Comments on: Parenthood lately, bullet-style

By: Heather

Heather — Wed, 28 May 2008 18:22:52 +0000

I can only hope that it gets easier. My three are currently 4, 3 and 20mos…the first two are only 13.5 mos apart, little one is just 21 mos behind.

I was informed while 8.5 mos pg with the little one, that at one point I will actually have all three in high school at the same time. Scary!

Did I mention they are all girls?

By: Julie

Julie — Fri, 23 May 2008 20:01:37 +0000

Having not read through all the comments, I’m probably repeated what someone else has already said. But, here goes anyhoo. I wouldn’t say getting out of the baby/toddler stage is easier OR harder, just different. My 5 and 2-year old play really well together…when they want to play together. There are times when all hell breaks loose and I’m at a total loss for what to do. Intervene? Let them work it out? Pretend like there’s a truck outside for a distraction? I will say it is somewhat easier now that they can pretty much get their own snacks. I’m not up and down and in and out of the kitchen all freaking day.
And kudos on the whold nighttime going to bed routine. I wish I knew the secret to getting my night owls to bed at a decent hour!

By: Brooke

Brooke — Wed, 21 May 2008 19:06:05 +0000

I know I need to watch my language because my charming 8 year old girl asked me what a shithead was after a rant about my stepson.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Wed, 21 May 2008 18:50:50 +0000

I do not have any children of my own but I must say that it is a good thing that your child stays in their bed when you are not there.it must make life easier for you.

By: Danielle-Lee

Danielle-Lee — Wed, 21 May 2008 03:16:09 +0000

I’m totally giving you an internet High Five on the staying in bed thing. My kid does it too! And I’ve almost said to her ‘Christ, you can get out of bed to get your stuffed animal!’ but I caught myself. Whew.
Oh, and such pride at wee little lips cussing: I had that pride too. You are not alone. :)

By: Kris

Kris — Wed, 21 May 2008 01:40:41 +0000

I don’t have kids yet, but I work in a hospital with LOTS of kids and talk with LOTS of parents. Some parents seem to feel that things get easier as they get older…for the reasons you find Riley easier at times (i.e. You can actually talk to him!) But then again, others say its harder as they get older. It depends on the kid and what the parents find easier/harder. How’s that for a non-answer for you!

By: Sheryl

Sheryl — Tue, 20 May 2008 23:36:11 +0000

My 10 year old daughter, describing a vandalism incident in the boy’s bathroom at school, involving poo, a wall, and some smearing: “Mommy, I don’t know what the fuck they were thinking”.

“Mommy” and “what the fuck” in the same sentence….niiiiiiiice.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Tue, 20 May 2008 19:39:06 +0000

I have a 14 year old boy and a 13 year old girl. Physically it gets much easier as they get older. Emotionally, in some ways, it’s harder. One, they argue more with each other. Two, they argue with you more, too. Three, for a few years you can reason with them, use logic, but once the teens hit, it’s kinda like having toddlers again. They want what they want and they want it now.
(And I must say I miss the days when they were enthusiastic about everything. Now they act so blase about everything)

By: Alyson

Alyson — Tue, 20 May 2008 16:49:55 +0000

Every kid is entirely his own person. #1 was by far my easiest child (fast learner), #2 a bit more challening in some ways, easier in others, #3 Nearly 11 years old and still drives me crazy on a regular basis. But I also know he is the one most attached to me. The boys have their similarities, but I never make the mistake of thinking they are all the same. The minute they do, some weird behavior comes back to bite you on the butt!

By: Claudia

Claudia — Tue, 20 May 2008 16:26:03 +0000

I have two daughters: 7 and almost 4. I spaced them apart like that ON PURPOSE. I don’t think I could have stood two children in diapers, only two years apart. As it was, those first couple years were hard. Especially in the winter. Especially since the 4 yr old is the “challenging” tomboy who wants to “beat beat beat” us with her fist. She’s the boy I didn’t have.

That said,it is easier in general the older they get but the challenges are different. It’s so nice to not be physically needed so much (I breastfed both for 18 months). And it’s SO NICE to have two potty trained children – having only one butt to wipe (mine)…I can’t tell you how nice that is. Plus, the older child can fix her own sandwich. Which means I can loll around on the sofa for minutes at a time and read. Until something breaks or a fight breaks out (and, yes, you don’t need boys to have fighting between siblings). The youngest is a hair puller, an eye gouger.

So better in somes ways, worse in others. Either way, you will be happier by 2010.