Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Confession!

Confession: I always thought I would have at least two kids. I even gave friends of mine a hard time when they were thinking about being one and done. Ahhh how things have changed.

Right after my son was born I was "ready" to have a second. When others would ask how motherhood was I told them it was lovely and that I couldn't wait to do it again. Most of all I missed my baby belly and wanted a second chance to have my vagianal birth. Even when Riley was getting up every 45 minutes at night from months 4-8 I wanted another one. Then when my son was 11 months my husband lost his job and I knew we couldn't try right away. My plan had been to start trying when Riley was a year but we put that off. My husband quickly found a new job but it was a contract job. 6 months later he was out of work again, it was heart breaking for me. Mostly because I had just began to feel financially secure again. Just begun to think about a 2nd child again. Thankfully he found work quickly again and now has a job that he loves despite hating his boss.

It was at the time of the second lay off that I started thinking about being one and done. There are other things we would like to do and lets face it kids are exspensive. I often wonder if in another 6 months I will feel differently. I know I might but I also know the my head feels quite resolved that we are done. I just can't tell what my heart wants yet.

Monday, September 20, 2010

Did I just say that and an Ephifany.

Today I feel like I hit a huge milestone in being one and done. I didn't even blink when asked "are you ready for another one?" at my son's first day of pre-pre-school. My response was also priceless "Hell no". In a room full of toddlers, most of which are into repeating anything said to them I said "hell no". It is only funny because none of the children said it back to me!

I was then asked about 5 more times when we would be having another. I love the gall of people to ask when not if. As if everyone who wants a second (or for that sake a first) can just have one. Ahhh how I admire those who think unprotected sex = live baby, man I wish I lived in that world! But it doesn't work that way for so many people I know. It is sad but true.

Thankfully at this point I could have a second if we wanted. Don't get me wrong it would likely cost us a few thousand to get pregnant again, but we could come up with that money again and hopefully with in a few cycles the treatment would work and we would have a 2nd child. But as you know I don't want that, or at least I don't think I do.

And today I was able to clearly express why:

First of all Riley has fulfilled all my wants about motherhood and I don't feel I am missing anything by being one and done.

Secondly I don't buy into the whole kids need a sibling to be well rounded debate. There are many studies showing only kids thrive more than 2nd or third children. Plus I can give my son more if we are one and done, more money into his college fund, more vacations, more sports outside of school, more socialization such as playgroups.

Third I don't know that I would be a good mother to more than one child. Motherhood has been HARD for me. I don't know that I could be a good mother to another child and I don't know if I want to lose myself like I did when Riley was an infant.


Part 3 is what I still struggle with. And there are days that little feet, baby smell and infant cuddles sound very appealing, but those days are getting further and further apart, not closer together.