I have a dilemma and would love to hear from people who are/have been in the same situation. I'd also like to hear peoples thoughts in general.
My husband and I have 1 DD. She has just turned 3. I want another, he doesn't. He is very set on this and unlikely to change his mind.
I understand his reasons. We have a great life. A second baby would mean we'd have to move house and probably area too as I don't believe we could afford a bigger house here (and unable to extend our house). We'd have to move to an area not as nice as ours. We'd be worse off financially. We also have no support. I can't deny it has been tough having nobody to help. Life is starting to become a bit more "normal" again as DD is getting easier and childcare funding is just around the corner. My husband feels that a second baby could jeopardise our happiness, and that we can provide a much better life for our daughter if she is our only child.
I just have so much guilt about it. I know there is no guarantee of siblings getting along but I worry that she will feel lonely both as a child and as an adult. I am close to my siblings and I can't help but imagine her being lonely at Christmas etc or when she needs somebody to rely on (when we're not around). She may feel left out compared to others or resentful. Recently she was role playing pretending to be a "sister" and broke my heart.
Friends of mine have started having their second children/becoming pregnant with their second and it's making me feel so sad. I can't seem to come terms with never being pregnant or having a baby again. It's really getting to me the older I get (I'm 34) and as DD gets older.
I really don't think my husband will change his mind (he's started to get grumpy with me bringing it up yet again) and it's not something I want to end our relationship over. I guess I just have to accept it and move on? I can't force him to have another child. It would be so wrong to bring a baby in to the world that isn't completely wanted. I worry that I will always resent him for it though....
What's a girl to do? Are there any one-child families out there that could make me feel better about this situation?
Thanks x
Got questions about only having one child? Find the answers here.
One-child families
Second baby
bellaboo90 · 01/05/2022 23:58
MadamMaltesers · 02/05/2022 01:05
Hi,
I'm not usually one to reply to msgs on mn prefer to just read. But I just had to reply to your thread. I know everyone has their own reason for wanting or not wanting a 2nd and I totally respect that. I also have 1 child who is 7 this year and ever since she was about 3 or 4 I've really felt the impact it has had on her being an only child. The biggest impact I have noticed is her social skills especially with the pandemic and not having children to socialise with much. Another thing is although I spend as much time as I can with her, she much prefers to spend time with her cousins. When we return home from her cousins she say that she's bored and wants siblings which breaks my heart. With me the issue is although I have been trying for 4 years to give her siblings it just wasn't meant to be after repeat miscarriages. Coming from a very large family I absolutely loved being around my siblings and experiencing my childhood with them and have many fond memories. I just want to say that yes life would probably be a bit of a struggle at first, but after a while you learn to adjust and cope somehow. Whatever decision you make I personally believe that in the long run having that 2nd child would be worth every sacrifice.
doingitforthegirls · 02/05/2022 08:09
It's very hard when you aren't on the same page with your husband about children - what did you discuss before getting together? Personally I would never have been deliberately "one and done" so if my now husband had been then I would have considered it a relationship breaker.
If finances are his only issue with having another child who earns the money? Personally I think if it's the woman who wants more children and expects the father to bear the brunt financially then she needs to step up - work full time if previously part time - work at all if previously a STAHM etc - we can't expect to have what we want and him pay for it? Sacrifices/compromises have to be made?
FWIW I'm the main earner by a very long way. If I want more children in the future then financially my decision bears much more weight than his. That's just how it is.
To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.