do you know how many kids you want? - Page 2

[DreamsInDigital]

DP and I want at least 10.

[flyingspaghettimama]

Originally Posted by BeTheEarth

The way we made this "work" in our heads was to vow to raise our one child with great reverence for the earth, as far away as possible from the consumer ethos, and by modelling the strategies that help repair the damage we do ....I guess in a small way I feel like if more of us raise our children to take responsibility for each and every decision they make, that we (and they) can begin to make up for all the individuals and parents who don't care.

Yeah, we went through this too, and we are not really big environmentalists in many way, but it seemed like one of the least things we could do - and I was influenced by reading McKibben's book Only One, which talks about this issue. We had (very funny) friends who said, no - no - you have to have at least TWO kids because we have to at least self-replace all the liberal Democrats in the US. Particularly after the last election! It was an argument that did appeal to me, I have to admit, although there's no way of knowing how people will turn out politically. I think I'm the only liberal democrat in my family - everyone else is a republican or a Blue Dog democrat (Texans!). However, I'm much better with early indoctrination than my parents were.

[samsmamma]

Two for us, so we'll be done after the Turkey comes.

[gonnabeamom]

Foregive me ladies, but this thread is just cracking me up!

Not because cogent points have been made, not because differing philosophies are being discussed but because well

I'm 38! This is number one, and you guys make me feel like Methusalah.

Seriously, I used to be a much bigger planner than I am now, and not a single thing in my life has turned out like I thought it would. I thought I'd have a high powered career, not get married until my mid 30's and maybe have a kid or two, that my husband with the flexible career would take care of.

Instead I got married in my 20s, get seriously injured and was unable to work or do much else for ages. We were never sure we wanted kids, and when we finally agreed that we both did, after having two unplanned pregnancies, we couldn't get pregnant for a year, and then couldn't hang on when we did get pregnant. Planning just will never be the same for me.

I do know that right now I think I'd like two. I believe personally that one is best for the planet, two is best for the parents, and three might be best for the kids. I came from a family of 4, with terrific parents, but they were at times a little overwhelmed, and their was plenty of jealousy over parental attention. I also think I got to deal with people's differences a lot and I love having 3 sibs as an adult.

However, really the only thing I'm sure of right now is that I don't know, and won't know what I want until I have one kid and see how good I am at it, and even then, I know at least for me, it's pretty well out of my hands.

[LandonsMommy]

Originally Posted by Spark

Just lurking from the Dec boards... this was ME when I was pregnant with my first!!! That's EXACTLY what I said... just one... or mabye two or four.

Now... I'm pregnant with my last... NUMBER THREE!!! That was totally not an option on my list!

that funny im shure ill end up in there some were. lol Ill find out in a few years, but like I said I still havent had my first so we will just see. lol :LOL

[sydney]

i always thought i wanted 4-6 kids...got married at 24 and had first baby at almost 27...old many people said...then 3 more by 33...dh had a vasectomy right after the 4th baby...about 6 yrs later i desperately wanted a baby...so we adopted a little boy, then a little girl, then 2 boys, then 4 older kids.....then at 45 i found out i was pregnant...12 yrs after the vasectomy!!! we were soooo excited and scared, but quinn was born after about 3 hrs of labor healthy and beautiful when i was 46yrs old....then we adopted 2 more kids making our total 15....i thought 12 was the limit but i can only say that God didn't think that was it for us....
we never had a child in diapers after 2ish, i still have hair on my head, we homeschool the kids and i run....alot!(to help the stress level even a marathon or 2and my dh and i have a wonderful relationship ....so i think trying to plan a family is fine but being able to accept what God gives us with joy is important too...if we had it to do over again the vasectomy never would have happened..the only thing my dh regrets and he has alot of college stuff to regret! anyway i would love to be pregnant again and we are hoping that happens...even at 47..
our life has had many valleys and many mountain top experiences and many inbetween things but i wouldn't change a thing....my faith has increased so many times throughout this journey call family

[SoggyGranolaMomma]

Yup, FIVE! With this one, we meet our goal!! :LOL

[MistyB]

2 is perfect for us and where I think we will stop.

I will get an IUD again when my cycles return so we will have a full 5 years to be sure. If we do have another, it will be with a 4 year space like we have this time, no less. If at that point we decide no, my DH will have a vas. He would be 41 then.

I think we will be more confident in being done as we will have 1 boy and 1 girl. Had we had another boy, I think we might have tried a third time for a girl.

[Thursday Girl]

I want three dh wants two and if we live on a self sufficient farm like i plan to maybe four or five.

I am one of five and it was great. Dh was an only until he was twelve. I can't imagine my kids not having a lot of siblings he says he loved being an only.

Courtney
butting in from the Dc due date club

[michaelasmommy]

Our philosophy is similar to trmpetplaya. We've decided not to use birth control, mostly because it just seems wrong to tell God not to bless our family anymore, especially after trying for over a yaer to get pregnant! I am currently pg with #2. Our two babies will be 18 months apart, and boy, do I hear about it from nosy people that think we're being "irresponsible". After having one child, I just can't imagine not having more-she is such a joy to us!

However, I do think it is irresponsible, no matter how many children one has, to ignore thier impact. We do all the best things for our babies and the earth-I'm still breastfeeding my daughter, even at five months pg, and will continue until she's ready to wean. We only use cloth diapers, and we recycle nearly everything that goes through our house. Having lots of kids is not the irresponsible thing-It's what choices you make while raising them.