Starting all over again when eldest children are leaving primary. All the school plays again, school runs again etc when freedom is so near!!

I have a 10 year gap between mine and have friends with children who are now adults and empty nesters and friends with children the same age as my youngest (17) - lots of friends. It’s all good.

My mum had my brother when I was in my last year of high school, I spent over 10 years TTC #2 so DC was in his last year of primary when I had my last round of IVF so I would have been starting over had it worked

You absolutely couldn’t pay me to do this.

my eldest is 12, youngest is 9 and I’m counting down the days until primary school runs are over!

in hindsight, I wish I’d had my second one sooner than I did.

My children are 23, 12 and 5 🤣🤣

Absolutely no way. I shudder at the thought of doing it all again. It doesn’t take away from the experience first time around, but I wouldn’t want to do it all again.

When my middle left primary, my youngest started. I have really relished this time again, and am feeling emotional at the thought of this stage of my life ending.

Best of all the older two are adults and love looking after their youngest sibling so we still get to go away and have time together. I spend time out with friends etc so feel like I have a great balance of family life and my own life.

Going back to your question, is it the norm? The norm looks different to others, just because you can't relish the thought doesn't mean others don't.

My mum is one of 11.

I also got speaking to a woman in her 70s recently, whilst in the doctor’s waiting area, who was 1 of 23! She was the 19th!

😬

My DH is one of 9, 20 years between oldest and youngest.

Yes, but those who have finished raising their kids whist juggling work throughout will most probably find life feels more like a holiday now that the constant juggling has stopped.

The 37.5 hours at work, being paid, becomes a walk in the park when you don’t have to come home to parenting, cooking, cleaning, washing, admin, holiday planning etc… Their evenings and weekends are now ‘actually’ free time for themselves.

They also get to enjoy their adult kids too. Plus have more spare money.

My best friend had this, she has loved it and thinks it has kept her young

My dad was the oldest of 5, his youngest sibling was born when he was. 17.
The very thought makes me shiver with dread!
I'm one and done. This one I love to bits but my goodness I could never have gone through pregnancy, child birth and the early years again !

I have a 10 year gap oldest to youngest and it is lovely getting to do many bits again and I now understand how quickly it goes so even the less good bits are easier.

My elder child is about to leave secondary school and my next one will be starting Primary after the summer. It isn't how we planned it, but sometimes it's the way life works out.

I had dc2 when dc1 had just left secondary school! It's been great, I had dc3 4 years later, and I feel like I've been able to spread out the joy of the baby and toddler years rather than rushing through them blindly. I've never found raising young children difficult or boring.

I'm fortunate to be financially secure enough to not work and be able to pay for evening childcare, so now dc3 is in school ft I have plenty of time in school hours to have time for myself. Probably more time than parents who have finished raising their dcs but are having to spend most of their waking hours at work.

I’ll be 54 when my youngest leaves primary.

I don’t really have any feelings about it to be honest - should I? Genuinely asking.

I do find the toddler stage tedious and relentless but dc1 is easy enough; I’d feel my life was back if I had only him. As it is I have a two year old in the mix too!

I think your time line is perfect. ❤

My youngest is just about to leave senior school. I am technically still young enough I could have another baby now and still be ‘average’ age, lots of my peers are only just having babies now as I had mine very young.

I absolutely cannot think of anything worse than starting again! I have some friends who have children similar age to mine who had a 2nd with a new partner and they are early primary school. I don’t know how they do it.

in hindsight I am glad now I had them young. I am just getting my own life back and I love it! I wouldn’t trade it now.

Omg nooooo I can’t think of anything WORSE than doing this!

My brother in laws mum had 6 babies, all with a 4 year age gap so when the youngest went off to school, there was a new baby to look after (she had the oldest when she was 18). Honestly what compels people to do things like that I have no idea.

I love my two but the hyper-vigilance, relentless high level care, daily repetitive routines and the lack of sleep for years has exhausted me and destroyed my nervous system

Two decades of looking after children full time is enough for me.

My plan was always:

Enjoy my 20s to myself, 30s and 40s dedicated to my children (I’m almost done!), 50s will be enjoying my adult children and free time again (whoop!) And then 60s+ to help with grandchildren if any.

Im so pleased the school days are long gone.
Nothing could make me go back to the baby stage or school days.

Im 40 this year and both mine have moved out.

My oldest is 17 years and my youngest is 22 months so this will be me, there is 7 years between my third and fourth 😅

Mine are year 7 and year 9, walk themselves to and from school, I can go out of an evening for a few hours, they can walk the dog, make meals, put a wash on - nothing would persuade me to have another baby now! I love holidays with them, clothes shopping, meals out, they are lovely company, a baby would spoil that completely!

I was 38 when the youngest was born - so 50 when he started secondary. I didn’t even think about it (lots of parents were similar age). Then again, I’m still 25 in my head.

Think this is so family based and no wrong or right . I swore my whole life I only ever wanted 1 child , I waited until he was 14 for another then had that one and thought maybe one more so 6 years after had another and now 4 years after I’m on my 4 th . I used to love my job my tidy house and traveling with lots of money , but now I love living more rural having dogs cats and chickens and the complete organised chaos that is our home . I had my first in my 20s , my last in my 40s , priorities change , you often realise what mattered 10 years ago is not what matters now .
Im sure my life looks awful to some , I work , I have a massive house that takes ages to clean and our holidays are always family based but for me it’s amazing

Think this is so family based and no wrong or right . I swore my whole life I only ever wanted 1 child , I waited until he was 14 for another then had that one and thought maybe one more so 6 years after had another and now 4 years after I’m on my 4 th . I used to love my job my tidy house and traveling with lots of money , but now I love living more rural having dogs cats and chickens and the complete organised chaos that is our home . I had my first in my 20s , my last in my 40s , priorities change , you often realise what mattered 10 years ago is not what matters now .
Im sure my life looks awful to some , I work , I have a massive house that takes ages to clean and our holidays are always family based but for me it’s amazing