I was in a play group with couple of parents, mothers mostly all looking stressed and we all got talking as usual, discussing about the stress we go through with school runs, children activities, work etc.
I said, well, let’s even first be grateful to God almighty for the privilege and gift of our children and then i encouraged them to enjoy the phase that it is just for a while.
Afterwards, I asked each parent how many children they would love to have, majority of them said 3, some said 2, just few said 1. So I asked another question, if you have the opportunity to space/gap your children how many years gap will you give?
Most said two years interval, some said a year interval, some said twins and they’ll raise them once and that’s it.
So I said for me, I will give 5years, hmm! everybody started laughing and said I want to spend all my life raising children
Here’s my reason, the first 5years of every child is very crucial and whatever a child learns during this period can make or mar the child so parents and caregivers should be very intentional during this stage.
Also, the reason why most parents are not giving their best to parenting is as a result of pressure. Believe me, every parents have their children best interest. Pressure makes them yell, whine, smack and do all sorts, this happens especially when you have back to back children. I hear some people say just give birth to your children sharp, Sharp.
Frank be told, it’s easier to carry pregnancy and give birth than raising a child, to raise a holistic child, you need to give gap/space, spend quality time , you need energy, money/resources, what about the inconveniences, that’s why everything about you changes once you have a child.
Also, as a mother, you need time to be able to heal physically and emotionally from child birth before thinking of another one.
I’m not saying you should give 5years gap, the choice is yours, but believe me, the more the gap/space, the better for you, your child and entire family.
Remember, parenting is bringing a child into the world and RAISING the child.
