We as parents ask ourselves so many questions when it comes to our kids. Are we present? Are we doing enough? Has dinner ticked all the food groups? Am I giving them enough independence? The list really goes on and on.. and it can be exhausting. We are all doing the best job we can and our little ones love us for it.
But what happens when the question of siblings arise amongst your friends and family. How many kids will you have? Have you thought about when you'll try for Number 2? And what happens when that answer is, "No, we've decided to have one child".
Well at first there is a little shock, 'Oh, okay, that's great' Then follows the innate need to explain our reasons why. I have been explaining our reasons to everyone over the past year or so, and feel the need to offer this explanation. Then I even find myself justifying my explanation. Why? Why do I feel the need to do this? I shouldn't, but I do. It's another form of parenting guilt that I add to my daily list of "Is this okay? Will she be okay without siblings in her life? Are we enough? Are we making the right decision?"
For us, I now know we are. The simple answer is, this is what works for our little family and this is how it will be.
In the midst of these conversations with others, I used to find myself saying "Yes, only one", she's not only and she's not lonely. She is ours and we are family. So now I stand tall, confident in our decision and don't feel the need to explain. We are so hard on ourselves in most areas of parenting that this shouldn't be an added extra. How many siblings is enough anyway? What is the magic number? Well, it's simple, the number that works for you and your family. And we know ours.
With enough on my daily list of questioning my own parenting; Is this okay? Is this enough? The decision to have one child is no longer a topic I question myself about.
It is okay. She is okay. We are okay. Our Team of Three. xx
Louise Moreland is the owner of Honey & Co. Club, a monthly gift kit for children aged 0-3 year and 3-5 years of age. You can find out more about Honey & Co Club by following them on Facebook and Instagram.
