Be absolutely honest. If you could do it all again, would you have had kids ?

[Pisssssedofff]

I'll answer later.

I adore both of my sons. They are both grown up and my best friends now. I wouldn't be without them. However, if I had my time again, I would do things prior to having children very differently and would be far more selfish in life. This would probably affect if and when I would have children again. When I am reincarnated in my next life, I will rejoin mumsnet and pass on my decision to you all but you'll all probably be reincarnated too and in reality, all on a different site for childless, wealthy, stress and wrinkle free singletons with fabulous careers,

Think this a grass is greener thing. No kids and money/freedom has pros and cons as does having kids. It's easy to see the pros more easily when looking from the other side.

I would have kids again. Every time

Yes. I wish I would have started breeding at a younger age then I would have had at least two more kids on top of the two I currently have!

One million % YES.
Best thing ever (even if one is a moody teenager!)

No!

I have three - DD1 is 5, DD2 is 2.5 and DS 11 months. I think 59% of the time I feel that way - that I miss not being a mother. But since DH and I have started properly co-parenting, I feel I get the best of both. It's a tough one to admit cos I love them all but sometimes I miss being me before them

Yes but I think my two have brainwashed me

But I feel like I have a decent balance in my life on most fronts at the moment which definitely helps. We can still do list of the things we want to do but just less often

Yes! And probably would have had more than 2! 38 now....and cant be arsed lol x

Yes 100%, only have DS and he is the light of our lives. We were married for 14 years before he was born and I was 36. He was very wanted and worth the wait. That was 24 years ago and I still feel the same.

No.

I love her, but I hate parenthood.

No particular issues my end - stable relationship, love the father, she was planned, I wasn't particularly old or young. She is neurotypical, was an easy baby and I'm lucky with childcare etc.

I would rather have concentrated on my career, I think, if I'm honest. I had no idea I'd feel this way. People did tell me that I wasn't mother material....

I hope I change my mind. I think if we reach adulthood without her resenting me and us having an awful relationship I might as that's my biggest fear.

Would have had more. I have 3 boys, would have been happy with 57 of them.

Yes yes yes yes.
Considering number 3!

NO ABSOLUTELY NOT. I adore my dc but now they're teenagers it's awful. I admire women who make the decision not to have kids and stick to it. I didn't understand it when I was younger but oh my God, now I do.

Yes but I'd have started at 25 and had more!!! As it is I started at 32 and pregnancy 2 at 34 was really hard work.

Such a good question- although there is no love like you feel for your kids, even when they're adults you still worry about them. So had I not had them I guess I would have a lot less guilt and worry.

I've just come out of ds 16's room having served them supper in bed as he's not well. They were having a tickle fight and seeing him look so happy with her- no job or even super yacht comes close to seeing your kids happy.

• 'them' meaning ds and girlfriend!

Yes, i wish i could have more than 2 but financially that's not possible. Also because we have zero family support.
When it gets hard i always think about the fact that their childhood and that demanding phase is a small fraction of their life, one day they will be adults and lack of sleep/constant needing you will be a fond memory of the past. Their lives are and will be enriching mine. There will be less lonelyness because of them even if they move far away from me. They add meaning to my life.

'Having a tickle fight', AroundtheWorld?

Is that what you used to call it if they burst in on you as toddlers?

Yes but id only have 1.
I had 3 before I was 23 and my last one years later when I was 43 (my others had already left home and started their own families) having just one at home is so much easier.

I only just had my first (he is 18 months now) and even though my career has taken a hit - the answer is: yes

Yes - had mine later in life so career was secure and had already travelled widely.

No I probably wouldn't have had kids. I loved the baby and toddler stage but teenagers have sucked the life out of me. If someone had sat me down and told me how my life would be with teenagers I would never have had children.

I really love them but I can't wait until they leave home.

I know I would never have believed how hard it could be and I probably would have thought that parents with the problems I have now were unfit parents but there is no way I would have walked knowingly into the problems that two wayward teenagers can present.

It is all my fault for choosing the worst possible father for them.

On good days they are amazing, beautiful, lovely, funny and interesting but still no I would do it all again if I knew back then what I know now.

Yes. But I think I would have have been a different kind of happy without them. It's just hard to imagine being without such a huge part of my life, it's so bloody all consuming.

Brutally honest, no way in the same situation. Been a lp for years since I was pregnant with dc2 and it's been so bloody tough. If I was in an even, equal relationship with a partner to share it, maybe.