I just have to get this out of my system. I’m currently 15w pregnant with #3. My oldest daughter is turning 11 in a couple of weeks. #2 is 18 months old.

My oldest was an only child until she was 9. I had her when I was 16. I’m not with her father. We split up for good around the time that she turned 2, and I’ve been with my husband ever since. We currently share 50/50 custody, I have her every other week and he has her on the opposite weeks.

I have always wanted a big family and it’s never been a secret. Hubby and I tried for years to conceive, and eventually I saw a dr and got help to get pregnant. My daughter was SO excited to be a big sister. I warned her things would change at our house, but I don’t think any of us realized how much. She has started acting out recently and she told her dad in confidence that she wants to spend more time with just me, with no baby around. Which I understood, we don’t really spend much time together where it’s just her and I.

In February, I got the shock of my life when I took a pregnancy test on a whim and got a positive. I waited to see a doctor and get confirmation before telling my family. My daughter cried her eyes out.

My husband and I decided that if this baby was a boy, we would be done having kids. She heard the conversation and started making snarky comments like “I hope this one is a boy so you’ll stop having kids” and “there’s no way you can afford 3 kids”. Just really nasty comments. I let the small stuff go, but I definitely put her in her place and told her my finances are none of her concern as long as there is a roof over her head and food in her belly.

I know she is acting out because she wants to be the only child again. She’s the only child at her dad’s house and she is spoiled there. But I hate that she makes these comments and makes me feel guilty for wanting more children.

Does anyone else have children with huge age gaps who acted out like this? I have no idea what to do in this situation. 😔