Sitting here over thinking the amount of people who say “Oh, you have it easy… you have an 11year old to help with the baby!” I mean, seriously?! Because I didn’t have 2 kids within 5 years of each other, I have it easy!!?? You’re crazy.
I have a baby with a schedule. Ruin that schedule and see what happens… It’s not a good time. But you know what I have to do every week? Ruin that schedule. Why? Because I have an 11 year old who is in Cheerleading regular season and Competition Cheer the other half of the year. I have an 11year old who is in the high school and is on a completely different schedule as the baby. Which means if the baby doesn’t go to sleep before 11pm, I still have to get up at 6am to wake up the tweenager for school (or really just make sure she’s getting ready, she gets up to her own alarms, she’s just a procrastinator). I have an 11 year old who has concerts, dances, science fairs, and some days stays after school for clubs. I also have to make sure she does her homework, gets ready to go to her father’s house once a week and every other weekend. I have an 11 year old who, if I don’t keep an eye on, will over use her ”screen time” and play on her phone all day if I’m not paying attention (yes, it happens, don’t judge, you know you’ve done it). She’s a tweenager, that means she acts like a teenager but isn’t actually one. She still needs to be reminded she has chores and responsibilities. She’s a great sister to her baby sister though. No matter what she is doing, she will stop and play with her if her baby sister insists on it. That, by no mean, makes it easier to have them so far in age. They don’t go to the same practices, won’t have the same school, and their schedules aren’t and won’t ever be on the same page. You know what else, MY OLDEST IS NOT A BABYSITTER! Does she keep an eye on her baby sister so I can pee, yes. When She’s Home. I did not have a baby so my oldest can watch her all the time. My oldest has her own things. SHES STILL A KID! I will never expect her to be the parent to our baby. When she gets a little older and wants to get paid to watch her sister so I can go on a date with my husband, absolutely. But not right now. Right now, she’s 11. Not 13, not 18. And our baby has ”special needs”. She is not easy in her own ways. Her sister is not responsible for this. I am. My husband is. That’s it.
So, please keep your comments to yourself unless you plan to come to my house and live our life. To all parents out there, You’re doing great! Whether it’s same age kids, within 5 years apart, or almost 11 years apart (or more!). Don’t let others make you feel like you need to struggle less because of any reason. These people will never understand because they don’t live your life.
Our little but loud family. 