If you knew you were going to end up being a single parent, how many children would you have?

[chuckb4ss]

Intrigued to know, especially if as a single parent you feel it would have been best to perhaps stick at one?

I'd still have two, without the extra parent I think the kids would need each other and would provide more of a family.

I would have had one

I am a lone parent and I thank the gods that I only have one. Before the pandemic I was able to pursue a career and a decent quality of life because I only have one, since the pandemic I have idly wished for a sibling at times but equally my workload is manageable as it is, it would have been much harder with 2.

One. No way would I have been able to work with two.

Two

@Shehasadiamondinthesky

One. No way would I have been able to work with two.

Is this due to the cost of childcare?

Two. I'm a single parent with four and it's expensive and exhausting.

One! As sad as it is I kept this in my back of my mind when we discussed how many we would like.

Two, which is one of the main things putting me off going for a third. My relationship is excellent so I have no worries currently, but you can never know what the future holds... I imagine being a single parent to, say, 3 in the current national/global situation and it chills me! Hats off to those who do it.

I wouldn't have any. Not if I knew I was going to have to do it alone.

I thought zero then I remembered my DH never get up at night for any of them 😂

Zero

I’m a single parent
A happy one
I have 2 and that’s perfect

I'm very glad I have my one and very relieved I don't have any more. I would not have been able to manage financially, emotionally or logistically with any more children.

All those saying zero if they’d known doing alone.... don’t you think alone SO much better than some of the stories you read in mumsnet about grumpy DHs or where the OP clashes re parenting approach with their DH?

I love that I’m the queen of my domain. My children are happy healthy and settled. Why? Because of ME! And the fact they don’t witness tension, arguments etc.
I find it incredibly empowering

I wouldn’t have had any. I love my children but I wouldn’t have chosen this life for them.

I would have had 3 over 1 any day
This current time must be particularly hard for only children in single parent families, as I’ve read on this forum.

I'm a single parent and have 2. It was never planned to be a single parent but I'm happy with 2, I actually find the workload easier now than I did when was with ex h.

It depends - are you sharing custody of the children or just on your own with no contact with the dad?
Personally I would have no children or the least possible if I am going to have to share custody of them later. I have 1 child who sees his dad every other weekend and I am so glad we didn't have more kids together as the impact on my one child and me has been hard. Everyone says oh the kids will be fine and adapt but that hasn't been our experience. He's had extreme homesickness and found it very difficult at times transitioning between two parents.
I would rather go it alone with a sperm donor to be honest or adopt alone and have sole care of the children unless of course you have a great coparent in your ex?

All those saying zero if they’d known doing alone.... don’t you think alone SO much better than some of the stories you read in mumsnet about grumpy DHs or where the OP clashes re parenting approach with their DH?

Yes I do think alone is so much better than the Mumsnet stories of shit partners. I wasn't basing my answer on being a lone parent V being with a shit partner though.

None

@Martinisarebetterdirty

I wouldn’t have had any. I love my children but I wouldn’t have chosen this life for them.

I agree . I wouldn't have had any either although I love my DC

I would have had 2. I massively struggled to entertain my one when I was a single parent especially on a low income. Whereas my sister and I grew up with just a mum and we had a brilliant time.

If I'd known, I wouldn't have had any.
I have one and am thankful for her and also that I don't have more. We have a nice life the two of us but I would struggle to provide that emotionally and financially with 2 I think.

Probably none