November 21, 2011

The Baby Ship Has Sailed

This is a very special edition of Monday Listicles because little ole me picked the topic!

I asked everyone to give 10 reasons why they DO or DO NOT want more children.  And if they don't yet have any kids, why that is and if they want to....or not.


making the decision to have a child


I can't wait to read what everyone has to say on this matter!

As the title of my post suggests, I am in fact done having babies.  I'm not happy or sad about this.  It's just the way it is.  Allow me to explain....

1. I am currently 37 years old and we all know that "advanced maternal age" increases the chances of complications during pregnancy and birth defects, not to mention a higher chance of TWINS.  Oy!  I had always intended to be done by 35.  Had my babies at 26 and 31.

2. My husband just turned 43 and has health problems.  Some people thought we should have been happy with just Camryn, shouldn't have pushed the baby issue.  But if you know what the desire for a baby feels like, you know it doesn't just go away easily.



3. We got lucky and have one daughter and one son.  All even-Steven like.

4. My youngest will turn 6 in January which means I am officially the mom of only school-age children.  No more diapers, pull-ups, sippy cups or cheerios all over the house.  Believe me, my children still make plenty of messes, but at least not those ones anymore!

5. My kids are both finally old enough to be away from me over night, even fly by themselves to visit grandparents.

6.  I had Gestational Diabetes with both of my pregnancies.  I am a protective mama bear so I did uber well controlling my blood sugar out of love for the developing fetus I was carrying and they were both born very healthy.  But, it increases MY chance of developing Type 2 Diabetes at some point.  And we all know how much I LOATHE Diabetes!

7. Despite having GD while pregnant, I loved it.  Being pregnant, I mean.  I also loved nursing and caring for my babies.  I do miss that.  Now I will just have to live vicariously through other mommies and wait for grandchildren.

Scrapbook page of being pregnant with AJ

8.  I'm enjoying the ever-changing phases of childhood my kids go through.  It's not all fun and games, but each one has something cool about it.


9.  Right now, Camryn just entered her middle school years and with each new year I see her grow and mature a little more.  Right now is interesting because she still has quite a bit of goofyness in her.  AJ is in kindergarten this year and soaking everything up like a sponge.  He blows me away with how smart he is!

10. Most of all, I knew the moment baby AJ was placed into my arms that my family was complete.  Truly.  I felt such contentment in that moment.  I will never forget it.

"Our Family is Complete" scrapbook page

Besides, I still have this guy.


So tell me, where do you stand on this issue?  Are you happy with your family as it is, or is something missing?







24 comments:

  1. #10 says it all for me, personally. :)

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  2. Well said. So far you are the only other person that I know that has said they knew their family was complete when they had the last one. I remember thinking and knowing the same thing. I had so much fun with this topic thank you!!

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  3. Congrats on picking the topic this week! I'm glad you're happy with your family just as it is.

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  4. That must be nice to have had the "my family is complete" feeling. I might also have it deep down hidden away somewhere, but I just don't let it surface yet.

    I love the topic you chose!

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  5. awesome....

    I don't have kids yet cuz I always wanted to wait til I had a stable job, stable place to live, etc....
    I realize that'll probably never happen, but I'm still not ready.

    I do want kids and in a few years if I still want them I'm just gonna have to have them regardless if I'm ready or not because I'm already 30.

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  6. I loved this week's topic. I have such a hard time knowing that we're done, but most of my heart knew our youngest was the last. Reading about how much you enjoy your two school age children just gives me something different to look forward to!

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  7. I love everything that you wrote, but that feeling on contentment and knowing you're how/where you're supposed to be- it's amazing, isn't it?

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  8. Great list today Jen! Love the kitty...that's the only "kid" I would add to our lovely, and completed family!

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  9. Jennifer, I was older than you when I decided to have my first! Thus... we are done also. Very risky at this point, and I get the health problems issue too - it definitely has to be factored into decisions to have more kids as they require and use up resources other than money. Wherever we are, we ought to feel blessed with what we have. We're so conditioned to want more of the good stuff, that we forget to be happy with what we already have at times. Sounds like you've got it figured out!

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  10. Perfect! One boy, one girl, one furry orange cat. What else could your family need?

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  11. It's wonderful to know that your family is complete. I say to people that I'll be done with 2, but I wonder whether I'll feel the same way when my second is born?

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  12. There is a sense of calm that comes from knowing that you family is complete!

    I did think of one possible thing that could be missing from @Jacqui's list . . . a loveable blue monster! . . . Sorry, we are on a wee bit of a Grover kick in our household lately.
    Jenn

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  13. There is a sense of calm that comes from knowing that you family is complete!

    I did think of one possible thing that could be missing from @Jacqui's list . . . a loveable blue monster! . . . Sorry, we are on a wee bit of a Grover kick in our household lately.
    Jenn

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  14. I'm glad you feel that your family is complete--I don't blame you for being done with diapers and potty training!

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  15. Sounds like your family is perfect to me!
    Thanks for the great topic this week!

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  16. Being happy with decision, whatever it is, that to me is the ultimate happiness. Lovely list and great topic choice! Thank you Jen!

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  17. Well, guess I was wrong, huh?! Glad you are happy and complete :)

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  18. Great topic - I have 3 and always wanted 4. Hubby already had 1 when we met, so he figured we had the 4 already. All boys 14, 16, 20 and 23

    I would have liked to experience that I'm done feeling of contentment. I've just turned 40, so yes I guess I'm done now. I have a 5 month old grandson now, so I guess I have the benefits of a new baby without the massive amounts of hard work.

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  19. The husband and I do not have any kids and we are perfectly happy that way. Most of my friends grew up with the desire to pro-create, but I never wanted any offspring. Sometimes I wonder if I should just do it. It's weird not to want kids, right? Will I regret it when I'm eighty years old and it's just the hubs and I sitting around our two pound turkey and sodium-reduced, flavor-lacking sides, asking each other to speak up? Possibly. Probably. But right now I'm too selfish to have kids.

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  20. Gee, Jen, I didn't have that feeling of completeness when I had my 2nd. Actually, deep down I would love to have more but my hubby has to agree to it too, you know. Love your list and thanks so much for this topic. I have been mulling over it for awhile now.

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  21. Great topic, such fun to read everyone's feelings about this! I definitely don't know how anyone has kids already in school and then starts over with babies. If we have another, we're doing it pretty soon, because once they both hit full-time school, we are done, too!

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  22. Wonderful list. A boy and a girl is perfect! Have fun with your school-age kids and best of luck to your husband's health.

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  23. Awe furry baby looks just like my Noonan baby! Great topic this week. I really had a lot of fun with it. :)

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