Do you regret just having 1?

104 replies

qwertyuiopasfghjklzxcvbnenk · 08/02/2023 21:22

I'm mum to DD 2 next month. I'm 37 and didn't have the best experience being pregnant so my husband and I have just agreed on the 1 child. I don't feel like I've got it in me to do it again but a few people have commented on how I'll regret it if I don't have another.
Just wondering if anyone has 1 and regrets not having another?
I'm happy with our decision. We have a really good balance of work/ life/ friends/ family. My husband is great with DD and goes above and beyond for us.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Cuppasoupmonster · 23/02/2023 14:39

As for my goal, discussion on an Internet forum 🤷🏼‍♀️ what’s yours?

Sunriseinwonderland · 01/03/2023 23:14

Cuppasoupmonster · 23/02/2023 14:23

Oh God, please don’t put this responsibility into your wider family. My aunt tried to do it with me ‘you’ll be her only blood family after we’re gone’ and it’s shit - emotionally blackmailing people into being surrogate siblings for your child because you didn’t want to have another for whatever reason. Having an only is a totally valid choice, but own it and don’t use other people to make up for a perceived deficit.

It’s like when single mums by choice say their child will have ‘a lot of male role modes like their uncles’. I often wonder if it’s fair that they’re imposing such a responsibility on those men and are presumably guilting them into it.

Show quote history

That's an absolutely bonkers reply and I don't understand it at all. I'm not putting responsibility on anyone. My DS is 40 and married to a lovely woman. He also has lovely cousins and aunts whom he adores and sees often just like a lot of other people.....so what's your argument?

PumpkinPie2016 · 06/04/2023 17:55

My son is 9 now and I am very happy with one. He is a bright, happy little boy who has lots of friends. We are lucky he gets on well with a girl the same age who lives on our lane so he plays with her a lot outside of school. We also have friends with children who come to play and he goes to cubs so has friends there. He definitely isn't lonely and likes our family of 3.

I like that he has our full attention, I can ferry him to activities/parties and we are able to take him on holiday. I teach so I have the school holidays with him and get to do lots of things with him - not necessarily extravagant things, helping with his lego models, going for walks etc.

I honestly couldn't imagine having anymore.

EwwSprouts · 23/04/2023 20:22

No regrets. DS has never said he wishes he had a sibling. He has cousins but not on the doorstep. He's now at university with plenty of friends there and at home. I believe in 'it takes a village to raise a child' and his village has been his sports clubs.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5