11 year age difference
 

Does anyone have an 11 year or more space between thier children? We have a daugher turning 12, and a son on the way. Even though she keeps talking about how she wants to help with the baby so much, I really want to keep her feeling like this childs sister and not anouther parent. So although I have sent her to a week long "babysitting clinic" this past summer so that she can learn basic childcare, I keep trying to think of ways to keep this situation balanced. The last thing I want for her is to feel like a live-in babysitter.

Does anyone have experience with this large of a gap?

Re: 11 year age difference
 

I have a 12 year old girl, and my son will be 15, and baby #3 is due in June. I am wondering how the big age difference will work out also.

I have 3 sisters, with my oldest sister 14 years older than me. We are all still pretty close. I am hoping this is how it will be for my children too!

Re: 11 year age difference
 

I have a sister who is 11 years difference than me. But we didn't meet until later in life. I'm wondering if growing up with that big of a gap is going to affect the relationship.

Re: 11 year age difference
 

We have two daughters, about to turn 13 and 12, a son who is 5, and we're expecting in April. While we haven't experienced the dynamics of the age gap with our own children, I am twelve years older than my youngest sister. The relationship she and I shared was different from our other siblings who were closer in age, but it was so special because I remember so much of her growing up. I never felt like her parent, but I was a very protective big sister...now, she's in her early twenties and we are VERY close. I bet your daughter will be extremely close to her sibling and appreciate the experience much more so than a younger child would. My girls seem so much more excited this time around because they can participate, be there, etc. Best wishes!

Re: 11 year age difference
 

I have a daughter whom will be 14 when this baby is born! She has always been a mother hen since being a toddler...while we both shared the shock of me being pregnant lol I know she is excited! I too do not want her to think she is another parent though I want her to enjoy going to high school and being a teenager, she is definitely going to be protective!

Re: 11 year age difference
 

glad to find this topic. My daughter will be 13 when this baby is born. She has been an only child for, well, 13 years ;) I know she's very excited but I also don't want to make her feel like another parent.

She brings stuff up to me all the time like, 'is this baby even going to know me? I'll be in college when he's only 5.' and stuff like that. I'm going to do my ****edest to foster a good relationship between the 2 of them.