Some mothers resolve to have an solely little one as a result of they really feel full after having one. Others want to not divide their consideration and assets amongst a number of children. And a few reveal they all the time needed multiple, however after quite a few miscarriages or unsuccessful fertility remedies, they realized they wouldn’t have the ability to.
We requested our Scary Mommy readers who’re mothers of solely kids to share the second they knew they weren’t having any extra children. It doesn’t matter what their causes had been, their responses had been extremely private, sincere, and uncooked.
Once they knew they didn’t need to divide their consideration amongst a number of children:
“As a result of I knew I solely needed one to provide all my love and a focus to.” — Natalie
“Once I realized I could possibly be a fantastic mother to at least one however maybe not nearly as good to greater than that.” — Daybreak
“Once I didn’t need to divide my time between two since I used to be additionally working.” — Sharon
Once they had a tough being pregnant, labor, delivery, or postpartum interval:
“I completely hated being pregnant. I used to be depressing, and I didn’t glow. I used to be in ache for almost all of it.” — Michelle
“I used to be so sick throughout being pregnant. There wasn’t a day I did not throw up a number of instances.” — Emma
“Once I spent 72 hours in labor.” — Ely
“I used to be very anxious all through being pregnant, had a really traumatic delivery, and had PPD. I didn’t know if I may undergo all of it once more.” — Michelle
“Once I emerged from the worst a part of my PPD and realized I misplaced 18 months of time with my child to my hormones and stress. I instantly scheduled my husband’s vasectomy.” — Marissa
Once they realized how costly it’s to boost children:
“When the worth of daycare turned [like] a mortgage cost.” — Kate
“Once I realized I am unable to afford to supply for 2.” — Stephanie
“The state of the financial system just about dictated it for me.” — Lea
Once they skilled miscarriages or infertility:
“Secondary infertility made the selection for us. I all the time needed to have two, however alas it wasn’t within the playing cards for us.” — Linda
“Whereas going by way of fertility remedies with a husband who travels for weeks at a time, I made a decision I am not doing this once more. I worth my time and sanity an excessive amount of.” — Maurine
“Infertility made the choice for us … I did three rounds of IVF, and it took such a toll on my physique and thoughts. After the third unsuccessful spherical, I stated I couldn’t undergo it once more.” — Carrie
“My little one was 18 months, and I had a miscarriage with my second being pregnant. I used to be damaged. I knew I couldn’t undergo that type of loss once more.” — Elizabeth
“After my seventh miscarriage, my husband and I made a decision that persevering with to attempt wasn’t definitely worth the ache and grief it was inflicting us, particularly for me.” — Emily
Once they determined they didn’t need to have one other child with their associate:
“My choice had extra to do with now not eager to be with my son’s father. I didn’t need extra children with somebody I didn’t need to spend my life with.” — Suz
“Once I found my husband was having an affair.” — Amanda
“Once I realized that I might be going at this alone. My associate was not supportive throughout being pregnant, labor, or any time after. I knew I couldn’t tackle any extra accountability alone.” — Jennifer
Once they felt like they didn’t need to relive the early years:
“I hated the infant years a lot … Then age 5 got here round, and it was so significantly better. There was no means I used to be beginning over.” — Jeanette
“I can’t pin it down to at least one mood tantrum, however I quickly determined that I used to be unwilling to threat doubling the expertise.” — Katherine
“I couldn’t think about going again to diapers and method once more.” — Amber
“After six months of not sleeping for greater than 90 minutes at a time.” — Karen
“For us, it was the return to normalcy … We may return to main journeys and day journeys. Not you could’t with multiples, but it surely’s definitely a lot simpler and extra reasonably priced with only one.” — Rebecca
Once they realized their household felt full after having one little one:
“You all the time hear mother and father say they did not really feel full or that they weren’t executed but … After we had our son, neither of us had that feeling that one thing was ‘lacking.’” — Becky
“Once I had the kid of my goals the very first time. No means of topping that.” — Claire
“When my virtually 12-year-old son advised me at 5 years previous that he was completely pleased as an solely little one. He was adamant that he didn’t need siblings and has not wavered even now.” — Tracy
“When she was born, I simply checked out her and knew she was all I wanted.” — Marisa
Responses have been flippantly edited for readability.
