he was born. They spoil him rotten!

 

[Disneydreaming6]

Ok, here goes. Child 1 dd17 is 4 yr older then child 2 dd13 child 3 ds12 is 1yr younger then child 2. Child 4 ds5 is 6 yrs younger then child 3. For me it was much easier having them a yr apart then it was 4yrs or eeeekk 6 yrs apart. Oldest dd still thinks she is an only child. She was also very independent. I found it very hard having to lug dd #2 everywhere, she was not a very easy baby, to this day she is still like velcro. But it was easier, hey your changing one diaper whats one more. Now, 6 yrs apart. All the kids could do things on their own. I was finally able to close the bathroom door to take a shower. I wouldn't trade my little guy for anything. But he does wear me out. Where does he get the energy. Even the older kids have to ask him to just sit for a min.....lol