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[quote=Anonymous]I read once that people's happiness with kids vs. no kids was based on what they wanted.  If they didn't have kids but wanted them, they were overall unhappier.  If they didn't want kids but had them accidentally, they were unhappier.  The happiest people were those who ended up with what they wanted.  I have to imagine the same is true with one kid vs. multiple kids.  So, a lot of this is not about what you got but what you wanted, I think.  Which is why you don't hear tons of regret or complaining about circumstances on either side.  Plus once you have a second, third, whatever kid they are a PERSON and what is the likelihood you'd ever see them as just a number again?  These arguments are useless.

We are one and done by circumstance so I am somewhat wistful about not having the larger, louder, busier family life that I grew up with with a sibling.  I feel a little sad that my DD will not have a person to share that experience of her family life with, and have a potential close relationship with (not guaranteed but my sister and I are close and it's a treasured relationship).  Also, I'm sad DD will not have help managing our aging and our end-of-life (we will do everything we can but emotionally and practically some will likely fall on DD alone).  But, I try to look at that as things we need to be purposeful about in raising her -- support close peer relationships, spend a lot of time with extended family, and get our sh*t together on our finances and wills, etc.

This thread, and talking to friends with onlies, has made me feel a lot better about the life we have ahead with our only, so thank you to (almost) everyone.[/quote]

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