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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Seeing lots of single child family

309 replies

Guffpuff · 23/09/2023 18:44

We went for a long walk today around a reservoir. It's quite a popular place. We saw a large number of single child families. We feel that it's becoming more and more common now. Could be due to Cost of living and inflation or mix of lots of reasons.
Is this something you're observing as well?

OP posts:
FlyingSoap · 25/09/2023 14:37

mogtheexcellent · 25/09/2023 09:25

Mostly the reason was because i was an older mum but the reality is the cost. I estimated the cost of childcare for my DD over the weekend. Shes year 5 and i have a spreadsheet from when she started nursery at 8 months old. Ive estimated year 6 costs.

Its just over 84k.

My dh and i work full time with a joint income of 45k. I worked at a loss until DD was nearly 3.

Theres no way we could have afforded a second.

Absolutely eyewatering

Highandlows · 25/09/2023 14:58

Becoming more common in big cities. One child is not easier btw it is probably more affordable than two or more. Young families with not family network connections and very expensive childcare may stick to one.

Thepeopleversuswork · 25/09/2023 15:05

Highandlows · 25/09/2023 14:58

Becoming more common in big cities. One child is not easier btw it is probably more affordable than two or more. Young families with not family network connections and very expensive childcare may stick to one.

Yeah as a single parent with a FT job and no family nearby there is absolutely no way I could have supported 2+ children. I'm on a good salary and I struggle to support one, honestly. God knows how people on benefits or minimum wage do it.

RecklessBlackberries · 25/09/2023 15:39

I'm not really seeing it around here. Of the 8 couples in my NCT group (2021 babies), only one is on the fence about having a second. And most of the parents I meet at toddler activities are pregnant or talking about having sibling.

The only people I know who aren't planning a second (or more) are people who went through infertility treatments and/or had their first child at 40+.

Eurydice84 · 25/09/2023 20:59

jeaux90 · 25/09/2023 06:39

Well I'm a lone parent and stuck with 1. I think it would have been batshit of me to have more as a single income/single adult household.

And yes I have my DD in private school, you know why?

State provision is shit for SEN kids
State provision does not enable women to work full time

That's why. I took a responsible position. And yes shoot me, I'm middle class.

Show quote history

"State provision does not enable women to work full time" - errrr the private schools around here have 9 weeks of holidays in the summer and 4 at Easter, and much longer half terms...

Goldencup · 26/09/2023 06:04

Eurydice84 · 25/09/2023 20:59

"State provision does not enable women to work full time" - errrr the private schools around here have 9 weeks of holidays in the summer and 4 at Easter, and much longer half terms...

Show quote history

The private schools round here have very good holiday provision in the same hours as their longish school day. It's the 3:15 pick up that's the career killer IMO.

Jap26 · 26/09/2023 06:55

I'm seeing the opposite locally to me, many families in my children's classes have 3/4/5 children.

Vettrianofan · 27/09/2023 21:27

Jap26 · 26/09/2023 06:55

I'm seeing the opposite locally to me, many families in my children's classes have 3/4/5 children.

I know more families with 3/4/5 children than not.

Uggtrending · 27/09/2023 21:40

@jeaux90 my state school does cater well for kids with sen. We have no proper after school club and I can't work long days. I'm not sure if this is normal so you're partly right. After today's headlines in Croydon.... I don't think private schools are all that for "the money" (obscene)

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