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Parenting

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Original poster

What made you decide that your family was complete?

23 replies

BROWNY · 20/08/2006 16:44

I have four children, aged between 10 and 2 years and was wondering what makes you decide when your family is complete.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Aero · 20/08/2006 16:59

The fact that I couldn't actually handle another child is what's done it for me - the idea of the the first two years over again (while coping with the children we already have) is just too much. We have three, and I've often thought about what it would be like to have a fourth, but I just know it'd be more than I could cope with. also, I feel at 36, I'm just getting too old to do it again.

juuule · 20/08/2006 17:01

Menopause

Original poster

BROWNY · 20/08/2006 17:02

Aero, I had my first three pretty close together and decided to have our fourth when our third child started school and that's how it worked out. I had my fourth when I was 37 and the broody feelings have started again

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iota · 20/08/2006 17:06

when we got to one per parent

Jasnem · 20/08/2006 17:07

I had my first two close together and my third when they were both at school.
Before I had ds I could never imagine life without being pregnant again. Now I can.

Having said that, if we won the lottery (unlikely as we don't do it) and could afford a bigger house, I'd probably feel differently.

Aero · 20/08/2006 17:16

Lol - Guess I just never expected ds2 to be such a handful. He's very full on and I think it's more that than anything. He's wonderful, but very hard work - more so than the other pair put together.

Jasnem · 20/08/2006 17:18

Sounds like dd2! That's the reason there is a five year gap this time.

lucy5 · 20/08/2006 17:19

This pregnancy, never again!!!!!!!!!!!

compo · 20/08/2006 17:20

We're having no.2 in a few weeks time. I just know that I never want to be pregnant again (hope this feeling doesn't fade in a year's time!!). Also we'd have to get a bigger house, transport would be a problem, nursery fees etc.

Original poster

BROWNY · 20/08/2006 17:22

The problem is though, after a couple of years all those pregnancy aches and pains are forgotten. So would you say money is the major factor in not having any more?

OP posts:

nicnack2 · 20/08/2006 17:23

money and time. would like another but feel that we me being 36 and dh 46 time is running out for us to enjoy life on the other side of children. Also money, but then i would like dss to have bigger family to fall back on as its a bit sparse on both sides. No cousins etc.

Original poster

BROWNY · 20/08/2006 17:23

meant to say, my children are very good (most of the time) and they love their little brother to pieces and he is so very good and an unbelievable sleeper.

OP posts:

wishfulthinking · 21/08/2006 15:48

We have dd...and that's it. It's only as she is 2+ now that I can imagine having another.....trouble is, finances dictate (a lottery win aside) that we can't afford another (how dreadfully sad does that sound?); it's just not possible (that and the fact that dh doesn't want another).

expatinscotland · 21/08/2006 15:49

We're crammed up in this two-bed flat. It exacerbated my PND and we can't afford to move.

That pretty much did it for us.

Cappuccino · 21/08/2006 15:53

my friend got pg with No 3 and I was not jealous, not in the slightest

I actually thought 'thank goodness I'm not pg'

madmarchhare · 21/08/2006 15:53

Horrendous pregnancy.

Wallace · 21/08/2006 15:56

I could have written your first post Jasnem - that is exactly how I feel

titchy · 22/08/2006 10:06

I decided about 20 years ago that I was only going to have 2 and that was it! I'm an only child and knew for sure that I didn't want to have an only child. My original plan was to have a 1 year age gap. Then I had dd and realised just what a 1 year age gap would have entailed! So have a 2 year age gap and once I'd has ds thought - thank God - done the pregnacny thing for the last time! No way on earth I'd have another now. Have just started to get life back now they're at school. Can't imagine going back to square one now.

rarrie · 22/08/2006 16:04

I'm pregnant with DD2 and I have to say that I have no intentions of getting pregnant again. I just can't wait till this baby is out and I have no desire for any more. Plus, I wouldn't want to have three girls. Twos company and all that, I think one would be left out and that wouldn't be fair.

Blandmum · 22/08/2006 16:16

When I had my second child I just knew were were 'done'. So I was done I was also 37 and had two lousey p/gs

bev1e · 22/08/2006 17:22

Time.

There are not enough hours in the day to devote enough time to the 3 I have. Couldn't consider another. Feeling too old (38), too tired and having had 3 C sections was advised against having another.

Piffle · 22/08/2006 17:24

I have a 12 yr old ds to a previous relationship
It was another 9 years (after his birth) before I found the man I could have more children with
We have a lovely 3 yr old dd, but we always wanted two youngsters.
I wanted that with ds too, but situation prevented me from attaining it - single parenthood yada yada.
I worry about the big age gap if I left it at just ds and dd, dd has few minor problems and I would like to think she has some siblings to assist her as she gets older
But after this one is born, thats it...
I think...

southeastastra · 22/08/2006 17:25

money unfortunately

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