In our household, we operate on a man-to-man strategy—two kids and two parents. If one child is misbehaving, Dad handles the troublemaker while Mom tends to the one in need of comfort. When neither wants to sleep, Mom steps in to soothe them while Dad tackles the dishes. We call this our divide-and-conquer parenting approach. It may not be flawless, but it works for us. This, along with the reasons below, is why we’ve opted against adding any more little ones to our family.
1. The Crafting Crisis
It turns out that when kids are presented with a beautifully designed art project, they don’t exactly savor the moment. So far, I’ve crafted nearly a thousand art activities for my two boys, only to find that we spent a grand total of 18 minutes enjoying them.
2. The Crust Conundrum
During lunch, there are always three sandwich crusts to contend with. More kids means more crusts, and with that comes additional guilt about not hitting the gym. The more crusts I face, the more I think about exercise, leading to a cycle of feeling bad for not going. It’s just simpler to avoid eating more crusts altogether.
3. The Airplane Aisle Dilemma
When we fly, the boys and I comfortably occupy one row of seats. Adding a third child complicates things—suddenly, there’s the awkward question of “Who has to sit next to strangers?” I’d rather not be that person, especially since I need to be close to my kids during turbulence, not next to someone named Bob from Cincinnati.
4. The Birthday Bash Balance
My boys’ birthdays are just two days apart in March, a decision I made to streamline celebrations and make hand-me-downs easier. While I could probably time another pregnancy to achieve this again, a combined birthday party for three kids might be excessive, don’t you think?
5. The Diaper Dilemma
My youngest is starting to show interest in potty training, and I can almost taste the end of diaper duty. Sure, I’ll miss the sweetness of a freshly cleaned baby, but I won’t miss the unpredictability of “Poop or Mustard Roulette.” Although, I must admit, watching my husband get hit with unexpected baby pee is always good for a laugh.
6. The Space Situation
Where would we even put another child’s belongings? I can barely manage my two boys’ stuff as it is. A new crib would be necessary, along with a whole new collection of baby gadgets. I might still have some items tucked away in the attic, but do I really want to dig them out?
7. The, um, What Were We Talking About Again?
What were we discussing? Oh, right—no more kids. We’re at full capacity. No more sleepless nights or tantrums. I’ll miss the sweet moments of first smiles and words, but I think I can live without them.
Ultimately, we’ve decided our family is complete. If you’re considering expanding your family, you can explore resources like CCRM IVF Blog for insights on pregnancy and home insemination. Also, check out Newborn Preparation Resources for expert advice on preparing for a newborn. If you’re interested in home insemination, this link to one of our other blog posts about the process could be helpful: Home Insemination Process.
Summary:
In summary, after weighing various factors, I’ve concluded that our family is complete with two children. From managing our household dynamics to considering practical challenges like space and diaper duty, the choice not to have a third child feels right for us.