Survey for all sahm of more than one child..............

[stressteddy]

1. How many children do you have?

2. Do you live near family who would have your dc's or who you can pop in on? 3.Do you have any time alone during the week at all?

Just being nosey as am trying to make decisions about having more children
Thanks!

Oh and I'm happy. When I'm not stressed out with the house,mess etc!!

1. How many children do you have? 9

2. Do you live near family who would have your dc's or who you can pop in on? No

3.Do you have any time alone during the week at all? No

4. Would you do it all again? Yes

Are you happy with your lot?
Gets a bit stressful at times but in the main, yes.

Do you have any help at all? Nanny, cleaner, Ironer? No

Are you honestly happy with your life as it is now? Yes, mostly (doesn't everyone have a few things they would like to change a bit).

1. 2

2. No 3. Yes

1. 2 children

2. No, am 120 miles away from any family 3. Have about an hour a day when DS is napping and DD is in school, but not at all during the school holidays. Unfortunately I use that hour a day as time to get jobs done, so it's not quality time to myself.

However, I do realise that it's not long before they grow up, go to nursery school etc and then I'll wish they were back home sometimes

1. 2 (both under 3 until Aug)

2. yes (mum in nearby town, il's in same county

3. Yes (after the dc's are asleep!!)

4. Yes

1. How many children do you have?

3 2. Do you live near family who would have your dc's or who you can pop in on? sister I can pop in on. No babysitting available. 3.Do you have any time alone during the week at all? No. Weekends I will meet a friend for lunch or coffee. 4. Would you do it all again? 2 dc yes. 3 dc no. I love ds2 dearly but 3 has been too hard for me.

1. 2dds, 8 & 10

2. No family nearby, so very rarely babysitting available 3. During term-time I have time to myself, but from Tuesday afternoon I will have none for 7 weeks 4. Don't regret it at all, but glad to be the other side of babyhood, iyswim and wouldn't have any more dcs now (too old!)

1. How many children do you have? 4

2. Do you live near family who would have your dc's or who you can pop in on? NO 3.Do you have any time alone during the week at all? NO 4. Would you do it all again? YES

HTH

1. 2, ages 2.7 and 11 months

2. No

3.No, because am at home with children dyuring day and work 5 nights a weeks

4. I say YES. DP says No

. How many children do you have? 4

2. Do you live near family who would have your dc's or who you can pop in on? No

3.Do you have any time alone during the week at all? I had a childminder for 3 hours a week when I only had 3. She took the baby and the older 2 went to school/playgroup. Otherwise, not until the youngest started playgroup. Very occasionally dh will have all 4 at the weekend.

4. Would you do it all again? Yes, but I would not become a full time SAHM if I could do it again. I would do everything else the same but try to retain a few hours a week of paid work.

Are you happy with your lot? I am happy with my family (well would have more children if I was younger and could afford them, but generally happy with the 4 I have!) I am not happy with our financial situation or the fact that I feel unemployable now.

Do you have any help at all? Nanny, cleaner, Ironer? No, but at critical moments in my life I have had a child minder - see above - which I think saw me through some crisis moments.

Are you honestly happy with your life as it is now? In many respects, yes, but see above re happy with my lot. It was not having more children that made me unhappy - they are my consolation - but I wish I had thought more about my life beyond motherhood.

1. How many children do you have? 2 (4 and 2 yo boys)

2. Do you live near family who would have your dc's or who you can pop in on? round teh corner from DPs parents, 2 buses to my mums..can't pop in as they work 3.Do you have any time alone during the week at all? no 4. Would you do it all again? yes got a bfp last week!

1 I have two children
2 no, we are Italian, our families are in Italy. I have one close friend I might ask for help, but have never done it
3 yes. Both children started nursery twice a week after they were 15 months to learn English and many other reasons. I do manage to get some translation work, but quite sporadically.
4 I'd have a third if I was living in Italy, with my obstetrician and our family/friends around .

. How many children do you have? I had 3 under 5yrs
2. Do you live near family who would have your dc's or who you can pop in on? yes - however you find that you are nt the only person int he world with small babies hoping your inlaws can "just" watch your little bundle of not so much joy whilst you "pop" out.

therefore you find yourself @saving up@ the times when you ask = so just popping anywhere becomes a bit non existant
3.Do you have any time alone during the week at all?
rarely

1. i have two - ds 4 and dd 8 months

2. live near mum, but she still works ft so doesnt help much

3. no time on my own in week

4. not bloody likely!

1. 2 (29 months old and 15 months old)

2. No, family in South Africa, no friends nearby.

3. No time alone. Have joined the gym and plan to get up at 6:00 to have that time for myself.

4. Yes, but its getting too hard now, and we are moving back to SA in March next year, we miss our family.

1. 3

2. no and they all work full time 3. during term time when dd2 is at pre- school and ds is asleep I get a couple of hours in the morning, although expect this will change come september! 4. YES! but with more money and having bought our own house first!

Just to add to your survey that the question of another child shouldnt make the difference should it?

I have one very demanding ds who unquestionably so I am reliably informed, could be more of a handful alone in comparison to others with two or more children.

I dont live near family to help me and with the exception of one short weekend, we havent had any alone time in nearly 6 years.

If I had the choice to have more children, I would most definately do it again 10 times over.

1. two

2. no-over 200 miles away 3. no. hardly ever 4. yes, hard work, but love being sahm-most of the time !

1. 2 2)no
2. no
3. yes, i'd do it all again. well worth it

1. Two

2. Occasionally mil 40 miles away.. 3. Ha ha ha ha No. 4. Don't think I would make it up to three, no but deffo would not have left it at one.

1. 3

2. no 3. yes, they're at nursery 930-12 from 3 yrs old then primary school from 5 yrs. I used the swimming pool creche for 2 hour stretches from when they were 3 months old. Later on paid a childminder to work half days on Fridays which gave me the whole day off - vital as dh travelled occasionally 4. yes

ps I stopped SAHM last Feb, but was one for 9 year so feel qualified to reply!

I had 2 miscarriages too. Even if you think you want more children it might not be as easy as you think (don't know how old you are). I always knew I wanted 3 kids Good luck anyway.

My feeling is if you're in doubt then don't, it's not fair on your existing child if it pushes your relationship over the edge, my dh was always fantastic with kids, sometimes better than me. (not casting aspersions on your relationship at all) I think it will always be harder and more knackering than you anticipate.

My aunt had one child. She said she was happy with one baby/child at the time but now he's a thirty something lawyer she'd like to have family get togethers with more than just the 3 of them (=dh, her, son) at home.

Sorry gone on a ramble here.