Anonymous wrote:The combination of a newborn and toddler under 3 would be the absolute hardest, IMO.

That’s the hardest to care for at any time. But at that age kids are fine with just playing outside and doing stuff in the house so it’s not particularly harder during the current situation. Trying to entertain a 6 year old whenever everything is shut down and he can’t play with friends would be more difficult.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel bad for anyone with an only. They’re going to have it the hardest. I’ve been home 9 days with 3 boys (10, 7, & 4) and it hasn’t been too bad. They keep one another entertained for the most part.

Please. I feel sorry for you. Would rather be with my only. We enjoy him very much.

PP was limiting that comment to the current situation. It is great if you and your partner enjoy being with your only. DH enjoy both of our kids, too. But we both have to work (albeit from home). So our kids have only each other during the day. That's great if you don't have to work but I think that is what a lot of people are contemplating here.

First PP here. Exactly. I feel bad for your only that he won’t have other kids to play with. My friends who only have one are begging for playdates, we will not be participating (middle has small airway & asthma). Family time is fantastic, and I’m sure you’ll make lots of great memories together, but I still think it’s going to be hard on your kid.

Unless her kid is an extreme introvert and is fine with just hanging out with his parents all day. Don’t assume anything.

I have 10 year old twins and it hasn’t been difficult so far.

I’m in a 2 bedroom apartment w a 4 year old and 9 month old and DH and I are supposed to be teleworking full time. I have no idea how this is going to work. But we don’t have it nearly as bad as those who don’t have the telework option so counting my blessings.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel bad for anyone with an only. They’re going to have it the hardest. I’ve been home 9 days with 3 boys (10, 7, & 4) and it hasn’t been too bad. They keep one another entertained for the most part.

Please. I feel sorry for you. Would rather be with my only. We enjoy him very much.

PP was limiting that comment to the current situation. It is great if you and your partner enjoy being with your only. DH enjoy both of our kids, too. But we both have to work (albeit from home). So our kids have only each other during the day. That's great if you don't have to work but I think that is what a lot of people are contemplating here.

First PP here. Exactly. I feel bad for your only that he won’t have other kids to play with. My friends who only have one are begging for playdates, we will not be participating (middle has small airway & asthma). Family time is fantastic, and I’m sure you’ll make lots of great memories together, but I still think it’s going to be hard on your kid.

Anonymous wrote:I have a 4.5 year old and a 6 month old baby, so I’m pretty sure I win the suffering Olympics.

Yep

In defense of play dates: I am not doing them and I encourage others not to, but there are people who are still going out to parties and getting on airplanes for funsies . Personally I am not going to condemn the mom of a young child for trying to maintain her sanity. But I hope they will reconsider.

I think the thing that makes it most difficult is if you have more than one kid 10 or under.

I only have one kid who’s 3 and it’s not bad at all. Actually he has been super extra cute and sweet this week. I thought DH would be going crazy being home with him but he hasn’t. DH and I joke it must be some evolutionary biological survival mechanism thing kicking in during the pandemic to make DS super cute and not a terror.

I’ve got two year old twins and a five year old and supposed to work full time in a demanding job. DH will be mostly off and watching them all in our tiny house. I’ll still be grateful if we all get through this with everyone we love healthy and alive.

The combination of a newborn and toddler under 3 would be the absolute hardest, IMO.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel bad for anyone with an only. They’re going to have it the hardest. I’ve been home 9 days with 3 boys (10, 7, & 4) and it hasn’t been too bad. They keep one another entertained for the most part.

Please. I feel sorry for you. Would rather be with my only. We enjoy him very much.

PP was limiting that comment to the current situation. It is great if you and your partner enjoy being with your only. DH enjoy both of our kids, too. But we both have to work (albeit from home). So our kids have only each other during the day. That's great if you don't have to work but I think that is what a lot of people are contemplating here.

Pretty sure we hit the sweet spot. Kids are 7, 9, and 11 and they play really well together: outdoors, indoors with Legos, puzzles, pretend games, etc. I can let them play in our neighborhood by themselves within certain guidelines.

I think teens would be hard because of having to keep them away from friends and preschool under would be hard to entertain them without being able to leave the house or go outside unsupervised.

Anonymous wrote:I feel bad for anyone with an only. They’re going to have it the hardest. I’ve been home 9 days with 3 boys (10, 7, & 4) and it hasn’t been too bad. They keep one another entertained for the most part.

My only child (1st grade) is helping us assemble Ikea furniture today. We're fine. She will likely get lonely over the coming month-plus but on the whole she is a homebody.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would say any age under 5 is hardest, although maybe 0-1 isn’t as difficult. It also depends on whether or not they have siblings to entertain them and access to screens.

I have a 7yo and a 10yo and so far this really isn’t hard.

This. My 7yo has access to screens but still getting bored with no siblings. We have been organizing playdates which helps some. It would be so much harder to manage if DC was younger.

DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE?!? WTF, PP?

No doubt it sucks to have an only child in this situation, but no playdates right now!

Age 2 to 4 has to be hardest. I am so grateful mine is 6 because we have really turned a corner on so many things.