Please tell me how great it is to have just one child

[Kojaki]

I have one and 80% sure we'll stop there.

There's a small part of me though that would like another but then I mentally list all the reasons why it's a bad idea (finances, mental health, even saggier belly).

I suppose I worry I'll regret it later but the thought of doing it all again is a lot.

Can the one child parents out there tell me why it's a great decision if its worked for you?

@justanotherparrot having a sibling doesn’t help if they don’t share the load, both physically and mentally.

Quite. When my dad was ill I did it all except one day I asked my brother to be with him. He promptly went home leaving dad alone. Didn't have anything better to do. Just didn't want to.

Never wanted one grew up with several siblings and now have 4 of my own. They adore each other and hopefully will be there for each other as they get older. I love my sibling relationships talking,texting,holidays,family days out,support each other bad and good days etc

Ok, so reading this thread is really interesting because a lot of us are not so slyly looking for validation: did we make the right decision?

It’s easy to pick a flaw in whichever number of children you land on. 1? May be lonely, selfish, and resent parental burden in old age. 2? May hate each other and squabble over possessions. 3+? Might despise each other and be disadvantaged due to poor finances in childhood.

The key word is MIGHT. 1? Might also feel deeply loved, supported, and clever enough to go on to fill any family needs in different ways. 2? Might be best friends and kind towards each other/and others. 3? Might become each others lifelong supportive tribe and learnt how to value relationships/experiences over money.

I can think of examples of families who turned out all six ways! All the parenting styles were often so different too.

So what we need to hear is: No matter how many children you have, you CAN have a happy and fulfilled family.

It is up to us as parents to tackle the inevitable challenges that may come with any family structure- and the benefits of doing so can be incredibly rewarding :-)

Excellent post, DrTTC!

I'm not an only but still did all the looking after, doctors visits, picking nursing home etc for my mum with dementia - don't think that siblings automatically step up, I know lots of women in their 50s who've ended up doing everything, with siblings away, or too busy, or 'but you always go to the doctor with her' or 'she doesn't know me anymore, I'm so upset, can't visit'.

Anyway, don't bank on lots of kids all helping each other to look after you when you're old.

I have an only, I don't think he's too weird or horrible.