Tell me when does it get easier?

[inthethickofit19]

Just wondering what the easiest/ best ages were if you had a 25 month age gap?

Experiences please!

Depends a lot more on character than age I think. I would say when mine started to play together independently, so when the youngest was old enough the tell the eldest what he should be doing

I have 2 yrs 3 months between my 2 DC. Older DS and younger DD. All ages are ‘fun’ but found it easier once both were walking, but now I have both at school it’s definitely easier as they are both on pretty much the same routine.

Mine fight easily if together for too long - not sure if it’s characters, age, opposite sex, tiredness or whatever some days.

@SouthernLands what age was that?

@Cravingcake I'm probably wishing time away but can't wait until they are both independent to some extent 😳 had a really rough start with second

I have 28 months between my two. They get on well together and have lots of fun, but they equally bicker, as siblings do.

I think once my youngest started in reception (aged 4) that the stated to get on really well. I think this was because DC2 was out of that preschooler stage and they could play together as equals rather than as an older sibling entertaining a younger sibling. Also when DC2,started school, they had more in common as they can talk about the same things.

27 month gap here and they are now 3 (just) and 5. In the past 5-6 months it has gotten significantly easier. Still need a lot of refereeing but they’ll sit and play Lego for 30 mins, or do imaginary play or lowering teddies down the stairs for a bit. They’ll both- almost- bring themselves to the loo (that was a real hallelujah moment).

I can get dinner made. One day I even sat outside an read a few pages of a book while they splashed in the paddling pool beside me. It was the best day 😭

DH and I remarked (verrrry quietly and with significant fear of jinxing it) the other day upon the DC colouring, eating, and chatting quietly to each other while we ATE OUR OWN MEALS AT A CAFE!

Life is sweet right now. Still mental at times and I did flip the lid at their whinging today for a combination of reasons, but there are now definitely more happy lovely days then hellish frazzled trench warfare/survival days.

Thanks for sharing. Mine are just 18w and 2.5yo yet. It feels relentless... we've had a real tough start medically with the LO so that's not helped matters at all.

I only have one who is 9.5 but my friend has a 10 - nearly 11 y/o and that is hard! They bicker constantly and it puts me off having them round!

Same gap, still waiting (almost 2 and almost 4).

You have my sympathy OP - sounds like you are in the thick of it. We've got a 2yr gap and 6 months and 2.5 was tough! My friends with 1 DC drove me nuts with their self-care stuff while I saw everyone surviving the day as exceptional. It's already marginally better at 3 and 1 now so I'm optimistic for only better days ahead. Hope you all settle into it!

Thank you - at the very least it's good to know I'm not alone!

14 months here so a closer gap, but I think when youngest hit 4. And then I had another 😆

Youngest is 5 now and it's a DREAM. Yes, they argue like fuck at times but I can actually have a lie in until 8 or 9 when schedule permits, can leave the house without five million items in a bulky bag (and no sling or buggy! I'm DONE with bloody buggies!!) and we can do such fun things together. Feels like hanging out as opposed to heavy duty crowd control!

Sorry my post was confusing! My youngest in 2nd post refers to DC3, youngest in first refers to DC2 before DC3 came along. Probably obvious but seemed a bit woolly reading it back.

And it's not just you. Some of my dearest new friends I've met by being honest about how hard parenting young DC is. One of my friends often recounts that she knew we'd get along when she told me she had a 4month old and a nearly 2 gear old and I unthinkingly said something like OH GOD MY SYMPATHIES! 🙈 it could have gone down like a lead balloon but I'm glad I did speak my mind as she's brilliant! She said she almost cried with relief after meeting someone who was brutally honest after endlessly trying to make mum friends at lovely lovely (but quite competitive!) baby groups where apparently all the DC slept perfectly and ate homemade hummus and beetroot crisps.

Not quite your parameters but there's 3 years between my two and I can honestly say it's been getting easier since DD turned 2 - they play together, she walks, talks, sleeps through etc. The first 18 months was brutal.

When they leave home.... honestly!!!
I have a 17 year old, twins who are 16 & a 14 year old, it is hard they all get on better now than they did in primary school but to be honest each transition gives us different challenges. I'm in the ( what are you planning to do with your life phase, drinking, drugs, sex) give me the homework & friends being mean phase any day!!!

Thanks all ! So at the very least the next 20 months are brutal 😂

It doesn’t get easier, it just changes challenges.

Accept that and you will feel better, rather than grasping at something. Mentally it’s not good for you.

I agree with RubyMay
28months between dcs 1 & 2 here. They get on really well as adults - I'd say from about 15 and 17/18. Fought like cat and dog before that.

Not really in the spirit of the post... was meant to be somewhat lighthearted