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Parenting

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Original poster

How many children do you have and are you happy with that number?

101 replies

kitpuss · 11/05/2010 21:21

Just wondering whether people out there are happy with their 1, 2, 3, 4 or more children.

What are the best and worst things about the number you have, and would you do it all the same again?

OP posts:

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Nettiespagetti · 14/05/2010 07:03

I come from a family with 7 kids and always wanted 4 myself! I have 2 and almost 99% sure won't have anymore. Reasons:- DH works all time I find it lonely and hard work. Hated being pg in hindsight think I has anti natal depression during both pg. Don't enjoy baby stage. So all in all not good idea although I do say I'll make up my mind when my two start school!

Hammy01 · 14/05/2010 07:24

I have 2, 1 of each and a DSS who we have at weekends.
I would LOVE to have another one, like another MNetter said, I just dont't feel 'done'.
However, when we have all 3 kids at weekend it usually ends up with bickering, fighting and tantrums and it wears me and DH down tbh. I think the dynamics change from a 4 person family during the week to a 5 person family at weekends with DSS and despite our best efforts each child does not get all the attention the moment they want it and it can be bloody hard.
Plus my DD 23 months is still bf all night and cosleeping so this in itself is enough of a contraceptive.
Financially, could afford the child but not the childcare as DH and I both work FT.
So in my heart, yes would like more but my head says 'WTF'??!!

skidoodly · 14/05/2010 08:22

Have 2 dds (2 and 3 months), neither really planned properly, came about happily through disorganisation and fecklessness.

After dd1 was very happy not to be pregnant and didn't want any more for a while but I think my body got secretly broody and convinced me I couldn't get pregnant while breastfeeding.

When pregnant with dd2 I insisted we have a "How many children do we want?" conversation, much to dh's bemusement (his answer: none ) and it looks like the magic number for us will be 3, if that happens for us. Won't start trying until next year and not broody right now (what with baby, and all).

I am open to 4 but dh only wants that if we have them all soon (feels he is getting too old at 42) but I only want that many if we take a rest for a bit, so a bit of a stalemate there, but only a hypothetical one.

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xkaylax · 14/05/2010 08:40

I have one and am very happy

follygirl · 14/05/2010 08:50

I have 2, a dd and a ds and I have no desire to have another one. My dc are nearly 6 and nearly 4 and I'm loving the fact that we can do more things together now. Our family of 4 feels pretty perfect really.

sweetkitty · 14/05/2010 08:57

I am a week into having 4.

3DDs and a brand new DS.

We are finished now cannot cope with another pregnancy and feel 4 is our limit, been dropping big hints to DP about the snip

foreverastudent · 14/05/2010 09:47

I have 1 of each. Still have quite a few fertile years left so who knows?

I always said I wanted 3.

If the next one was a girl, I might be tempted to try for a forth. I could do 3 girls and 1 boy but wouldnt want 3 boys and 1 girl.

Enna1234 · 15/05/2010 18:03

I have four, two girls and two boys, I am feeling really really broody at the mo though and seriously contemplating having another. Do you think this is a bit reckless? We only have a three bedroom house, but I am sure I could fit a baby in somewhere!! My husband works full time so we can support a new baby financially, though we never have money for nice stuff and the house is always a mess. I really am in two minds at the moment!!

Buttonnosedsausage · 15/05/2010 18:32

I have 1 ds (I'm a novice mum) and think that 3 would be the perfect number, but I'll probably have to settle at 2.

FairhairedandFrustrated · 15/05/2010 18:51

I have 2, boy & girl.

I think I would've likes three but youngest is 5 & we're getting a bit of our life back so maybe will just settle for the two.

I was one of 8 & had the best fun with my sisters, one of whom is 14 years older than me & more like my mum, I absolutely adore her & am thankful for her every day.

I always say (because of my relationship with my sisters) that every girl should have a sister, so I worry how dd will cope without one - who will she ask stuff that she doesn't want to ask me? I could have went to one of four sisters!!

AnnieLobeseder · 15/05/2010 18:55

Have 2, always wanted 2, would be devastated if I fell pg again, so DH has been snipped and I kept my coil in. We have a very small house, are mindful of overpopulation, and don't want to be outnumbered! Best is that they are great friends, wouldn't have liked to have an only because of lonliness issues. Worst? Can't think of a negative really!

AndieWalsh · 15/05/2010 18:59

Always wanted two, have two (and can be a bit of a smuggins, as have a boy and a girl)...but am unexpectedly craving a third child. Have been ever since no.2 was born 18 mths ago. Doubt it will happen, though. Bad pregnancies, c-sections, DC1 has SN and is a (wonderful!) handful, career would be fucked, DH is 46 now ...oh, and he doesn't want anymore (poses slight problem ).

MamaVoo · 15/05/2010 19:49

I have one DS and for me it's absolutely the best number. All the joys of having a child without losing myself completely in drudgery.

I love knowing that I'll never have to go through the baby years again. I haven't hit any downsides yet.

FabIsGoingToGetFit · 15/05/2010 19:51

We have 3.

Not entirely happy as would have liked more.

Not to say I am unhappy all the time though.

Fibilou · 16/05/2010 14:58

1 daughter. We have only ever wanted one and will not be having any more

muggglewump · 16/05/2010 15:05

1 DD. She's 8 now and I chose to be sterilised 2 years ago so can't have any more by choice.
It's the best number for me.

Nymphadora · 16/05/2010 15:12

2 and pg with dc3. I would like 4 as there will be 9 years between 2 & 3 but that depends on moving, bigger car etc which is a bigger jump.

ShadeofViolet · 16/05/2010 15:23

I have three - two DS's and DD. I like to think we are a complete family and I dont want anymore, but it doesnt stop me getting broody as hell over ther peoples babies

RebeccaRarebit · 16/05/2010 15:30

We have one daughter and are perfectly happy with our family of three.

Granny23 · 16/05/2010 15:36

I was sad that we had to stop at 2 DD's but financially it would have been unfair on those 2 to have any more. I had a dreadful broody spell as I turned 40 and realised that we had not won the lottery (as planned) and would therefore not be having another pair.

However, it is now bonus time - my 2DD's have presnted me with (so far) 3 DGC. With no effort on my part, we now have a family of 5, seven if you count the big strapping sons-out-law. Age range from 1 to 41, or 70 including DH. So 9 of us for family garden party or picnic = bliss.

blueshoes · 16/05/2010 15:40

dh and I perfectly content. Dd, however, would like a baby sister.

jellybeans · 16/05/2010 15:51

I have 5 DC, very very happy with that, always wanted at least 4. Lost 2 DDs late in pregnancy which were heartbreaking and 2 early m/c so am very grateful for my living DC. I feel 5 is enough as life is chaos but still get broody sometimes, I love being pregnant but I would have a 50% risk of m/c all the way up till birth as I have several serious health issues which cause late losses. Also, almost bled to death after one of my sections and have had 3 of them so wouldn't risk it.

lovechoc · 16/05/2010 16:25

1 DS and another on the way. Will be happy with two boys and not one for enjoying pregnancy so will definately be stopping at two!!

Financially we don't want to stretch ourselves thin, so having two is a good compromise. We want to get our lives back and go away foreign holidays with two children as soon as we can. If I was to carry on having more DC then there's no way we could do all that. It just wouldn't be feasible, would take years and years to be able to do all the things we want to do. I take my hat off to those who have a whole brood!!

WhatsAllThisThen · 16/05/2010 16:27

I have one.

Need to get around to trying for a second at some point.

megapixels · 16/05/2010 16:37

I have two, and I am very happy with that number. Both very much planned, right down to the month. Don't want any more.

But, if I could go back and start over, I would have had another child in between having the two of them.

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