I am thankful for their age gap...

I need to put it out there:
No matter the age gap, having more than one child is a challenge. It's a juggle.

I have spoken before about my desire to have 3 children, a desire that was founded purely on day dreams: the kids would be close in age, they wouldn't fight, and I doubt they had snotty noses. Alas, real life has proven day dreams have very little sense of reality.

I have a 5.5 year age gap between my two children. My only two children. And for me it's bliss.

I really couldn't have been one of those parents that juggle two under two/three under three. It is just not in me to have that much patience, and survive on that little sleep. And so, I look at my two boys and I think I have it pretty darn good right about now.

After dropping Ryder off at day care this morning, I had Logan talk to me from the back seat:

"Mum, before we had Ryder, I didn't have anyone to play with at our house"

And he continued to tell me how he likes having 'someone else' to play with, other than a grown up. And how much he loves just having a younger brother. Because having a younger brother makes him feel like the house is more about fun, than 'boring grown up stuff' (yep, he said that!).

They're both at a really great age where they play together, read together, and fight together... luckily the fighting (for now) is just of the playing kind. And I've now gone from being completely nervous about my boys being disconnected from each other with their age gap, to being excited about the bond they'll share together as they grow older.

Logan is an AMAZING big brother - he's a helper and a nurturer at heart. He wants to take the dirty nappies to the 'outside bin' because he wants to contribute. And he watches everything Ryder does to make sure he's not in danger. He melts my heart. And Ryder? He just wants to BE his older brother:


When Logan's at school, he'll find random things of Logans and wear/use them. Like his hat and books. He will go to Logan's room and call out his name as if he's lost, wave to him when he goes to school, and tackle him to the ground at night when they're finally home together.

I am thankful for their age gap. It means I can spread myself between them both easier (than what I could if the gap was smaller), and they both need different 'input' from us as parents. I feel like I am juggling the whole 'two child' role far better than I would if it were closer, and it suits me.

I like to think it suits us all as a family...

(and in a sleep deprived state I am right now, thanks to Ryder's night terrors and knack for 4am wake-ups, I am even MORE thankful for their age gap. Two sets of this would not go down very well right now!)





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