Please let me shamelessly brag here: I am so happy I only have 1 child!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
My first has special needs. I am so thankful that I have a healthy, functional second child!!!!!!!!!!

That's why I have two husbands, and thinking about adding a third.

Mormons and Muslims got it right.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
My first has special needs. I am so thankful that I have a healthy, functional second child!!!!!!!!!!

EW. You are a shitty person and parent. Your poor, poor first child. God my heart is broken for them. You suck

Curious, do you care for somebody with special needs?

[Anonymous]

Congrats! I’m behind happy I have two. One only would have killed me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Meh...my kids all don't like "only" children. Say they can tell right off who is and they are entitled, think the world revolves around them, and are unable to share. So good luck

I have had the exact opposite experience. The only children I know have all had beautiful manners.

I echo this experience. I'm also one of a larger family and "entitled, thinks the world revolves around them, and unable to share" is a perfect description of our baby of the family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have only one, a son. I am happy and humble for various reasons. The most important one being that he's truly the kindest human I've ever known, even at 16.

Now that is something to brag about! Well done op. Parent goals..

[Anonymous]

OP, DITTO.

Grew up in a family with 4 kids. Never felt like I had much 1:1 time with either of my parents. As adults, my siblings aren't even close.

LOVE that my kid won't miss out on a close relationship with me & my husband.

Also, more kids = more stress. We are living the good life in our house. Everything is so easy!

[Anonymous]

I agree with OP. We have one and are very happy with our family. We recently spent some time with friends that have 3 kids and they're just really struggling in so many ways. We're happy that we can devote our time and money to giving our child what they want while also maintaining our adult interests. Our life feels calm and we're confident in our finances and life style. We just don't seem to be stressed about normal life the way the large families we know are. That's not to say there aren't downsides just like with any major life decision. But overall we're a happy family so that feels pretty darn good.

[Anonymous]

I can’t relate to this at all. We have an only not by choice. Yes, I can buy him anything blah blah, but he’s missing out on that one on one play with siblings. He doesn’t go out and play in the yard like other kids with siblings. Also, he doesn’t have any cousins close in age. I’m terrified of how alone he could be when we pass. Something just feels inherently missing with only one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Meh...my kids all don't like "only" children. Say they can tell right off who is and they are entitled, think the world revolves around them, and are unable to share. So good luck

Ha! The 'only' children probably don't like your kids for obvious reasons.

[Anonymous]

I have three six and under and I’m expecting our fourth. It’s always a bit of a circus, especially when traveling, but I wouldn’t change a thing. I realize that children are very expensive but we will figure this out as our parents did and their parents did. I would think that being an only child would be lonely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can’t relate to this at all. We have an only not by choice. Yes, I can buy him anything blah blah, but he’s missing out on that one on one play with siblings. He doesn’t go out and play in the yard like other kids with siblings. Also, he doesn’t have any cousins close in age. I’m terrified of how alone he could be when we pass. Something just feels inherently missing with only one.

Like he's never going to have close friends or a spouse or kid(s) of his own when you pass? Come on PP. I lean on my spouse and best friends infinitely more than my cousins and sister.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have three six and under and I’m expecting our fourth. It’s always a bit of a circus, especially when traveling, but I wouldn’t change a thing. I realize that children are very expensive but we will figure this out as our parents did and their parents did. I would think that being an only child would be lonely.

Ugh, sorry your life is my hell. No offense. Different strokes for different folks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m glad you posted this. I do tend to feel bad for parents with only one child. I felt like there were either fertility issues or money issues or marriage issues. I don’t say anything of course, but I did feel kind of sorry for them.

I should think about it from this perspective instead.

Hi Judgey Judy! You definitely need to get a broader perspective. I laughed so hard when I read this and had to read it out loud to my husband. Newsflash, people with or without kids don't always have money, marriage, or fertility issues. We are a one child family by choice. No money, marriage or fertility issues. Just because someone doesn't have or do the same things you do doesn't mean they have problems, inadequacies or struggles. Get a life!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, DITTO.

Grew up in a family with 4 kids. Never felt like I had much 1:1 time with either of my parents. As adults, my siblings aren't even close.

LOVE that my kid won't miss out on a close relationship with me & my husband.

Also, more kids = more stress. We are living the good life in our house. Everything is so easy!

Sounds like you had a generally shitty upbringing with generally shitty and unfeeling people including yourself, all having little to do with the size of your family. That your siblings aren't close as adults speaks volumes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I keep forgetting how expensive it is with 2+.
Told my friend about a cheap camp for spring break - she reminded me she had to pay a lot for 2 kids.
Now I see a topic where parents won’t shell out money for assigned seats on airplane because the family is so large.
It is so, so easy to have only one, especially when they are 9+ yo.
I might of course get my karma when he is a teen but for now I just enjoy it so much.
Thank you for listening! I can’t say that in real life as my friends all have 2.

I'm glad you're happy, but it seems weird to focus on the money. I doubt on your deathbed you will care at all about how much money you saved on camps and airline seats.

And the only child will have to deal with aging parents and death and probate on their own.

Not if their parents plan well and put everything into a trust. Plus, your kids will likely have a spouse and kids of their own so they aren't exactly alone.