Are people with more children happier?

[DinkeyDonkey]

I have one child, who brings so much joy to our lives. So much so, I don't feel I need another. But I wonder, does having more children bring more joy? It must do.

I have three . I knew that having one more would definitely be too much for me

I've got four and loved the fact that they were close in age and that there were so many of them. 😅. I found raising them was really good fun. It was a lively happy house.

They are adults now and get on unusually well. They are so supportive of each other even though they are different characters. They go out their way to spend time together. That brings me an immense amount of joy.

Having said that I don't know if four would give me more joy than just one. With four kids there is often one that I'm having to worry about about. Even now that they are adults. The fact they get on so well involves a lot of luck too. I promoted their relationships as much as I could but they could have easily not liked each other.

All the single kids I know are happy and seem to have lots of friends. I don't agree with the idea that single kids can be lonely.

I wouldn't hesitate to stick at one if that's what I wanted. I honestly wouldn't give it a second thought.

Thank you, I have an excellent support network around me, it just isn’t made up of my siblings!

Totally get you. I have been trying to tell mum that. She says ‘I have no support’ but it’s not true. She just has no support FROM THEM. She has wonderful friends, former colleagues, people in the community and the lovely vicar to took the service caring for us. As Grab used to say ‘Stuff ‘em’ if they cba to be part of the journey.

The happiest people are single women without children. If you're going to have children, the happiest are those with just one.

Research has showed that, while having one child is associated with a gain in happiness, having a second is associated with a drop in happiness for mothers

www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20230110-only-child-or-siblings-one-and-done#:~:text=Research%20has%20showed%20that%2C%20while,drop%20in%20happiness%20for%20mothers

According to happiness expert Paul Dolan, a professor of behavioral science at the London School of Economics, women who are single with no children are the happiest.

www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/why-bad-looks-good/202102/why-many-single-women-without-children-are-so-happy

Interesting, as research shows men are far more likely to leave the family unit if their offspring are solely female.

I have one and think it's great. More kids = more stress to me.

I've got five and I'm the happiest I've ever been but I think it depends on the kids you get/how you parent/ how they get on, some of it is luck. Some of my happiness is due to my kids, some of it's being happily divorced/single and some of it is from surviving cancer. Life is complicated, money makes a difference too, if you can comfortably afford your life whatever it looks like that makes people feel content

I don’t think having more children necessarily brings more joy. Having my DD after 4 years of infertility gave me boatloads of joy but having more wouldn’t bring me more joy because I don’t want any more children. Whether having a child brings joy depends on loads of factors. It is clearly not an easy area to research as studies have variously shown that women with one child, women with 4+ children and women with no children are happiest (yet status quo in our society is probably 2 children).

As others have said it all depends on what you want from your life and what about having children makes you feel happy. If you’re ever having a wobble about just having one dc remember the false stereotypes of a lonely only are incredibly outdated. Around 45% of the UK have one child families and this is projected to rise. I’m one of 5 and had an amazing childhood but think I will stick at one myself. Travelling, working, spending time doing things I enjoy outside of being a mother make me happy too and I really don’t think a second child would make me happier.

I don't think there is a magic number.

I was an only child and knew I didn't want mine to be though. I was definitely done at 2. They are both fantastic but I don't think I'd have the energy, time or money for more!

They are 8 and 10 and great friends. I hope they'll be able to share being there for us if need be (not physically necessarily but the mental load) when we are old. I have to deal with it all for my parents.

I am very happy with 1. No way do I want 3 of the things running round till im elderly. I cannot do peppa pig, school runs, world book day or baby groups ever again!

I have 4DC, and love it. They are close in age and very close to each other. We have a very happy home life, and I don't regret a thing.

I was sterilized after DC4 was born, because I knew that I had reached my personal limit and I did not want any more DC.

I have three. I love having three. Four would be my perfect number but financially I couldn’t so I haven’t.

It depends on you as a person, I thrive of being a mum, and although hard, I love all the shit and frills that go with it. My best friend has one daughter and doesn’t want any more, she is an amazing mum but not a ‘Mumsy mum’. For her, one is the perfect number.

I have 6 children and I'm very happy now I'm 43 and they're all grown adults (bar my youngest, he's 15). I've got my freedom back.

The newborn baby stage is the absolute best and easiest part in my opinion.

My friend has ten kids. Seems incredibly fulfilled and happy. She has not had a full nights sleep in as long as I've known her, very busy and selfless person. But it wouldn't be for me. She never gets any time to herself, never available to do anything outside of the home. No social life at all. Her DH is selfish imo, but he never wanted so many and she has given up everything else to be a mum to be so many. I don't judge but I find it hard to relate to her choices.

I have two and am happy and busy. I'd like three, but I don't have enough time/money so I think it would be stressful and take away some of the joy.

I was probably happiest with one, it has been a whirlwind since then. However, DC1 was only a toddler at that point and I was the centre of his world. He's now 8, and I wouldn't want to only have one at this point - would be a bit boring I think.

They say you are only as happy as your unhappiest child. So more can be happier but it is also pushing your luck.

Depends on who you are I suppose. I’m due soon with my fifth and I’m so happy with my family, each one adds more. It’s so lovely to see them love each other as well.