Parental Filter

Only two. One to replace myself and one to replace my partner.

I feel that it is irresponsible to have more, regardless of what I can afford.

One and definately no more than two children for me.

Two kids were what suited us best. When I was younger I wanted to have a bigger family (I'm one of four), but the way things turned out a tight little group of four was our ideal number.

Since I come from a family with two children (me and my brother), I'd prefer having two kids myself, but since I am already pregnant with my third child and looks like there's no chance of that ever happening now, I suppose three children is where I draw the line at.

I said before that I was very happy with my two but if I did fall pregnant (which is near impossible with my husbands low sperm count) I would be happy to welcome another child into the house if not a little worried about how we would cope!

My Mum was one of 12 and hearing childhood tales of jealously and how poor they were makes me worry about having too large a family.

I had three brothers, so just about anything guys get up to doesn't surprise me. I think it's important for kids to have siblings of the different sexes, it gives them perspective.
If I had a nanny and a cleaning person (living in our mansion, coz we'd have to be rich) for respite care, I'd probably have a bunch.

I think that two is an ideal number, I have three all planned and wanted and I love them more than words can say, but there is a big difference between coping with two children and coping with three.

I came from a family of five sibs, too... and I have one child. I always thought I'd want three, but this happened to work out great for us. I lost a baby and then had my daughter and it wasn't possible to have more.

She's often told me that she's thrilled to be an only child so I'm glad it worked out well for her, too.

Katharina, your post reminded me that children often long for a sibling, but I don't think we should be too influenced by that. My daughter longed to have a Chinese sister (because her best friend was Chinese) there was no way that we could fulfil her request, but after demanding that we sent her baby brother back she accepted him and loved him, they are still very close. Children adapt to their circumstances.

I was told by my daughter that my son and daughter in law have three kids because my son in law described his vasectomy in such detail that my son chickened out of his vasectomy appointment.