Should You Have Another Baby?

by Catherine Ipcizade | More from this Blogger

04 May 2006 01:38 AM

Having one child is a difficult enough decision, let alone trying to decide whether or not to have two or three...or more. Parents with one child often feel apprehensive when choosing to have another baby. They love their firstborn with all of their heart, and how, they wonder, could they possibly love another child as much?

If you are struggling with this emotion, let me put your fears to rest. You can. You will.

When my husband and I found out we were pregnant with our second child, it brought about mixed feelings. We were elated because we knew we'd wanted two children. But looking over at our two-year-old son, we wondered how he would feel once the baby arrived. Would he be searching for attention? Would we have the time to give it to him? The night before my induction with my daughter, I wrote my son a letter. I told him how much I loved him and expressed some of my fears. That way, I figured, if I really messed things up, at least he could read the letter 25 years from now and see that I did try! Then you know what happened? My daughter was born, beautiful and pink. And I loved her. I loved her just as I had loved my son the moment I held him.

When we brought our daughter home from the hospital, my fears went away almost immediately. I realized that, although time would be a rare commodity in the coming years, I did indeed have enough hands, enough patience, and enough love to go around. In the two-and-a-half years that I've had two children, I can honestly say there has not been a moment where I feel my son "missed out" on anything by having a sibling.

If you're considering making the leap from one child to two, I hope this helps. All of life's decisions are hard, and this one is no exception. But if these are the reasons holding you back, then I hope you'll consider having another baby. You'll never look back once you do, but you might regret it if you don't. And trust me, a mother's arms are wide enough for ALL her children, no matter how many.

Learn more about Catherine Ipcizade

Cathy Ipcizade is 30 years old and currently resides in Southern California. Prior to coming to California she grew up in Arizona.

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