to have expected DC4 to 'slot' in with us rather than the other way round!!!

[BigMommaOf4]

I must have been crazy! When I found out we were having an unexpected DC4, I keep saying 'well the baby will have to slot in with us' and we will continue on as normal, another one won't make much difference'.

Well now our Lord and Master is 19 months old and I can't get anything bloody well done! The house has fallen to rack and ruin. The ironing pile is up to the ceiling and I absolutely knackered as he still does not sleep through consistently (other DCs not affected as he sleeps in our room). My day centres around taking him out as he will wait at the front door shouting 'shoos' if we are at home for more than an hour!

As much as I adore him, I feel I am just too old for this (40!) and am finding it harder work than when I had toddler twins! Anyone else find it harder with a big age gap (8 yrs +) and being older?

Dc 1 and Dc2 are the most well mannered beautifully behaved children -laid back only have to be told no once and very easy.
Dc 3 is just lovely but a completely different ball game !! Only 8 mths old but into everything so stubborn and determined a little whirlwind and just sooo differently natured from the other two ! She Is very cute and cuddly though so that's ok

Oh yes - I feel your pain!

4dc here too, 16 yrs between dc1 and dc4 who is now 2 and flaying me alive. I too thought dc4 would just slot in

I gave up ironing 2 yrs ago, ridiculous business that is.

My life is somewhat arduous

I completely sympathise.

YANBU

Our no 4 fitted in pretty well but she had no choice. And I don't iron. It's now she's 8 I'm starting to get a little bored with it and I feel bad - was never like this with the other 3. But big kids are fantastic with her. I just feel so old and past it.

I've only got 2 dc but grew up with 3 siblings and a big age gap. The way to cope, according to my mom, is to give the older dc lots of jobs. I did laundry, gardening, car maintenance and light house cleaning from very young, but my main job was looking after the youngest (8 yr gap.) I naver found it arduous, he was a lot of fun. older dc can read books, play games, do drawing while you make dinner. When it's warmer you can just boot them all out into the garden.

My fourth slotted in very easily.

Mind, he was the fourth extremely easy boy. If he hadn't been, he probably wouldn't be here and I would be in prison.

My PFB was a nightmare child, I walked my feet down to bloody stumps just to get him to sleep in his pram.

DD (DC2) just fitted in- sleep (lots) feed (never narky but made it known) good tempered and gurgly. We reckoned it was because she was DC2 in a busy house.