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Original poster

If you could change the number of children you had then would you?

47 replies

TambaIsBadBadBad · 01/08/2006 12:19

I have 2 boys ages 4 and 2, and I love them both and could never choose between them, but sometimes I think to myself that I should only have had one child.

Like last night and today I only had DS2 and its been lovely. I get to read to him and play with him and spend time cuddled up with him, and 'talk' (in that baby way!) with him.

If I only had one child then it could be like this all the time, instead of me getting stressed with htem arguing, or wanting to do different things when inevitably ds2 will be too young to play etc. I could afford to take a single child to things like baby gym and swimming classes, things i cant do at the moment.

I love both my children and could never imagen life without either of them. But if i could do it all again I would have only had one (either one will do, they are both scrummy)

How about you?

OP posts:
Lemmingswife · 01/08/2006 12:56

My nearly 7 year old hates walking too, crazydazy! I often just stand him on the back of DS2's buggy just to enable me to get from A to B without a fuss!

Lemmingswife · 01/08/2006 12:59

I really must learn to drive!

crazydazy · 01/08/2006 13:04

DD is 6 and she has got better just lately but she hates trudging around shopping malls whereas DS quite enjoys that (strange I know).

I can drive but I think this is what has made my children so lazy because its not often we do walk anywhere but now the good weather is here I make a point of walking to and from school (its only a 10 minute walk) and they both trudge along complaining endlessly but then as soon as they get into the playground they are running around at full speed.

brimfull · 01/08/2006 13:07

I would have had 2 more children if I was younger.
I have a 11 yr age gap because of fertility problems so feel really blessed to have 2.

fennel · 01/08/2006 13:30

would probably choose to have 3 again but I do find it very restricting at times. am sometimes, rather unfairly as I chose 3, overwhelmed with envy for those with just one.

dd3, who's 2.3, likes to walk but if we let her the other two sprint off into the far distance, so dd3 gets plonked back in the buggy again usually or we'd lose the other dds.

geekgrrl · 01/08/2006 13:38

me too fennel. I also have three very close together in age and find it really hard work. Often think that having just one must be such a breeze... parenting 'light'.
Dh and I feel really overrun at the moment.

Having said that, I would probably have 3 again, and close in age again, too. They all get on and it's lovely to see them together.

charliecat · 01/08/2006 13:43

I have 2. I was left with 1 the other day, 8 year old dd and after an hour we were totally fed up with each other. Glad she has a sister to play with...like..PHEW...thank goodness.

sweetkitty · 01/08/2006 13:50

I have 2 DDs, 2 and 6 months old. I often feel sorry for DD1 as if DD2 wasn't here we could do so much more, like go swimming during the week etc but I think overall having a sibling close in age is more of a benefit for her especially as DD2 starts to do more.

I still feel there is someone else missing from our family but am going to have a little break and plan to ttc no 3 next year sometime. I want them all close but not that close.

SSSandy · 01/08/2006 14:09

no, 1 is excellent for me

alibubbles · 02/08/2006 06:15

I would have liked 4, but only have two, couldn't afford the school fees for 4!

hockeymum · 02/08/2006 06:46

I always wanted 2, and even though I had horrendous pregnancies I did have 2, but am so broody for more. However dd had a vasectomy yesterday as although I'm broody we know pregnancy will be really bad for me amd we've got 2 healthy happy children so we'll just accept that. Secretly though, another baby in a year or two would have been nice.

Miaou · 02/08/2006 07:02

I've got three and want one more. Like nutty says, I feel I'm missing something. Apart from the lack of sleep ds has not made our lives harder but has been a hugely enriching experience (including for the dds). But I have big age gap (7 years) between dd2 and ds, so they are old enough to help out - makes it much easier.

kittywits · 02/08/2006 07:14

Got 5,(7yrs -7 months) preg with #6. Sometimes I wish I had fewer children so that I could take them to places that I can't take a huge gang, like the museums in Londion and abraod on holidays. That time will come though and I feel the fact that they have each other does compensate for the fact that they "miss out" a bit in other areas.

roisin · 02/08/2006 07:46

I always wanted two boys.
Have got two boys.
I am happy with two boys and wouldn't change it.

heiferjamese · 02/08/2006 08:34

I always wanted 2 boys, but got 1 DD (and I wouldn't change it).. However I don't want 2 girls, so stopping at 1..

1 works for us. and I never want to go through it all again. DD 2.7 is finally sleeping through the night and is now potty trained.

Do worry about her future sometimes, ie just reliased that no only will she be only child, but also means that she won't have any nephews or neices, no sisterinlaw (I am close to mine) etc basically no extended family, just me and DH... I only thought about her being a child before and thought I could easily make up for being any only child during this time, but suddendly realised that it will effect her whole life...

so you never know.. god can't believe I am saying this, really don't want to be pregnant again..

jessicaandrebeccasmummy · 02/08/2006 08:37

wanted 2 boys

got 2 girls

wouldnt swap them for the world - BUT - there is something missing.

We will go for a 3rd when the girls are at school, and if its another girls - great! If its a boy - FANTASTIC!

Time will tell LOL

misdee · 02/08/2006 08:38

i want four. my family feels like someone is missing.

Twiglett · 02/08/2006 08:41

I wanted 4, DH wanted 2 I thought we'd settled on having 3

however we have 2 (DS - 5 and DD - 2) and it looks like we're stopping here for various reasons

but yes I sometimes get that overpowering feeling that 'someone's missing' .. I suppose we'll just have to get a dog

mimitwo · 02/08/2006 08:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

bea · 02/08/2006 09:06

have got 2... dd (5) and ds (2.5) and am due for no.3 in oct... have always felt like that i would rather have one more than feel like that i missed the boat and so we took the plunge..... ask me again in 6 months and i'll prob say i wish i had none!!!!!

swedishmum · 02/08/2006 09:13

I love having 4 (12, 10, 9 and 2) but wish I had a bit more time for each of them alone, and a bit more time for me. Dh frequently works away so a chauffeur would really help, and holidays are ridiculously expensive. Sometimes it's quite scary - I was an only child of fairly reclusive parents so I'm used to quiet spaces!

LemonTart · 02/08/2006 09:14

2 girls. Would love 3 but house is too small. Maybe in the future will be able to afford a bigger home but bit of a pipe dream if I am honest
I am happy with what I have got - they are lovely and get on so well with each other. Just always imagined having 3..

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