Have you ever heard of an instance where the man wants kids but woman doesn't?

[Hammy02]

That's it really.

I have,actually.
two of my friends have been married for 10 years, and he always wanted children, but she never did.
They're too old now, in their eyes.

He chose her over the chance to have children.
But they are happy, so he has obviously reconciled himself to it.

DP would love another, we have two, one each from previous relationships. I absolutely do not want another. I'm 35 and happy with the family we have.

I want to get sterilised, he refuses to agree so I have the coil instead.

Yes. My Aunt. She eventually had a child. Only 1 child. She loves her daughter but it didn't turn her into 'earthmother'.

When her daughter was 11yrs old my Aunt left the family home leaving her daughter with my Uncle. 20 yrs on - they have a good friendship and get on really well. But it is not a mother/daughter relationship.

Yes, I didn't want a baby, XP did, desperately. He talked about it often, was so excited about it. All I could think of were the sleepless nights, endless restrictions, and how totally life changing it would be.

After 4 years, I had DD. Within 6 months, split up with XP. My life has changed irrevocably, and XP doesn't bother so much with DD as I'd hoped. He claims to love her alot, says she is the most precious thing to him but still puts himself 1st always.

I wish I knew then what I know now, the reason he wanted DC so much.

DH and I got married on the understanding neither of us wanted children...eight years in he changed his mind...he was 30 and had a 'now or never' moment.

We agreed on 1...we had 3 in three years...do I regret it??

I don't know...I am not a natural mother imo...but do try very hard at the mother role and so far my DC's seem to be thriving...they are all pre/teens now.

Do I wish I had my old independent life back...I dunno...again things could not have worked out the way I imagine...maybe I wouldn't still be married...maybe my career would have imploded...maybe it would've all been the opposite.

I chose to give my DH the children he wanted...I was under no illusions as to how much hard work they would be or how my independence would be altered, it was a choice made with a lot of reality involved.

It has been harder but better than I imagined...this is my life now and I am as content as I ever expected to be....so I suppose I've got the life that has made me happy...even if it wasn't the one I had planned on.

I was with an ex for 7 years. He desperately wanted children and did all he could to sabotague my life/career so I would feel I had no other option. the fact was, he was a controlling arse. I eventually worked up the courage to leave him, emigrated, got a career and then met DH who, it has to be said, wans't too keen on the idea of children at first. We now have one DD. Both of us dote on her. The ex met and married another woman,had 2 kids, then she left him (discovered his controlling twattishness I think).

It wasn't so much that I didn't want children, it was that, deep inside, I realised I didn't want children with him.

I have a male friend who always wanted children (and I think he would have made an excellent Dad) but when he met his now wife she was very clear she never wanted children and he accepted that.

They are still married and past the age they could have children now.

I have heard of this yes.

Andf I know of men who have gotten 'broody'.

I also know of a couple who have had a child where it was mainly the man's idea (the woman already had kids and didn't particularly want any more).

Does that help your question?

We've got one. I only want one. DP would like more.

I also know a woman who never wanted kids but her DH did. He basically said to her, you give me babies and I'll do all the work. And that's pretty much what happened. She had two kids, went back to work within a couple of weeks, worked long hours, had very little contact with the kids, was often quite open about how she didn't really like spending time with them, and her DH did all of the childcare and housework and cooking. It worked for them.

My friend. His wife originally said ok (in a few years etc.) eventually she admitted she would never want children. They ended up divorcing. He's hoping he hasn't left it too late (early 40s) to find someone else and have a child.

Yeah a friend of mine has just split from her BF as she doesn't want kids and he really does. Neither of them could see a future together because of this and have walked away.

I didn't for years. In fact DH married me in the full expectation of never having children as I was so adamant.

Obviously something changed and no-one was more surprised than I was.

Yep.

A few of my ex-boyfriends wanted babies and I didn't.

It was different for me and dh though - right time, right place.

My brother is desperate to be a father. Sadly, he and his wife terminated a pregnancy before they were married and she had her tubes tied shortly after that.

It is not going to happen...

Very good friends my parents had children because their first was an oops and the mother agreed to carry the child for 9 months if her dh would agree to take care of it forever. He accepted the offer and followed through with TWO dcs. I can remember hearing her utter things like: "I am going to such-and-such -event at the weekend. If you can find a babysitter, why don't you join me?" It was an unconventional arrangement but it worked beautifully as the two children in question are now lovely young adults.

DP's marriage broke down for this reason. She strung him along a bit I think - didn't want DC until they were married, then admitted she'd never wanted any full stop. Now she's married to someone older and they have no children. DP and I have two (admittedly not by design but happy accidents!) and he's fulfilled, a wonderful dad.

For years, Dh and I never wanted children, then something just "clicked" and we both completely changed our minds. We now have 3 dc under 5 and adore them so much. I wouldn't call myself the most maternal woman in the world, and I can't imagine not having them, but my dh does so much of the work with regard to them, I might feel differently if I had to do more care for them. Our last dc was a total surprise and sometimes I look at her and think "what are you doing here!"

yes, me. DH wanted 2 kids, I didn't want any. We discussed it before we got married and compromised on 1. We now have dd who both of us adore, but we won't be having another!

My niece's marriage ended after 5 years, the main reason was that she didn't want children and her DH did. He is now with someone else and they had their first baby a few weeks ago. My niece has a new partner and her horses and I don't think she will ever have children.