To not want another child?

[QueenOfMyWorld]

My ds 4 has just said to me " I wish you had lots of kids so I had someone to play with" I feel so guilty when he says things like this because I have no plans to have another,I'm 38 and am v happy with just one child.He goes to nursery 2 full days and a half day a week and sees his cousins on a weekend I just feel so bad that he's wanting siblings

I don't know about anybody else, but having seen so much of dementia, and having lived with it, the absolute last thing I'd ever want is for my dds to give up their jobs/lives to care for me in (God forbid) such circs - because that it what it often takes with dementia, when the person is no longer safe to be left alone at all.

They have strict instructions to find me a nice care home - they certainly do exist - and I have made a living will to that effect.

DD is an only and is likely to remain so, by our choice. Our family of 3 suits us - it feels complete. DD is 4 and hasn't ever asked for a sibling (though she says the dog is her brother...), and we make sure that she never feels lonely or doesn't have anyone to play with. I don't at all feel guilty for stopping at one - far worse to have a second child that deep down you don't really want.

I have an only she is 7 and loves being an only. She saw a tiny glimpse into the world of having siblings when we got a puppy and mummy started spending time looking after the dog rather than playing with her. She was very definite after that that she didn't want a sibling (to be honest she'd never asked for one before then either). She loves that we are a 3 (now a very grudging 4 if you count the dog!)

DS constantly badgers me for a sibling, daily. I do intend to have another but no time soon, I get mom guilt still though because I feel he'll be too old to enjoy a sibling by the time that comes though.

he will understand when he's older, but it's not much help for now. I just remind mine that he's my only number one and he doesn't have to share me yet.

Cath2907 I think that's what happened with us too! DD was not happy about sharing mummy with the dog, and knows that a sibling would mean even more of that.

While they might get all the inheritance they are the only family to care for elderly parents, that is a lot to put on one person.

Both my parents have siblings. The care for my grandparents fell essentially entirely on one child in each case (in one case that child was my parent, in one case it was one of their siblings), largely due to geography. For my parent who took on the whole burden I actually think it would have been easier without their siblings doing nothing but sniping at decisions from the sidelines. Having siblings is absolutely no guarantee that you won't end up with the whole burden of elder care.

This is pretty much the case when my parents took on my grandad (mum's dad). It contributed to their ill health, and mum's siblings would criticise decisions made, and even expect my DBro and I, as youngsters, to be doing the hard graft. So that they didn't have to.

OP, make the right choice for you. You can't decide on what might, or might not, happen. Because all the replies show that there is no wrong and no right decision here.

I'm an only child and always craved a sibling or two. I'd point out children in the newspaper that needed adopting, and slept out at my friend's house almost every weekend as she had a brother too and we had loads of fun.
I also produced lots of grandchildren for my parents (6) and started very young. I love the noise and 'chaos' of a busy household and it's world's apart from my upbringing which was mainly just adult company.

I'm an only and I'm perfectly content with that, DS will be staying an only for a variety of reasons as well.

DP is one of 4, he doesn't talk to no anyone in the family, tragically his favourite sibling passed away.

MyDCareMarvel that's a right twattish comment and completely uncalled for.