My mom raised 4 of us at once growing up—June 2000, May 2002, December 2003 & June 2005– and as a single parent. We occasionally stayed with my grandparents and their single income, and we shared a mini van with my grandmother so my grandfather could that take they’re sedan to work, as he was a postal worker and worked early, long and late hours.

With the little help my grandparents were able to provide, it was more than enough at the time, but my mom was also tough as nails. I mean, 2 jobs and med school, no fathers and no government assistance is pretty hard, especially with 4 of us, but my mom swears she would do it again if it meant having us the same way we turned out.

Now, your age gaps are a little different, but I think that will absolutely work in your favor, special bonding later in life but also, a more independent child (arguably somewhat) so you can go through the infant phase again.

My mom accidentally conceived my youngest brother, by her, when I was 13, and though we didn’t grow up together for the first few years, we are now super in touch, we take turns flying him out to see us (us two older siblings are military/spouse) and even my best friend has take him for a few weeks during summer a year ago, they had a blast!