Number of children based on expense

[Palooka]

Kids cost a ton no matter the age...Some days I wish I could put them back in.

[mamamia]

Im pretty much on the same page as Nodmicks. I think if we based the decision to have or not have on the basis of incomes, the majority of us wouldn't have any, or maybe have just one. Growing up, there were always big families around. My bff, came from a family of 11. Most of the families though had 4 and 5 kids. It was a blue collar neighborhood, and everybody just did what they had to do. It seemed everybody was in the same boat. Since my entire block WAS the apt building (88 family) I grew up in, the only difference was just a matter of how many kids you had to fit in the "big" bedroom (9 x 14)...lol! I had 3 brothers, 2 slept on a high-riser and my mom set me up a corner in the same room. My oldest bro was on a fold out chair in living room. And my bff with the 11 kids? She lived 2 floors under us, so exact same apt., but in their BIG bedroom was 2 sets of triple bunks, and a fold-out sofa for the 2 oldest boys. You just ALWAYS made-do somehow. Looking back, I wonder if that same ingenuity is in this present generation. After all, we're bombarded with TV commercials telling us we haven't "made" it unless we're driving, wearing, and living in the latest, greatest, biggest---fill in the blank. The whole perspective of what's ~good~ has dramatically changed, hasn't it?


But see, my hubby and I always knew "that way" of living, it was simply 2nd nature to us, and we just knew we wanted kids and woud manage one way or another. We have 4, but always wanted 6. Never did anything to prevent it, it just didn't happen that way. But none-the-less, my bottom line is that I don't necessarily think people have to base THAT decision on finances. From ~MY~ own experiences in life as a kid and adult, if a husband and wife both know that having children will bring them more contentment than having material things, than by all means do it.

Just my usual 2 cents (x 10...lol!)

Theresa

[McD]

Kids cost a ton no matter the age...Some days I wish I could put them back in.

I wish I could pop Maggie in a lot of days. That kid wears me out.

We are stopping at two as well. We want to be able to comfortably provide for them without our quality of life changing and two is the most that we are able to do that for.

Our family feels complete though and that it what is most important to us.

[Mamaof2rugrats]

I have absolutely horrendous pregnancies( bedrest the whole time, placenta previa,complete placenta abruptions,toxemia,eclampsia all kinds of problems). My son Garrett passed away a few years ago as a toddler due to his severe disabilities he had because of my pregnancy/labor with him. I have since had 1 healthy child. She was very preemie but none the less she's alive and well and healthy. They were all terrible pregnancies. I have also had 3 miscarriages so 5 pregnancies total. It is definitly too dangerous for us to try for anymore. We can't afford adoption and really don't stay in the same place long enough to foster as my DH is active duty army. I am really heartbroken about it all and have been for years. I came from a big family and never wanted to be anything but a mom with a big family. Just ain't going to happen for us. Money is not a factor at all, if it were based on just expense we would be the Duggars!!

[joyofsix]

We have never let finances determine our family size. I have been pregnant 10 times and have 7 kids. After we got over the hump of the first two I think economy of scale took over.