Would you have your kids again?

[Flowers665]

I don't have any and I don't know if I want any. I like having my nephew or neice for the day but I am EXHAUSTED by the end of the day and happy to hand them back. I can find it hard to fill the time with them. Also always really look forward to going back to having time to myself. I don't know if people will be honest but if you could go back would you have kids? I love being able to be selfish, spend all my time and money on myself.

Yes I would, but before I had her I would make sure I made the most of my free time. I had no idea it would be like this, but I wouldn’t change it, it’s exhausting but she’s worth it xx

Yeah I think how tiring and relentless it is really puts me off.

It is, no one tells you how hard it is going to be

I would have them again.

Yes. We would.

Yes. But they are grown and I have plenty of time to myself. Sometimes too much!

I absolutely would. One thing I'd change if I could would be to have them earlier. Can't do anything about that, I met dh at 34 and we had kids st 36 and 39. I'm now 46, peri-menipausal with a 6 and 9 year old. I am EXHAUSTED. I love them endlessly I just wish I was 10 years younger. In the other hand they keep me young 🤣

100% I would have them again. It’s a cliche but they really are my world and make my life.
That doesn’t mean it’s right for everyone though and I can definitely see why people choose not to have children.
I also already have my children, they are real people, that’s very different than just a thought.
Your own children are also different than other children. Yes there’s tedious bits and really difficult bits but it feels different with your own imo.

I was 22 when I had my first (40 now). I would have them again but maybe of had them a little later in life.

I've only got one - i would 100% have her again but my life wasn't good before I had her, poor mh

She saved me tbh so yes but

As much as i sometimes want one more, i dont think i will! She's enough 😄 and it's hard work

I think I'm going to be the odd one out, but for honesty's sake, no, I wouldn't do it again. It's hard and even harder when the other parent refuses to grow up and realise the responsibility.

I’m not sure what the poll represents though to choose

Yes, definitely. I don't think I found it as hard as a lot of people seem to. Just luck, I suppose!

Yes I would. When they’re your own you get kind of trauma-bonded to them and wouldn’t be without them no matter how exhausted, skint and mental they make you!

I don't find it hard at all. I have a 5 year old and a 3 month baby. I'm 45. Next week and love having them. But I am very laid back and have ADHD so struggle with any sort of routine but my 5 year old daughter just goes with the flow and laughs at my forgetfulness and mishaps that come with ADHD. My DP is autistic but very mild and highly highly functioning. We are both chilled and crazy and don't take things too seriously and how children reflect that. I'm so happy 😁

It is intense and it is exhausting and some aspects and periods are tougher than others. But it's definitely the most rewarding thing I've ever done and I wouldn't change a thing about it. I'm definitely much more interested and invested in my own ds than other peoples children and I do think you get used to the tiredness, change of pace and intensity and you learn to cope with it much better.

The toddler/baby years were really tough. It absolutely didn’t come naturally to me and the days passed so slowly. Now he’s 16 and the light of my life. He’s so kind and funny and interesting - I really couldn’t imagine life without him.

Yes but younger.
My eldest I had at 20 It was much much easier than the others I had in my mid 30s.

Definitely. She's the best thing I've ever done, the best thing about my life, and always will be. I wish we'd had another while we still could. YANBU though because of course not everyone needs to have children and of course you can be fulfilled in other ways.

I don't know that I would. Not because I don't love them, but because they don't seem happy and I have so many worries for their future. (Both autistic and suffer badly with anxiety). They are teens so hopefully things will improve but I am drained and feel guilty that life seems difficult for them.

Yes.

Absolutely yes, and more.

My DD is 7 and I’m pregnant with little girl number 2.
I can’t speak for the unborn (yet) but I’d have my daughter again and again and again in every lifetime.
I’d pick her over anybody else in my life.

But like I said, she’s 7, ask again when she’s a teenager x

If you considering whether to have children, borrowing other people’s is no basis to experience anything like parenthood. It’s genuinely not an experience you can rehearse or glimpse without doing it. It’s genuinely not something that feels like it looks from outside, either — you can’t really gain any insights by watching someone else do it, because everyone’s experience is so different. A lot will depend on your health, temperament, support level, income etc, as well as the health, temperament, numbers etc of your children. I don’t recognise most of what I read on here.

I would absolutely have my child again, and the circumstances in which I had him. One child by choice, had just before I turned 40, after not planning to have any. Have always worked FT. I’m no one’s idea of a ‘natural mother’, am a career-minded person who needs a lot of time alone. None of that is incompatible with parenthood, in my experience.

I wouldn't undo them and, in world full of choices, I'd always choose them; it would/will always be them.