Leaving the baby's stage behind at last

[WaxyDaisy]

We have 4 DCs, the youngest of whom is recently turned 2. This is our last child.

I feel a little like I am on the edge of a cliff... For a decade I have been pregnant, and had babies and toddlers. Now the youngest isn't a baby any longer, and the older children are at school. There is only one child at home, no nappies, only a short time of buggies and afternoon naps remaining, and in actual fact only 2 yrs until they are all at school. This is not a problem, we don't want any more. Yet, I feel like I sort of don't know how to do this? I cannot remember what it was like not to have two preschoolers, or a toddler and morning sickness IYSWIM?

It is sad to see some things pass, and I am horrified at how quickly I am forgetting the detail of their early years, but it's more that I don't think I 'get' what this next bit will be like? The primary years for the older two are already such fun, so it's not like I can't see loads of positives. I work part-time, so it's not like I am mooning around at home with nothing to do. It's more just that I longed for this freedom, the ten mins to sit or whatever, and now I have it I can't remember what to do?

I'm not sure I know what I'm on about really. Friends who had DCs at the same time as my eldest two have been out of the stage for ages. They 'reverted' in some ways to life pre-DCs and with only a few years or so of tiny ones it passed v quickly. With us it has been basically a decade.

Does anyone have any idea what I am on about ?

[imip]

Oh god yes, I completely understand!

Dc4 is 2.5 and dc3 Will be joining her big sisters at primary in Sept. other dds are 7 and 6. Dc4 is still breastfeed, but am slowly stopping. In January she will begin nursery in the mornings and over summer we are toilet training.

Unlike you, I do not work, but I know that I will find it quite and lonely with only one dc at home. Just two years ago I had three dcs at home! The transition has been fast. Dc4 is metamorphosising before my very eyes.

Yy to seeing others with two the same age as the older two seeming it have their life 'back'. I am trying to push back the sadness of it all. I'll join a gym (used to be very fitness-orientated before kids). This is also coupled with me movin gin to my mid 40s and feeling a bit 'old'.

I think mn may be filling it for a bit of my lonely time!

[NAR4]

I have recently become a Craft Artist Scrapbooker, after my sister suggested it. Although I have 2 little ones, my oldest leaves for uni in a couple of months and I am struggling with the thought of 'loosing' him. Going through old photos and memories is proving very therapeutic (albet a bit sad).

[littlepeas]

I too feel like I am on a precipice! I have 3 - ds1 in school, dd starting in September and ds2 will start September 2015 (he will do 2 full days in a private nursery and have 3 off with me from September). I had a miscarriage in April and we're now not sure whether we'll try again. I keep teetering between moving on and having older dc or going back to a couple more years of having a baby!! I've had one child free morning for the last year, which, in all honesty, I haven't enjoyed that much - I think I am going to miss having a little buddy.

[whydoIhavetodoeverything]

Same here, DC1 (6) at school, DC2 starting school in September, twin babies now 1. Just stopped breastfeeding, babies sleeping well, will no longer have babies in the house. Like you, I work part time and thank god for that - a bit of something for me, brings in income, stimulates my brain. But I do feel like its an end of an era and am quite emotional. My older kids are lovely, but a lot of bickering/answering back/rubbing each other up the wrong way, which seems such hard work compared to lovely little cuddly babies who was to nuzzle up. Onwards and upwards I guess!

[Lucylouby]

I've got 3dc and felt like you do a couple of years ago when dc was nearing two. I now have a 3.75, 6 and 8 year old. I'm loving this time of their lives. I loved having babies and no school runs at the time, but now I love that we can visit places and they are all interested, we can go to the park and play games together. There's no milk or nappies or buggies to worry about. I never thought I would enjoy this time, but i really do.