Single with more than one child

[wouldlikeanother]

I'm a single mum to a 7 year old DS and I'd love more children - always have. I feel like I've been wasting the last 7 years looking out for a Mr Right to pop along that I can settle down with and get married, have more children etc.

DS is only getting older and has always been desperate for a sibling and so I'm looking at the options to have a second child.

I've been a lone parent with DS since pregnancy and so do not doubt my coping ability - I just wondered what things are more difficult with more than one child? What really makes you pull your hair out?

Trying to get one to primary school and one to infant school at exactly the same time.

Having to get two children dressed and putting one in a buggy just to go out and get a pint of milk / box of tampons / light bulb.

Struggling to get one to school when the other is ill.

Coping when you are ill.

Managing childcare if you work, especially in the holidays.

Having said that, they are teenagers now so somehow we got through it!

I'm a lone parent and I have been for 2 years now.

I have a 3YO DS and a 11MO DS.

I love having two and I think that if I only had the one my life wouldn't be the same. They love each other and watching them play together is lovely!

The only thing that pulls my hair out is the fact that I have to do everything on my own, if one is ill I'm up all night only for the other to be up the night after.

That is the only downside but apart from that I wouldn't change it for the world.

Hope that has helped a bit and I wish you all the best for the future.

Thank you for your posts :)

I've looked at other families that now have 3 or 4 (or 6!) children in the space that I've known them during DS's 7 years - and I think, the hard part of them being under 5 and being so dependant on you is nearly over. Now DS is at school, it is so much easier and he's a lovely little boy.

It's now that I get to make the decision to have more children by myself and accepting that I don't have to have a husband or a long term boyfriend to have the family that I want - it really makes it within grasping distance.

My main concern is childcare as I'd not use a nursery ever again for an under 3.

It's really exciting and cannot wait to get things started!

I found having a really flexible local childminder helped a lot, when they were at different schools and I was working full-time.

Having to get two children dressed and putting one in a buggy just to go out and get a pint of milk / box of tampons / light bulb.

Struggling to get one to school when the other is ill.

Coping when you are ill.

This.

These were the hardest moments for me. Mine weren't in buggies either but still had to drag them out with me for a ten minute walk to the shop for some milk.

Now they are older, it's a lot easier.

Smiles - that's why I want to do it - now that DS is at school, parenting is so much easier and I'm realising that he's getting old fast. Now's a good time to plan a second child. I've been looking at local childminders but need to give it more thought. After summer holidays are over, I can start putting money aside for IUI.

The under 5 years are difficult, and perhaps now that they're a couple of years ago, I'm looking at them through rose tinted glasses, but this looks like a good option for both myself and DS (so long as I have another boy so we don't have to move house!)

I have three and alone, one has sen so it's a bit like having five sometimes!

Being ill is the worst. Everything else I can almost cope with.