AdventureDad recently wrote about his four-year-old boy’s request for a younger brother. He asks, “Is it foolish listening to the views and desires of a four-year-old boy?”

Here’s my take: four-year-olds are idiots.

I’m all for whimsy and devil-may-care attitudes. I whole-heartedly endorse and encourage the crazy antics of children. Why, as recently as yesterday I was seen skiing down our street on two scooters with a pirate sword in my back pocket while I whipped my kids into a frenzy to push me faster… FAAASTERRR!

But you won’t catch me asking anyone under 30 for stock picks let alone taking their advice on creating whole new people.

At least four-year-olds are sincere. When they hit six, deviousness goes to a Whole. Nother. Level. The Girl has asked for a new sibling. But I know she only sees us as a means to create a clone army that will call her their queen.

Comments

1. Elaine on 2008-03-27 13:58:05 wrote: That’s the same reason I had a child, to create beings who would do my bidding and call me queen. It didn’t work. That’s why I ended up having only one.

2. AdventureDad on 2008-03-27 15:48:40 wrote: I thought it sounded so sweet I could help thinking about it. Of course we won’t have another child because he says so but it’s nice he wants another sibling. I’m afraid the shop will be closed. Our hyper active daughter has been so challenging (and still is) that I’m not sure we could manage another one. AD

3. RubiaLala on 2008-03-27 16:15:09 wrote: Yes, anyone who wants more than ONE child in my opinion is crazy. However, I can understand it, but after they start to outnumber you, there’s just no control. Madness indeed.

4. Matt on 2008-03-27 17:00:24 wrote: I’ve got three and I don’t think it is that much more difficult than two. I guess that depends on the disposition of the third though. Number 2 is the wild one so after him my daughter is easy.

5. Anna Adam on 2008-03-27 20:42:30 wrote: My husband and I are both the third of three. And we have three kids. Our third was a bit of an oops. Of course I wouldn’t trade him for the world NOW, but for us at least: one was harder than we could have imagined when we were without any two was more than twice as hard as one three was three times as hard as two Perhaps it was having them just 25 months apart each. But three was ridiculously hard. When we’re out numbered two to three, we have that trading off of one kid and the “do you have him? I thought YOU had him! Now, I have her!” And omigosh when you go out where there’s just one adult! Not enough hands to be holding in the parking lot! Yikes! My sister in law said it was going from a man-to-man to a zone defense. Up until the oldest was about eight (and that would be right now!) it was crazy hard. Now we’re reaping the benefits of having them so close together. 2/3rds can buckle themselves in, can shower on their own, can brush their teeth, put on socks and shoes, and can wipe their butts. That’s HUGE around here. So I’m happy to have three. And this wee little part of me thinks four would be lovely. Then the bigger part of me whacks some sense into that little part. But I guess the point was about asking advice from a four year old. That would be the four year old that can’t wipe his own butt yet. Yeah, no. It would probably make me go, “awww that’s so sweet” and then I’d have to quickly tell him, “you know a baby brother would take all your toys…” I’m kinda mean like that. Before I finish my little ramblings… sharing a funny story. The Blonde Daughter, when asked whether she wanted a baby brother or sister (when just shy of four) said, “a brother. I already have a baby sister and THAT didn’t turn out so good!” Let’s just say The Blonde Daughter and the Brunette Daughter are as different as their hair color. But they do mostly like each other. :)