What's so great about having two kids?

[anatomyoftiredness]

There's been lots of threads about having a third child recently.

I would love to have a third but for a number of reasons, and with a very very heavy heart, will be sticking with my two.

Tell me all the reasons why two is the magic number and that I definitely won't be full of regret on my death bed.

Yes! This happened to someone I know of. She went from 2 to 5 kids.

Attention and money - more to go round if you stick with two.

This is so lovely to read. I have a daughter and a son with the same age gap and I hardly dare imagine that they'll be this close growing up.

Some very helpful tips here. I feel a bit bereft that we've agreed to stop at two, and this thread is helping me to keep some perspective!

For me, in addition to all the above, I have a feeling of not wanting to push my luck. I have two healthy children in a happy, healthy marriage and I think it would be best to quit while we're ahead. My youngest is still only a baby so I've informed my husband that we'll be getting a dog when I inevitably get broody for another baby in a few years' time.

When they reach teenage years and you have to deal with uni, driving lessons, keeping check on mental health, being an emotional support that balances respect for their privacy with concern for their wellbeing, new trainers (and adult sized clothes), social media worries, skateboard accidents, hours talking about career choices and work experience, giving lifts late at night, first trips abroad without parents, being able to pay for private counselling/medical care if they need it and the waiting list on NHS is soooo long, then they pass the driving test and you start thinking about getting an old banger or putting them on your insurance (omg), needing extra space in your house for a separate gaming/TV room (can't recommend enough), phones, phone contracts, laptopsfor college, adult sized clothes (and you can't get away with nipping too Primark any more), school/ college residential trips including abroad, allowance/spending money, wondering if you should start a LISA to help with first house deposit ... honestly you'll be so glad you stopped at two.

My two are nearly 10 years apart which wasn't planned but I'm even glad about because I've got time to save up for the second round and (most importantly) enough time and emotional and mental energy to dedicate to them.

That!

money and logistics! lots of things are hearted towards a family of 4 when it come to tickets, holidays, cars, travel.
2 means you aren’t outnumbered as parents.
2 means no middle child!
2 means having more time and attention for the 2 you have for sports, homework, friendships etc…
I know 2 families who went for no. 3 and had twins…

Ha, I'm quite glad to come across this post!

I'm 32, have a DD 6 and a DS 3 (nearly 4) and all I've been thinking about for the last few months is the possibility of a third.
No idea why, never imagined I'd consider another, but my youngest is at full time nursery now as he's starting reception in september and as I work Part Time I find I'm twiddling my thumbs sometimes and think it would be nice to have a bigger family.

But then my anxiety hits and I think how my DS and DD are the absolute best of friends, and why would I change that?
Something awful could happen to me during childbirth, how selfish to leave my two kids? The new baby could be born with disabilities and again I'd feel selfish to change the dynamic. I hate the newborn stage, mine woke every hour or so and it was hell, so why do I have urges to do it all again.

I realise, it's because I'm 32, and my youngest is about to become a boy instead of a toddler, some of my friends are only just starting to have babies... and I feel a bit lost. Kinda wish I was TTC my second again because it was so exciting and a no brainer. Its weird without a pram. I see others with 3 kids and feel a bit jealous. What do I do with myself now?

But I know really, deep down, it's better for me to stick with 2, we can afford 2, we cherish our 2, we have a girl and a boy, they are both healthy, I'm so lucky. I can't risk ruining that. I'm also fat, and I need to concentrate on my own health, for the kids I've got. 🙃

I love this thread, makes me realise there are so many people with just 2 because atm everywhere I look I feel like I'm one of the only women with "just" 2!!