To wonder how many children you’d have, in an ideal world?

[user1484167681]

I’ve just had one and I can’t decide whether I’m done, or I want 20! 😁

If you didn’t have to worry about health, money, job, the pesky practicalities... How many children would you have (/had)? Why?

4

If it wasn't for having to be pregnant, the career limiting time off, horrible colicky weeks, sleep exhaustion and expense then I'd say 4.

Why four, out of interest?

Yeah, 4 ideally. 2 girls and 2 boys with about 2 years between the first two, then a three year gap to give us a bit of sleep then another 2 year gap. Or maybe the last two could be twins. They would all get along.
Not going to happen.

Just one

4 means there's no odd one out. Theoretically.

I want 4 but if I could have more I would.

I’m one of four (2 boys, 2 girls), my parents were both one of four, all my cousins are in sibling sets of four. Fairly even sets of boys/girls too, interestingly. I’ve just grown up with this mindset that four is the magic (and even, no one left out!) number. I’m currently expecting number 2, give me a few more sleepless nights etc and I may very well change my mind

3, but for various reasons (mainly financial) we are stopping at 2

1. Two is too few, four is too many... it feels like a gang, and fun but not completely out of control/ exhausting/ relentless

I've got 4, all grown up now, but if I could have had more I would have done. For practical reasons we stopped, but I loved the whole process of having babies, seeing them grow up, etc.

DP and I had the discussion after our first. I said 3 would be nice because you get that bigger family feel without the insanity, but then we decided so much of life is made for a family of 4 (cars, holidays, houses), so we’d stop at just 2. Then I got pregnant with twins. It’s really so lovely. It is SO much work though. I don’t know how people do it with more. I know we’re not meant to be talking practicalities but honestly, there are not enough hours in the day for me.

I have several answers to this:

8, in the sense that I have had 8 pregnancies and they were all wanted and loved

4, if money, space and help were unlimited resources and i could guarantee straightforward conceptions, pregnancies and births.

3, to emulate my own childhood experience (if money were less tight and I could guarantee as above)

2, in the sense that I have 2 and I feel fulfilled, complete and grateful.

6

@moredoll

Glad that you said "theoretically"

I'm one of 4 and it was always 3 against 1. The 2 elder siblings ganged up with the youngest to pick on me then it was always my fault because youngest would cry to order and they were "protecting the youngest from me" despite the fact it was my ripped book, my broken toy, my bruised hand etc.

@user1484167681 I live in a ideal world so zero zip nada

One

We have 3 but would love to have had 5.

I'd love three. I have one, am 40yo and have really struggled to get to two let alone three so I am currently adjusting my expectations.

I would've loved to have had 4,but hubby didn't want more than 3-I NEVER wanted 3 so we stopped at 2

3 has been wonderful for us.

Sorry but you caught me on therapy day. Honestly? 0

Funny how many saying 4 - me too. However the financial crisis of 2007-8 and the prospect of possibly having to find school fees put paid to that ( I have 2)

None

I think I’d have about 12. Currently expecting my 4th and that’ll be us finished.