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

[Anonymous]

We had four but we're rich so whatever. As adults we are all very close. Many people we know are jealous of our family relationship. We wouldn't have it any other way.

[Anonymous]

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

Yikes. That is kinda awful to say. My one and only, with whom I have a "rich relationship" to quote a pp, has SN and I am so thankful for him. And honestly, I can fully prioritize his needs, time-wise and $ resources, as I only have 1 child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have 2. Both are easy kids. Their fathers take care of them most of the time. Glad I had them.

So why did you have kids?

Would you ask a man the same question? Misogynist much.

[Anonymous]

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.

We’re on the same boat. We have 1 child and can afford great private school, expensive camps, private sports classes, tutors, etc.
My friends with 2 cannot. My friends with 3 or more struggle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I don't really understand how this makes me a shitty person. Sorry if I struck a nerve though!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We had four but we're rich so whatever. As adults we are all very close. Many people we know are jealous of our family relationship. We wouldn't have it any other way.

HAHAHAHAHA

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't be offended if someone told me how cheap it was to only have one kid. That's obvious. I will say that there's a little bit of economies of scale with multiple kids, even with opposite genders. I pass along quite a lot.

[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.

That's what I always think when I meet families with one child. Sucks for that kid to have to shoulder aging parent issues alone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Are you married or a single parent?

Separated, and happy about it

Sorry for your kid. It is not fun to be from a broken home.

And I am sorry for yours, it’s not fun to have an unkind parent

Sounds like a unhappy parent as well. Poor kids. Jealous much!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is a really weird thread.

OP, are you the poster who's always trying to influence everyone else to either have no children or only one child?

What's with your obsession on number of children anyway?

Not OP, but certainly with all of the sustainability humble brags on this board, having one child is probably top of the list of sustainability actions, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

+1 my DD is an only and is set for life already at the age of 5. She has a trust in her own name with property and assets. We could have more kids but are happy with our one. We will never be a financial burden to her and I am anti-clutter and hoarding so there will be no tedious clean out task for her when we kick the bucket.

[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.

This can be a BLESSING. I'm watching the Boomers squabble over co-executor status right now and wondering if they're going to end up on Dateline it's so contentious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

That's what I always think when I meet families with one child. Sucks for that kid to have to shoulder aging parent issues alone.

I feel sorry for your kids that you are selfish to think they all must care for you in old age. You will be in for a big surprise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I don't really understand how this makes me a shitty person. Sorry if I struck a nerve though!

You didn't strike a nerve at all. I'm fine. I just think you need to reflect on why you felt like you had little time with your parents and that as adults you're not close to your siblings. That is simply not typical among families your size, and might say more about the people in the family than the size of it. That's all.

[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.

Op here, I suspect many people think that, and I am sure many with one want more, just not me.