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

[Pisssssedofff]

I'll answer later.

My 3 boys do my head in with their arguing and fighting. But I'd never want to be without them. They are my reason for being alive. (And the OH of course)

Yes. Three not two. My only regret is not having another one. They are 21 and 18. So, my ship has passed. I might have had a nice teenager, you never know

No... Yes... No... Yes... No... But then again Maybe... Yes Definitely... I mean No...

NO!!!!!

Yes 100%, they are our live, we had 10 glouious child free life together, I could imagine our life without being a parent, yes it difficult to raise two totally different boys, but I've always loved a good challenge

Had 2 girls 4 years apart, then a "band-aid boy" 5 years later. I should have stopped at the 2 girls I think

At this point in life (with a 7mo and 2x 3 year olds) I'd say no!

I strongly dislike small kids and do not enjoy having three of the buggers living in my house, day to day life with young ones is really not my cup of tea at all
I love them for who they are and who they will hopefully become so in the future as they grow so in the coming years I am sure (I hope) my answer would change.

I wish I'd started earlier and stopped after 2. But that's because DC3 died and it's totally, utterly broken me. I am a rubbish mother since then. Now expecting DC4 (planned) but yet to feel the joy. I expect it will come when she is safely home with us.

No. I would not. Was thinking today that I wish I had not got married or had children. The whole baby/toddler/child thing was awful as I felt I was fighting against a constant tide of self-judgement and non achieved perfectionism. Kids are now about to leave school and think there is a fucking invisible maid in the house that picks up all their crap they leave everywhere. 😡 I drove past a newbuild house today (end terrace) and was genuinely daydreaming afterwards about a quiet single life in that house. With no arguing, stress or skivvy duties. Just a well stocked wine cupboard and a open terrace area to gaze upon "Oh wouldn't that be
loverly". I am a horrible person. I know.

Yes, I would have started sooner and had one more, maybe two. Currently totally in love with my 5 month old, and my beautiful 4 yr old. Realistically we're too old to have another, but I'll keep thinking about it until I'm absolutely certain that's the right decision.

Sorry for your loss HerRoyal

I wish I'd started sooner and had more.

HerRoyal. Sorry for your loss there was a delay in my comment going up. It looks completely insensitive.

Day (or rather night) three of epic bronchiolitis symptoms for my DS. Multiple trips to the GP (it's been going on for over a month) and back and forth to the hospital with him. I'm frightened, haven't slept more than half an hour in three days, my eyes feel gritty with it and I'm lying here with the light on to reassure myself his little chest is going up and down between coughing fits.

I'd do it all again in a minute. Although once DS is well if I could have a weekend to sleep I wouldn't turn you down!

Yes! But still don't want a second! Would get my ovaries taken out and burned if I didn't have to consider DP

No.
was talking to my mum about it yesterday. She always made it look so easy and it's so not. It's draining and they are unappreciative and don't realise what you have done for them till they mature, say mid to late 20's.

And I think parenting is even worse these days. More is expected of us.

I laugh at the 'Peter and Jane' blog on Facebook. She writes well. But when you really think about it, it's actually not funny at all, but quite depressing.

Yes but not with this bloke

Yes but not with the same woman.

Big mistake.

Yes. I'm in early days, I have 2 under 2, but they've completely changed my life and I like the person I am now that I have them.

Hmm, mine are still young. I wonder does the stage you're at make a difference to how you'd answer it? I still get all the cuddles and the needing me stuff. Soon they'll just need my bank card.

Hard to say. I tried to weigh up all the pros and cons of whether or not to have kids before we had DS. In the end I decided I'm going to give it a try and if I can't have kids then I will deal with that and find something else, so to say. Well DS happened and thankfully he's a great kid. Hard work yes and parenting is just constant and tiring and financially crippling but DS is lovely. Now I'm thinking, do I want to risk a second one. What if they're more difficult or have problems that make everyone's lives really (unbearably?) difficult. I don't know. And at the moment we're sort of starting to get settled and I really didn't like the baby year do I want to go through it again. What if I can't even have anymore kids. What if something happens to DS would I regret not having other kids. I don't know. I think we're probably going to try to have another one and maybe leave it at 2 if we're lucky. I hope we won't regret it. So my short answer to: would you have a child if you could do it all again? Yes.

Not a good day today with one teen refusing to get out the car at school. I'm finding the teen years the hardest and DH and I seem to be drifting apart.

I found twin newborns and toddlers easier ..... or am I looking back with rose tinted specs?

Yes but not with my husband.

Yes - only having a child made me feel my life was/is really fulfilling. Would love more than one so if could go back would have tried to get started sooner.

I love that you lot are so honest. This thread has made me think.

No, not if l'd known how rubbish a parent l would be . I love my children and l do my best to be the mum they deserve but l am just not patient or selfless enough.