It has happened. I'm broody. shit.

[Bingtata]

We have decided. Only 1. I have been militant about it, laughed in the faces of people who smugly told me I would change my mind.

Something has happened to my hormones, I've started cooing at babies and I quite fancy one. Eek, has it happened? Can I just ignore it?

never too late [hwink]

way to make my son's life even more complicated [hgrin]

HI everyone, just joined rather late and utterly at some of the posts from Posie, listened to the R4 programme she mentioned and not sure where all the negative research is evidenced in it! As was mentioned, social networks, personality, parenting etc etc are much more significant indicators of difference rather than no of siblings and as we all know, caring for ageing siblings is not always a responsibility born by all siblings. I do worry about dd for us when we eventually pass away but interestingly, the quote from the R$ programme @I have never felt so lonely as when I turned away from my mother's grave' is incredibly moving but not the sole domain of onlies (I can tell you that from personal experience).

Anyway, let's lift the mood and say hooray of families with 1 child - we are contributing to the mix and variety of life as much as 2,3,4 etc child families. Going back to the OP - agree with everyone that has said that broodiness can hit with any number of children and for many reasons. Oh and that wanting a baby and wanting to be the parent of another little person is a very different thing. The only times I find myself questioning it all is when occasionally I just can't ignore the fact that despite everyone telling me 1 child families are incredibly common these days, in my village also in the West of England, I appear to be the only one and surrounded by large families.

Yes, bitter-sweet is the perfect word for it :)

I do feel happiness at the passing of stages, too. And I must say, then whenever we get rid of nappies will be the happiest day of my life! Not a single tear will be shed nor a sad thought to cross my mind
I know this is a hijack but how did you get rid of daytime nappies at 2? I thought ds was ready last week, but turns out he's not interested (24 months). I am not going to force him, but so sick of nappies.

Mindy - posie is actually a nice person - read further down

In response to that quote you mention - my mother passed away when I was a young teen. I have a sister who is 6 years older than me and we are complete opposites, have never been close and do not get along because our way of thinking in almost everything is so different. I felt the same when my mother passed. So lonely. :( In fact, my sister managed to make the grieving period worse (long story, she is just capable of incredibly horrible things!) Having a sibling isn't always helpful.

Nappies, if they show signs of readiness (very late in ds1, after three) take it and get on with it, but if they don't it's truly hellish if you push it.....3 months of accidents in this house. DS2 said at 2.5 that he wanted to wear pants and within two days we were nappy free day and night!!

Me either Posey, I'd knock you out lol!

[confuse]

Posie says "it's research, not a tablet of stone"

So why are you treating like it's a tablet of stone then? You quite obviously believe it's findings without question.

If you knw anything about anything you'd know that research can be manipulated to prove or disprove whatever you want it to.

Very little "research" is carried out totally objectively and the people who conduct it more often than not start from a point of having a hypothesis to prove or disprove.

"Being an only child is not good for long term outcomes" - what a complete and utter crock of shit.

I daresay Posie you'd have been one of those who believed the "research" years ago that told us black people were less intelligent than whilte people.

Gen...

OMG leave posie alone. She doesn't think that. She explained quite clearly upthread that she just thought some of the things from the study were interesting for her own family.

I agree about the research, but I think Posie understands that.

I'd like to be able to just post when I read the sorts of things that people like you post. Sadly I can't.

Gen....have a cup of tea dear, it'll help wash the biscuit down.

I think you should just go away posie your like a dose of thrush!

Why is posie on this board?

Never mind this board - by the sounds of it Posie should spoend less time on the internet spouting crap and a bit more time cleaning her messy house!

i see this turned into a bitch fest then. why turn up late to a situation where peace has been made to make nasty personal comments?

bit ugly.

I make no apology whatsoever for saying anything here.

Just where do do people like Posie, who have 4 kids, get off on coming onto a board like this and spouting the findings of so-called "research" that says that being an only child is "not good for long terms outcomes"?

It's ill founded and inflamatory but of course she knows that fine well.

Oh, and it was her that shared the fact that her house was messy in the first place. I was just commenting on the informaton she divulged.

Perhaps I'll pop over to the large families board presently and say that I've stumbled upon some research, that was mentioned on Woman's Hour, that's found (after carrying out a rigourous and extensive study on 5 women) that women with upwards of three children are obsessed with babies and lose interest in their children once they attain the age of one and that's it's not good for the long term outcomes of such chilren who are totally ignored once their babyhoods are behind them because their mother has moved onto the next one.

I'm pretty sure there'll be some research somewhere which backs that hypothesis up.

It certainly won't be any less silly, or inflamatory.

Well, back to the original topic. Agree with the whole one-child idea. My DH has no siblings and he is the most generous, loving man. You cannot generalise only children.
I read this post as I'm interested in seeing what happens. I'm one of three and always thought I wanted two children. However currently expecting DC1 and becoming more and more convinced that she may not be joined by any siblings in the future. Although very aware that hormones may tell me otherwise at some point!

Go Genevive I agree with every word! What an earth is she doing on this board and continuing to post like some expert on one child families.
And by the way wallowinflies I have been following this post unable to comment as I had my arm in plaster until this morning.The only ugly bit about it is people like posey!

Oh come on you two. Ok, I was a little offended by Posey's comments. But it's quite clear she didn't realise she was posting in this section.

If she'd done that deliberately, then yes that would have been inflammatory. But she didn't realise.

I know we have to challenge stereotypes about one child families. But these comments just don't seem to be the right way of going about it.

I'm sorry but she kept on posting even after she realised..I offer no apology.

Here here...