Kids of EB

[NJmike PE]

I have two younger sister, one is 3 yrs younger and one is 10 yrs younger. Sadly, I am much closer with the older

 

[YMZ PE]

Even though Supe has one kid, that was probably the best argument I've read on the issue.

 

[Supe]

Close enough that they will have similar interests for vacation planning, movies, etc.

Never did much as a family, never saw much of my older sister growing up

^ This concerns me.

Are you closer to your older sister now?

We're not exactly close, but we're on speaking terms. I see her occasionally every few years. My parents and sister ended up getting into a pissing match some years ago and haven't spoken since, so I'm the only one that talks to her for that matter. I want to say there's something like 15 years between her and I, but I'm really bad with dates/birthdays...

 

[matt267 PE]

I think a big age gap will result in very few successful family activities/memories. Going to the zoo with the younger won't interest the older. Family bike rides or ski trips would be challenging too.

I don't know. :dunno:

Every family situation is different.

 

[Supe]

Even though Supe has one kid, that was probably the best argument I've read on the issue.

Just remember a lot of what happened with my siblings and I growing up, and comparing that to some of our friends who have kids spaced 2-3 years apart. Those parents with the 2 year gap looked like they haven't slept since the first was born, but it seems to work great for the ones with the 4 + 7 year old combos especially.

 

[matt267 PE]

I think 7+ years is too much. My wife doesn't think it's problem.

I bet Mike can relate to no sleep with <2 years of a gap.

 

[NJmike PE]

It's not that bad, you really get used to it. The chaos of the kids running amuck is the real stresser.

 

[csb]

What I've found, in the small sample group I'm around, is that people who have another one when the first one is about 3 or 4 hate the baby for awhile. I think it has everything to do with at 3 or 4 they start to be more self-reliant. The people with a short time between and the people with a long time between seem to function better. I blame diapering.

My good friend is the baby, being the youngest of four siblings. There's 12 and 15 years between her and her older siblings and those are the two she gets along with the best.

I don't have siblings. They seem like a pain.

 

[Road Guy]

My three are just under two years apart, I'm sure it will suck when they're all in college but I think it makes them all a lot closer while they are little kids.

Also when you have three kids in one elementary school your kids kind of become instant legends.

 

[Lumber Jim]

I agree with mike. Our spacing is 18 months and then 4 years. The first 4 years with kids made us into diaper changing experts and then we got a little break. Just long enough to forget how to do everything but we are finding that the the older two really like to help out with the youngest.

After the last one (over the last 6 months), i recall many times where my wife and I have asked each other: "Do you remember this happening with the first two?"

We've been really lucky though because the 6 month old has been a really easy going baby. It could always be worse. Thank God we didn't get blessed with twins or triplets!! I don't know how those people do it...

 

[NJmike PE]

Also when you have three kids in one elementary school your kids kind of become instant legends.

 

[Road Guy]

Right now I have a ninth grader an eighth grader and a sixth grader but they all won't be back together again until they are all in high school.

It was really fun in elementary school and I think that will be pretty cool when that happens again

 

[MA_PE]

I have one brother. There are 16 months between us. We were one year apart through school. He had his friends and I had mine. Once we hit high school/college there was a fair amount of common socializing between friends, etc.

We have two college aged sons, 18 months apart. From a parental standpoint I liked that we went through each child rearing stage once. There was no break in the diaper stage/ the toddler stage/ grade school/etc.

We have friends that have 4 kids. The first three were separated by 1-2 years then "oops" the fourth one came along when their oldest was 17. I can't see myself starting the whole process again at that late a stage, but you do what needs to be done. My experience (observing friends) is that the "baby" of much older siblings gets a lot more freedom and tends to be spoiled growing up than the older siblings.

Another side note. As I said my kids are college aged, but I've got friends/relatives that waited until they were in their late 30s and 40s before they had any kids. Not a good idea for either the kids or the parents in my opinion.

 

[matt267 PE]

When planning for a second after the first is 7 or 8, one should realize that the addition for the family is for the FAMILY not for the first to have a live toy.

 

[Road Guy]

my kids are out of town for a week, so i am going to be like my kid less friends and post non stop pics of our pets on facebook all week...

 

[Dexman PE PMP]

My kids are 22 months apart. Only thing I think sucks about it is there will be a huge financial hit once they hit high school and start driving and again when they go to college. All the more reason we're doing the "we'll help where we can, but don't expect us to pay for everything" route.

 

[Road Guy]

I see car sharing in my older 2 kids futures, the high school is less than a mile away so they can ride bikes / walk to school for a long long time......

speaking of I will have a 15 year old next week!

We plan to give him the Prius and the wife is gonna get a Jeep JK I hope and not a fucking Subaru...

 

[matt267 PE]

Thinking of having more kids is stressing me out. I need a drink.

 

[MA_PE]

My kids are 22 months apart. Only thing I think sucks about it is there will be a huge financial hit once they hit high school and start driving and again when they go to college. All the more reason we're doing the "we'll help where we can, but don't expect us to pay for everything" route.

"huge financial hit" is somewhat relative. Cars aren't that expensive, you can get a decent daily driver for 1.5 to 2k, insurance here in MA was a jump. Up through high school my son played youth hockey, that was ~$1500+/year. He played for the high school for free. Kids don't NEED their own car. We managed and then they took it over on their own. College...well as been said you do what you can but my kids have loans to pick up the slack. Make them go and look for scholarships...they are out there.
I guess my point is that kids are always a financial "burden", I didn't particularly notice a huge hit....just more of the same.

 

[Road Guy]

I remember thinking when I get them out of diapers we will have some more $$

then it was when we get them out of day care we will have more $$

then it was when they stop playing travel ball...

etc..

etc...

etc...

we do feel good about being on the "back side" of the child years. I have truly loved raising kids but at the same time I am looking towards seeing them fly away from the nest.. and taking the next natural steps into adulthood..whether that be College, the circus, Army, etc....

It will be nice to be able and just say "Hey lets Fly to the Keys this weekend and go dive the Spiegal Grove and fly home" Much Much more affordable with 2 people..hard to beleive I am only a few years away from that!