Telling an only they won't have a sibling

[Lirogiro]

For various reasons My dp has decided he doesn't want another child. I am v sad about this but understand that I can't have a child on my own and am gradually coming to terms with it.
My ds is nearly 5 and starting to talk more about having a sibling and I don't want to keep skirting round the issue.

How do we tell him? I don't want to 'blame' my dp and say he won't have a sibling because his dad doesn't want to but I also don't want to say 'we are happy just the three of us' because I'm not.

Has anyone had any experience of this? What did you say to your dc?

Surely a more general discussion about families coming in all shapes and sizes would do.

That's a tough thing to deal with yourself Liro

Saying that, I would try my hardest not to project your emotions onto your DC. While you may see it as a tragic, terrible thing, your DC need not think like that, and it doesn't need to be anybody's fault.

I would, as the PP suggests, have a general discussion about how families come in all different shapes and sizes with different dynamics. If you are concerned about him feeling lonely, take comfort in the fact that he doesn't have to feel this way and it can be addressed by sensitive parenting. Take him to see friends and invite school friends round once he has established good friends.

I would also consider looking into professional advice/guidebooks or even googling if you are really worried. Many kids will ask about siblings out of curiosity/because their friends have them too, so it's not always because they feel deeply sad they don't have one.

I'll be interested to read any other responses too; we have 1 DD and are planning another, but we have put off doing it this year and have decided to wait for a long time, until DD is around your sons age.It's also worth talking more to your DH if you think not having another will be truly detrimental to your own emotional wellbeing. It is an important thing to agree on. Good luck

My situation is different than yours, because we both wanted more children, but seems that Dd (now 5) will be an only. We've answered that there just hasn't come more babies into my belly and that people can't decide that for themselves.

I hope you can discuss with your dp about what to say to your child. I think it's important that you give the same sort of answer to your child. Maybe your dp has an idea what to say, since he doesn't want more children.