Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Choosing one child or two with career and finances in mind

2 replies

KS2305 · 16/04/2026 13:34

I'm 38, one DD who is brilliant and I adore her. DH is currently retraining after a series of redundancies so I'm the breadwinner for the foreseeable. I'm also at a key point in my career and want to push for a promotion in the next year.

Logically I know one makes sense right now. Financially it would give us more flexibility. I'm not getting any younger. My husband has enough on his plate.

But I can't quite close the door and I don't fully understand why.

Part of it is this nagging feeling that she deserves a sibling. I have siblings and I'm close to them - I can't imagine life without them. But then I didn't start trying until my mid 30s, so here we are. And rationally I know it's no guarantee - my husband has a really difficult relationship with his sibling, so a built-in best friend is far from certain.

For those who chose one - do you regret it? Did the decision eventually feel peaceful or does it always carry a little grief?

For those who went for two despite difficult timing - was it worth it? How did you manage the career hit?

Just want to hear real experiences.

OP posts:
Chocaholick · 16/04/2026 13:36

People will say ‘there’s no guarantee you’ll be close to a sibling’ but without one, you don’t even get the opportunity. Plus there’s no guarantee your financial situation either will or won’t improve. I would do it; once they’re in school things really ease up, and that goes quite quickly.

MidnightPatrol · 16/04/2026 13:37

I’ve got two and I haven’t had any career hit at all.

Theres never a good time, as they always say.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread