9.25.2007

one is plenty

Last night I was flipping through channels and stopped at TLC. Whoa. Have you heard of The Dugger Family? They have 17 children. And all their names start with the letter J. Did you know there were so many J names?! They {with the help of the kids} are building their own house - which is something like 7000 square feet on 20 acres. They have an industrial dishwasher. And they're excited about that. From what I can tell, the mom stays home. What in the world does the dad do for a living?


{trying the digger at the park}

Having one child is plenty for me, so I don't even come close to understanding how someone can make the decision to have 17! Malayna is very busy these days - running all over the place, talking so much that I think my ears will fall off, and continuously asking what her next snack will be. And believe it or not, she's trying new things - like going on the slides at the playground {even the tunnel slide} and actually wanting a new pair of shoes instead of holding on for dear life to her old favorites. She's also been drawing a LOT. Most of her drawings are of happy faces or sunshine.


{bathtub drawing of a very happy tiger shark - see the water?}

Tonight she sat on the couch at 6:30 and said "I'm ready to read books" {her signal that she's ready for bed}. She's taken naps the past few days, but then she doesn't fall asleep until after 10pm! Lately she's been waking up around 4 or 5am and then of course I wake up because I hear her playing. This transition to no naps is taking a really long time. She's so tired by 6pm that she's tripping over her own feet.

Lots of people ask me when I'm having another child. My answer - never! I know that I'm a good mom to one - any more than that is pushing it for me. Why is there such pressure to have more? I'm perfectly happy with the one I have and cherish the time I spend with her. But I also look forward to the time I get to spend all alone - which wouldn't be as easy to do if we had more.

Do you remember how I mentioned a while back that Malayna loves to pretend she's someone else? Sometimes she's baby Leo or Ethan, or 4-year-old Michael, or nasty Barbara. I've got lots of kids wrapped into one. And more to come, I'm sure.

3 comments:

beki said...

I think we all know our limits. I knew moments after I had Lily that I wanted another. After I had Alex I knew that I wasn't finished. Ava came along very unexpectedly, and within a short time I knew that she was it, that I could not possibly handle any more children. Like you, I so look forward to my alone time. Right now it is hard for me to enjoy the right now, but I know that it will all pass so quickly.

Anonymous said...

I completely understand what you're saying. Although my story is a bit different. I am going to be 32 in a few days and have been married for 2 years. We do not have any children and are quite content with that fact. If it happens, that's fine....but we're not "planning" to have any. This is disturbing news to so many people. I do not understand why it is so taboo especially in this day and age. I am constantly asked when we're having our first, and has there been any discussion about children yet?! My favorite was the you're not getting any younger speech! We have our "son", our Boxer named Salem. What gives someone the idea that it is okay to constantly ask something so personal and private. If we wanted children, we'd have them. We are busy people and quite frankly, a little too selfish to plan a child. I know that if we are meant to have one (and I do mean just ONE), than we'll be fabulous, loving parents. However, we're not bad people or in need of medical help just because we are child-free. For all of the people out there who are currently inquiring about someones breeding habits or lack there of, butt out!!!

lisa {milkshake} said...

anonymous - I still get people asking WHEN I'm going to have another. Not IF. I don't go around asking people when they're going to STOP having children :)