1947-8 Honokaa,(Big Island) Hawaii
Art and his only sibling, Kay (yes, her name is Kay, too) are four years apart. It's worked well for them and they are very close keeping up with each other's lives every Saturday without fail by cellphone, letters and visits.
1953 Kunia, Oahu,Hawaii
My only sibling, Dennis and I are three years apart and I thought that was the best thing ever. I could lord it over him and boss him around. NO... I'm kidding. Honest. He is quite stubborn and will insist on doing things his way no matter what I try to coerce him to do. He's also smarter than I am which makes it hard for me to lord it over him. We were each other's best childhood friends doing almost everything together. I wanted the same for my children.
1984 Chicago, Illinois
When Tif was about two years old I asked the pediatrician what the best age span between children was and he said three. We followed his advice and it worked out extremely well. Just as the pediatrician said, Tif was out of diapers by the time Jon came around but they were close enough to enjoy playing with each other. Throughout their school years, their age span was just close enough that they could understand each each other's music. They are devoted to one another and would do anything for each other. I remember Tif crying over Jon when she saw him in his hospital bed with his shattered arm strapped up after surgery.
And now here's my little granddaughter who needs a sibling soon, not that I'm nagging or anything.
Well there are my mom and her sisters here in Hawaii who are a year apart and it's a lot of fun for them. So maybe it doesn't matter what the age span is.
I'd still like another grandchild. OK... I've got a grand-dog. Yes, yes, I know that. But....
ROFL at 'not that I'm nagging or anything'. I have a feeling I'm not destined for many grandchildren, but I still hope.
ReplyDeleteThose photos are WONDERFUL! I loved every one.
LOL! I am so glad you're not nagging. ;)
ReplyDeleteI know exactly where you were standing when you took your header photo. Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau is where I first saw sea turtles. I was enchanted and could have stayed there all day.
The kids have to do it their own way, Kay. And whatever they decide, your little granddaughter will be just fine I'm sure.
ReplyDeleteMy own first three were born within three years. Seven years later, number four came along. They are all close to one another.
But I've seen it happen that some are close and some not, and the age span makes no difference.
Such great photos, Kay. Thanks for sharing them with us. Let's hope your kids heed your (and Art's) great examples!
ReplyDeleteAloha, Neighbor
Comfort Spiral
My three are now 18, 23 and 30 and they are all very close to each other. Sometimes I feel like I have three different families...It was nice to have the age difference as I had "time" for each one individually. I am the oldest of 5, my sister is 18 months younger than me, a brother 4 years younger, a sister 10 years younger and then a sister who is 15 years younger than me. So far we have one grand-dog!
ReplyDeleteP.S. Kay the photos are so sweet!
ReplyDeletewell i'm an only child and always wished for a sister or brother. then I married and had my sons: #1 then 3 years later #2 then 15 months later #3-they were like twins. Then 13 years later #4 son-an only child. Remember you are the grandmother and its the parents that have to decide on that big responsibility. Grand dogs are much easier. lol!
ReplyDeleteYour hints are soooo subtle, Kay! I hope Tiffany and her husband take the hint. :•)
ReplyDeleteI don't blame you for wanting another grandkid. I am expecting a second one in March, a grandson this time. On Nov. 14, we are going to celebrate Julia's 2nd birthday. I bought 5 books for her today...
ReplyDeletenice lovely family..
ReplyDeleteI completely understand. I'd like a sibling for the Golden Child, but I'm not sure his parents can afford it right now. They are trying, though.
ReplyDeleteKeep pushing. You are right, of course!
ReplyDeleteMy girl and boy are about two years apart, and my daughter's girl and boy are 15 monthe apart. It's worked out well for all of us.
Love your photos! Such fun to see you all so young. Well, I have no grandchildren, nor to I expect to have any, but the good thing is, that you don't miss what you've never had. I had no brothers or sisters and I always wanted a big family -- consequently, four kids! But only one is married, none of the others are even interested in marriage let alone children, and my one married daughter and her husband decided a long time ago not to have any. They all have very busy lives and are quite happy with things as they are and so am I. However, I'm quite sure that if one of them brought a grandchild and laid it in my arms, my view would change considerably!
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend, Kay!
Thanks as always for your visits and comments on my blog! Always appreciated!
Sylvia
Kay, hope your dreams come true! No pressure. My kids are 3 years apart, I must've been reading similar reseach! It did make sense.
ReplyDeleteI was an only child, with no cousins either, and found that much as I was loved it made it difficult for me to socialise with my peers as I was growing up. I was always determined to have more than one child myself. My two sons are two years apart, but their characters are like chalk and cheese and they never seemed to get on that brilliantly. Now that they're 26 and 28 they rarely contact each other, although they seem to enjoy each other's company when they do get together. My husband has lots of contact with his sister(15 years younger) and very little with his brother (15 months younger), so I guess that all siblings are different. As to grandchildren, I don't expect any and I'm not particularly bothered about that. I don't think the world is such a great place now to bring more children into.
ReplyDeleteSusan: Thanks, Susan. Me, Nag? Nah... I just encourage...
ReplyDeleteQuilly: We didn't see any sea turtles there. That would have been great. It's a great park.
Bobbie: I know you're right, of course but I can't help wishing.
Cloudia: Wouldn't that be nice if they did.
Cheryl: And then there's that, too. So I guess whatever will be, will be.
Lin: I know I'm supposed to be quiet but sometimes, I can't seem to help myself. It's a good thing my daughter knows me really well and takes everything I say and do with a grain of salt. My son, on the other hand will probably salt me.
Jean: I can already hear my daughter saying, "Oh mom....."
Gigi: I am so excited for you!!!! Yae!
Wenn: Thanks, Wenn.
Janie: Your Golden child is absolutely precious! What a cutie! I'm hoping for a golden sibling for him, too.
Linda: Sigh.... I wish...
Sylvia: Thank you, Sylvia. It's funny what grandchildren do to you. When KC said, "I love you, grandma," on the phone I nearly cried.
I had my son when my daughter was 2 years 10 months old...now he is three.I love watching them grow up together....the bond is so strong that if one breaks something the other one refuses to reveal who's done it ?Kay,i hope very soon your prayers are heard....nagging no nagging.
ReplyDeleteYour pictures are always fun to watch.
Amanda: I guess you can never tell how things will turn out. I do know children come hardwired a certain way. My two are like chalk and cheese, too but somehow they've managed to find common ground in their caring for each other. Thank goodness. They both know they get unconditional love from each other.
ReplyDeleteKavita: Thank you, thank you, Kavita. I would love what your children have for my little KC.
Love the photos - it's so interesting to see aspects of another culture: while you grew up in all that lushness, I grew up in concrete.
ReplyDeleteMy boys are 19 and 13 and best friends - now that one of them has moved away! LOL
Thanks for sharing.
I agree that the personalities determine the closeness of siblings...not the age. My sons are nearly 9 years apart, with very different interests, yet they have always gotten along famously.
ReplyDeleteMy young brothers (11+ years younger than I am) were just 15 months apart and as different as oil and water.
Good luck with your gentle "suggestions."
the laughing housewife: I did grow up in a lot of tropical greenery. It was another time. The entire area I grew up in today has been torn away, the land leveled and a subdivision in its place.
ReplyDeleteJo: It's so sad when siblings don't get along, isn't it? Art and his sister, my brother and I, Tif and Jon all love each other dearly. I wish all siblings could be loving.
Kay, you are too funny! I'm still waiting for my first grandchild or grandchildren to come along!
ReplyDeleteI'm still at a grandpup and waiting.
ReplyDeleteBetty: Two years sounds good, too. Sigh... Too late for that for us.
ReplyDeleteSherri: You're going to love it!
Mare: Gosh! I haven't even met my grand-dog yet. I just hear these awful toilet training stories.
I'd be real happy with one...just one that's all I ask.
ReplyDeleteCute pictures from the past.
How does tif feel about your plea?
Peggy: She's sort of rolling her eyes upward and saying,"Oh motherrrrrr..."
ReplyDeleteLOL...I have two granddogs and no grandchildren... This is a wonderful post Kay.....Maybe they will take the very subtle hint... Michelle
ReplyDeleteI've yet to meet my new grand-dog in New Mexico. And as for taking that hint... somehow I doubt it. :-)
ReplyDeleteOh Kay, these old pictures are heart warming. Your face then and now--just the same. But I imagine 1947-8 was the last time that Art was ever a bit pudgy. And Tiffany and Jon are almost like I remember them.
ReplyDeleteIf you've seen Naomi's blog lately, you've seen some ultra-sound photos of my grandchild-on-the-way, expected in April, God willing. I can't quite imagine babysitting for three at once!
Oh wow! Really, Dina! Mazeltov! I'm so thrilled for you all. I shall have to tell Tif. :-)
ReplyDeleteLMAO at your subtle hint Kay....such a sweet post!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely family you have, Kay! No wonder that you want to create that same warm and caring atmosfere you had, when you were children, for them.
ReplyDelete