My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

AIBU?

To be totally sick to death of people saying to me....

46 replies

TheLadyEvenstar · 14/09/2009 23:22

"you must be mad"
"You need your head seeing to"
"oh that must be like starting all over again"
"did you need much help in the beginning because of the gap"?

When they see or ask me about the ages of ds1 and ds2. ffs I wanted an age gap no not necessarily 9 years but guess what thats the way it happened. I like my age gaps, I have not got to try and split my time between 2 demanding toddlers, worry about getting one out of nappies while the other still needs them, I don't need to buy 2 lots of nappies, I don't care that I am 34 with an 11 yr old and a 2 yr old, no i was not very young when i had ds1 but I am more relaxed with ds2....

Sorry rant over just sick of the comments.

OP posts:
Report
GypsyMoth · 14/09/2009 23:32

There's 8 years between me and my brother. It's been lovely! Ignore them.

Report
wezz · 14/09/2009 23:32

I feel your pain

Got the exact same thing...still do from time to time..I have a 13yo a 4yo and a 2yo

just say 'why?' and look blankly at them when they say you're mad

so no...yadnbu

Report
alypaly · 14/09/2009 23:33

ive got 5 years between mine But like you...thats how it happened but DS1 used to bottle feed DS2 whislt i was cooking,it was brilliant!!!!!

Report
TheLadyEvenstar · 14/09/2009 23:34

Brie, i do normally but i have had 4 people i know say it today, The last time i saw them I had only ds1. They really couldn't understand why I had ds2 and why dp and I are ttc. and tbh it hurt me today.

OP posts:
Report
TheLadyEvenstar · 14/09/2009 23:37

Aly, thats what ds1 did with ds2. I tell you a 9 yr age gap has its benefits , he also helps with nappies...not many his age would rinse cloth nappies and prepare them for the washing machine.

Wezz, will give it a try! is that followed by a slap???

OP posts:
Report
wezz · 14/09/2009 23:37

it's not for them to understand!

it's fuck all to do with them

tell them you couldn't give a flying fuck what they think...ignore any further comment from them and enjoy your family

works a treat for me

Report
wezz · 14/09/2009 23:39

I must chill out...my blood is boiling on your behalf

Report
wezz · 14/09/2009 23:40

and a random slap can often help get the point across

Report
TheLadyEvenstar · 14/09/2009 23:44

Wezz, I came home earlier practically in tears for the way i was spoken to. Ok i probably over reacted there but it was the way the said it rather than what they said.

OP posts:
Report
valhala · 14/09/2009 23:45

Ignore the buggers! I have 2 daughters, now aged 12 and 14 with 19 months between them and although not difficult when they were young become harder as the years have gone by as now they fight like cat and dog.

My pal had her second son at the age of 31 when her elder lad was 7... and it worked wonderfully. The elder lad was loving and considerate towards his baby brother and my pal had the time to give each child what he needed.

From my experience you have made a wise decision. Enjoy your children, you will benefit from your choice. How dare anyone question or criticise your decision!

Report
TheLadyEvenstar · 14/09/2009 23:48

Thanks Ladies,
fingers crossed for dc number 3 lol

OP posts:
Report
thumbwitch · 14/09/2009 23:50

how bloody rude of them TLE! Especially if they don't know your history (tbf, I don't either) but you could have been trying desperately for a second and it took that long, you could have had multiple miscarriages in between - how bloody awful of them. Am deeply on your behalf.

A good friend of mine had her 2 DC almost 15 years apart, because of the above-mentioned reasons. Sometimes it's just the way it is and no one has any right to question you on it!

Report
wezz · 14/09/2009 23:53

the comments will upset you though..because it's your family and your choices for your family that they're calling into question.

I used to feel crap when I was pg with DD2 and I'd get the 'you must be mad' and 'omg..i couldn't be starting all over again' etc..It used to make me doubt that I was doing the right thing...doubts that were already floating about in my pg hormonal head.

But having DD2 was the best thing I ever did...and I tell them that when they continue to make their stupid comments...DS came along and our family is complete and I make sure they know that.

Try not to let them get you down..and best of luck ttc

Report
ErikaMaye · 14/09/2009 23:56

People feel they have the right to comment, whatever your circamstances. And to be frank, regardless of the age gap, children will still bicker to some degree, but would also do anything for their siblings if they needed them. That's just how it is. Brotherly and sisterly love

Ignore the arses. Know its hard - have just got used to the comments about my age / disability and being pregnant, am dreading the ones when I'm actually pushing the buggy! - but if you are happy, and your kids are happy, that's what matters

Report
TheLadyEvenstar · 15/09/2009 00:00

Erika how true about the bickering!
You should see ds2 go for ds1....tbh it is quite funny cos he is so much smaller. But he can stand up for himself already.

Worst thing is though he thinks he can roughly play with all children his age....but is a bit bigger than a lot. he is 2 on friday and in 3-4 yr clothes and a size 8 shoe.....hims gonna be like his brother was me thinks. although he is not as big as he was at the same age.

OP posts:
Report
ErikaMaye · 15/09/2009 00:07

There are six years between me and my brother - he'll be the first one to mock me, especially about my disability / pregnancy / spots; y'know, as personal as you can possibly be - but I also have a very clear memory of him wanting to go into school to "beat up" the people that were bullying me when I was 12. He was six, bless him.

Report
TheLadyEvenstar · 15/09/2009 00:14

Like me and my big sister, she is 7 yrs older than me, my brother is 16m older than me and as much as we argued i still fought for them and would to this day....but then i is tough innit xx

OP posts:
Report
thumbwitch · 15/09/2009 00:17

that's often the way with sibs though, isn't it - you're allowed to dis them yourself, but god help an outsider who tries it!

Report
zipzap · 15/09/2009 00:18

Depending on how well you know them (or care!) - turn it around on them - and be as brutal as necessary depending on how much they have hurt you...

'You're the one that has kids so close together you can't give them the individual attention they need/have only bothered to have one child/haven't got kids/whatever and you think I'm mad?!? It's fantastic, it works really well and I think you must be the mad one.'

Before everyone jumps down my throat, yes I know that some people might get hurt by these responses BUT that is sort of the point - the other people are hurting the OP with their comments and they have to see that their comments are just not nice, so it is perfectly reasonable to turn them around back on the conversation initiator because you are mere responding to their question in a perfectly valid way. I'm not suggesting these as conversation starters!

Report
ErikaMaye · 15/09/2009 00:26

Thumbwitch I have ME/CFS which means I have to use a walking stick at all times, a wheelchair for longer ventures, and Borderline Personality Disorder. If only I could lie and say the hair was natural, and all would be well in life!!!

Report
thumbwitch · 15/09/2009 00:30

hope you didn't mind me being nosy . I have had a client, several students and a friend with ME - tis a miserable affliction and I hope that you have a sympathetic GP, even if your bro takes the piss! Do you take supplements of any kind or see any complementary therapists for it?

Shame about the hair and I know what you mean - my hair when I was young was a lovely shade of light red but it has faded to non-descript mid-blonde as I got older, although the sun still shows up the red.

Report
ErikaMaye · 15/09/2009 00:42

Not at all I'm quite happy to talk about it - have been ill for about 20 months now, and had BPD all my life, so its fine. I see a fantastic specialist; because I was 16 when I fell ill I was still under the childrens services, and the doctor I see is one of the best child and teen ME specialists in the country. Before I was pregnant I was taking multi vitamins, and eating a certain diet, generally pacing myself. Did yoga on a daily basis, and that helped so much I can't tell you! Massage was fantastic too - our friends have a chair that I often dash round to use!

Yeah mine used to have a red tint to it when I was younger... Disappeared a while ago, and that's when I started dyeing it, I loved it when it was red!! Ah well

Report

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

pasturesnew · 15/09/2009 00:44

I was surprised you would get lots of comments like this and then I realised I have been guilty of saying to people in similar circumstances, "oh that must be like starting all over again". I didn't think it would be offensive, sorry, as not meant critically. Would it be OK small talk to say, "you'll be able to get the older one(s) to babysit soon" and that kind of thing or does that feel like an unwelcome personal comment on your family too?

Report
thumbwitch · 15/09/2009 00:48

oh that's great Erika - glad you're getting sensible help. One of my students was on megadose vit C for a while - that helped her - but it doesn't work for everyone, it depends what brought the ME on, really. However, I hope you are taking fish oils cos they will help with lots of things (although apparently they have a reputation for increasing foetal head circumference, and DS's head was over the 100th centile at his 20 week scan, which was mildly disturbing! - but it didn't matter re. the birth and he doesn't look abnormal!)

Report
ErikaMaye · 15/09/2009 00:53

Yes, apologies for the hijack

To be frank, some times its a total pain in the bum!! And it does get me down. But actually, when I think about it, if I hadn't have become ill (I had Glandular Fever before hand) and had to leave my lovely sixth form, I wouldn't have met my DP and I wouldn't be expecting our son, which has totally turned my life around. I strongly believe that everything happens for a reason, and this is my reason. Of course I'm terrified of being a mother, especially so young, but at the same time - its given me a reason to live, and I was lacking that before hand. Plus, the wheelchair is fantastic for shopping!!!

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.