[arthymom]

Just wondering for a few reasons...

Do any of you have a large age difference between your kids? How does it work for you?

Thanks!

[starryeyes]

I love it, although some think we are crazy. It works well for us. Ours are 22, 16, and 8 years old and we are adopting a one year old.

There are pros and cons for each but this worked out well for us.

[wvamom]

We have three older kids (16, 13 and 11) and a 2 year old. (I think that qualifies as a big age difference).

I never really planned to have such a big span, but it took me 4 years to convince dh to adopt. In the meantime, my other kids were getting older.

In some ways it has worked out great. I have two older girls who are wonderful with our little one. And our older son (most of the time) is thrilled to have a younger brother.

The downside is, I think our baby is spoiled. I wish he would have siblings his age to interact with, too. But you can't have everything...at least he is around other kids at the nursery at church, and starting in September, he will be in a preschool with other 2 year olds.

I think kids are a blessing, no matter what their age difference. I sure wouldn't give up any of mine!

Carolyn

[Brie Brock]

In some ways it seems like we have 2 sets of kids: We have a 16, 14, 12 and 7 & 2 and are adopting a 1 yr old. We are one big happy family, the older kids really love the younger ones, we have alot of fun!!

Brie

[NeeNee]

We love it. We were all together last night for my 22 year olds college graduation. I sat at the table in the restaurant thinking how amazing it was to have such a wonderful family...how blessed we are!

Our children are 25, 22, almost 17, 13, 5, 4, and our newest member is 9 months. They all just love the baby and the four and five year olds. I can't even describe what it feels like to have such wonderful children who were so open to us adopting a new little child. The six oldest are all bio, our new little guy is our first adopted. It's everything I dreamed it would be and more!!!

I have no complaints at all!

Good luck!

[mommytoEli]

I 2nd the "two sets of kids" thing. Mine are 12, 11, 3, and the little guy we are waiting on is 5months. It works most of the time. It is also VERY helpful to have extra hands when I need to get things done. HOWEVER, it is difficult to find movies we all like, games we can all play, etc. We finally just built a pool and have discovered that pool play is universal and the one thing we can all do together without complaints.

[Clare'sMom]

Originally Posted by puss'nboots

I love it, although some think we are crazy. It works well for us. Ours are 22, 16, and 8 years old and we are adopting a one year old.

There are pros and cons for each but this worked out well for us.

We have 23, 22, 19, 23mo., 22.5 mo., & One comming soon! (WE hope!!!)
We haven't even told most of our family about #6 because they think we are certifiable already LOL.
But we are having a Ball!!! The big kids love the little ones so much, and babysitters are NEVER a problem!!!! Money isn't as tight as it was when we were younger. We seem to be more relaxed with the younger children, we don't worry about as much either... we know dirt is not poisonous, cookies for breakfast are OK sometimes and TV doesn't rot their brains & make them dumb (Proud Mom of Honor Students & College Grads)....
I does realy suck to be asked, how old my grand child is... or when people say, so how many kids ARE YOU planning to adopt....
We are so happy that we where given the oportunity to raise these wonderful children. Each one has been a special gift to our family and I can't imagine my life without any of them.... no matter how many we have or how OLD I am!!
Do what ever is in your heart!! Ann

[starryeyes]

Ann - I know just what you mean about being more relaxed with the younger ones. It's fun to parent in my 40s; I worry a lot less!

Somebody said to me recently, "You're DONE now, though, right?" LOL. As long as they are all happy, healthy, and I'm supporting them, no one has any say in it but us!

[2nd time round]

Yes, we have a 20, 10 and almost 5 yrs old. I think it's easier! I don't miss out on a lot because they aren't doing the same things at the same times!

[desilu1991]

We have a 16 yr old son; 13 and 8 year old daughters; all bio...; and now Luke who will be 2 in 30 days. It's been really good.. our oldest daughter loves to help with him and the 8 year old has been a great playmate for him. Our 16 yr. old son loves him and plays with him when he's around .. which isn't much.. but they all adore him.

It's a challenge sometimes, to be able to find fun things to do together, because of the age differences, tho. Any they all have their own different activities and it's hard to drag Luke around to everything sometimes.. Taking him to Jacob's football games was hard.. he was tired by the end of the first quarter... but it all worked out and it will for you, too.

It's been nice to have the extra help with the older kids.

Good luck,
Judy

[arthymom]

Really thoughtful posts. I appreciate it.

[P.E.Z.]

Our oldest just turned 16 last Wed, our youngest is 3 1/2 and we are adopting a 4 1/2.
I once heard a woman
(who had 8 children from toddler to 20's )
Say ,..... Everyone with a teenager should have the privalidge of having a toddler , because when your teenager thinks you are from another planet , there's that little one who still believe Mom and Dad are the Hero's of the world.

Although ore teenager is a GREAT girl , I know , my husband and I are not her hero at this stage of her life. sniffle ! sniffle!

The age is not a problem for our family .

[lifessence]

we have an almost 12 year old bio daughter and an almost 4 year old bio daughter - adopting a 2.5 year old and 5 month old! can't wait and love knowing they will all be here for each other long after we are gone!

[ourdreamcametru]

It's much easier this time around! Ours are almost 16 almost 12 and 2 years and it works wonderful for us. The older two are always with friends so it's like we have just the baby most of the time. I'm sure there are benefits to having them close together but I love ours spread out!

[saranbr]

Only having one I am not a parent in this situation at this time, but thought I'd throw in my perspective as the oldest child of "two sets of kids". My brother and I are close in age then seven years until my sister and the last followed closely. So 12 years between me and the youngest. We're all bio kids of the same two parents-- just took my Mom a few years to convince my Dad to have more!

I LOVED having younger siblings-- great fun for a girl that age! I think my Mom really liked having babysitters and I never minded doing it. I will say, however, that I've always been more of another parent to the girls than a sibling. My brother and I are close like sibs but to this day I'm an older source of advice for the girls. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind that at all, just different than the friendship I have with my brother, and the youngest is now 18. Maybe this will change with time. They've always come freely to me (much more than our Mom) with "body questions", etc so it's been good for them. I never had anyone I could talk to about that stuff.