To be scared to have another baby because of the state of the world?

[jennymac]

DH and I have been talking about baby number three recently which we always wanted. Having cold feet now because stories about climate change, food and water shortages etc in the future are really scaring me and I don't know if I want to bring another baby into this world. Am I just going mad?

There was an interesting article in the Guardian today on this very subject. Was Zoe Williams I think.

FWIW, no I don't think you're going mad or ABU.

Article here

No I dont think YABU

Its one of those things where you either grit your teetha nd take the blind faith jumpp, or decide to stick where you are, both decisions are personality based I guess.

Whether its a decision you have to make now depends mostly on your age anyway, I guess. Only the two of you can weigh up the scales.

Thanks for that article HonkingAntelope. Maybe I have too much time on my hands! I have a dd (2.5yrs) and a ds (1.2 yrs), I work full-time and until recently I used to collapse into bed like a zombie and conk out until one of the kids decides that it is their turn to be up half the night! Now I find I am going to bed and worrying about the end of the world or some awful fate falling on my beloved angels and how it will be my fault for bringing them into the world. What happens to you when you become a mum?! Even my reading material has taken a hit as I can't stand to read crime novels or anything remotely depressing anymore. I am reading Half of a Yellow Sun at the mo and really enjoying it but thinking of giving up half way through as I am scared that the rest of the book will keep me awake for nights. Does this phase pass does anyone know? Maybe I just don't have anything proper to worry about so my mind is playing tricks with me - I am usually (or used to be)a very sunny optimistic person!

Hmm, I know hoe you feel- I avoid new articles etc now (if I do watch them dh sits there going FFS why do you watch it if you are going to sob ).

So a normal part of parenthood, exacerbated by tiredness quite often I think.

Though be aware its sometimes a sign of low level depression as well.

I do feel the same I guess- ds3 has sn severe enough to probably always need some care, and I panic about him being first to be lost. But then I rationalise having three brothers to help him multiplies his survival odds (ds1 is also sn, but would be more liekly to survive due to the way he is)

See, it's not just you LOL

Ah, your no 3 could be come up with some of the solutions

You wouldn't wanna deprive the world of him/her now would you?

I never planned to have children because I thought it was unfair to bring them into such a horrible world...a few months after DC1 was born I watched the planes fly into the twin towers.

I do sometimes worry about their futures but I can remember my grandmother saying the same about the world we were growing up into I really dont think its anything new...our parents were lucky really to have had such a long time of stability.

The only thing you can do is get on with your life...im not saying I dont have sleepless nights occasionally about it but I agree with peachy they tend to be when I am extremely tired or depressed.

That is true StarlightMcEggzie! Sometimes I think we know too much these days - it was simpler even in my mum's time when they just popped out kid after kid without thinking about the world's resources running out although I suppose they did have to think about murderers and perverts

OP - I think like this too and I suffer with depression and I definatly think more like this when my depression is worse. Sometimes I make myself feel ill with worry that I have brought 2 children into 'the unknown' and that it would have been kinder to have had no children. I get worried that some disaster will happen and may wipe me out , but they survive but with no one to look after them etc. Sorry to ramble, just wanted to say my thoughts like this are definatly linked to my depression - have you ever been depressed?

I have never been depressed and apart from thinking like this now (which has really only been bad for a few weeks) I am generally pretty happy and I think most people would laugh if I even suggested to them that I may be depressed. My life is really good at the mo, happy marriage, 2 gorgeous healthy kids whom I adore, a job I like (not love but who does?!) and no real money worries (by no means rich but not struggling either). I feel more anxious (and slightly fearful) rather than depressed. I guess I was hoping for reassurance that this is a normal parent worry?

You will know if you are depressed, or at least most likely so. However good everything isn't a sign sadly- depression is often a result of a chem imbalance, after all.

Nonetheless I do think increased vulnerability to these thingsisfairly normal tbh and although its worth doing a quick thought process on 'Am I..' it's quite possible to think like this without being.