{{{Trudes}}}

So, parents, how did you decide whether or not to have a 2nd child?

Signed,
Not getting any younger

((((Oh Trudy!))))

Man, GC. We can't even figure out whether or not to have a first. On the one hand, kidlet to make into a person! On the other travel, nightlife, relative freedom! On the one hand passing down tradition, love, trying to put a force for good out there. On the other insurance, medical costs, the world as it is today.

For me, it was always just something I wanted. And on the pragmatic side, I didn't think it was fair to make one child be responsible for two parents down the line. I don't know what I would do if there was only me to deal with my parents when they get old and will need extra care.

As for the not getting any older, take it from me and if you want to do it, do it now. Hindsight being what it is, I wish Joe and I had gotten started on #2 a lot sooner than we did.

So, parents, how did you decide whether or not to have a 2nd child?

When we survived the first one.

Thanks for the hugs. Its going to be a haul.

Do you still have goodies left lying around, Glam, or would be harvesting eggs again?

I have 8 "snowbabies" (ugh), so we'd be doing IVF (actually FET) again. So hard to decide!

{{{Trudy}}} I'm so sorry.

GC, I have no idea, but you do make exceptionally cute babies.

I'm feeling myself get older every second and feeling less able to deal with a baby all the time, which really doesn't make me want one any less.

(((Trudy)))

I get hormonal and think I want one, but mostly I think I'm not cut out for it. Which is okay, I guess, since I'm 36 and as far from that as it's possible to imagine without *actually* being the crazy lady who screams at passing cars from her box on the vacant lot. But there is part of me that hates to let the opportunity go. That's not something to do to have an experience, though, and my mother was like Chris Rock's mom about it. "You know, I've raised my children."(plus, lucky me, being the caretaking gift that keeps on giving.)

So, parents, how did you decide whether or not to have a 2nd child?

Well, after Emmett I was pretty sure I just wanted one. But I had to work my brain around child #2 if I wanted to be with Jacqueline.

One thing that made it easier for me was seeing that it does get quite a bit easier as they get older. I mean, it's not like you're relieved from duty but you do start getting to sleep through the night and the expenses go down considerably when they're between daycare and college.

I'll even give you a specific date: it got much easier with Emmett after he was 4 and a half. (aka, dawn of reason)

And in our case at least, siblinghood has turned out to be a huge success.