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...for anyone who "bitterly regrets" having *more than one* child. I can understand those who were blindsided by the difficulties of raising one child, especially if they had been led to believe by their elders and contemporaries that kids are all sweetness and light.
But how, once you've had the one and realize just how hard it can be, can you possibly expect that *more* would be easier or better? When my friends who have two kids tell me how *lucky* I am to have only one child, I am stupified. As if they had two against their will! I'm not lucky, I'm smart. I realized immediately that this kid thing is much more challenging than I had ever dreamed, and there is no way on God's green earth I'm having another one.
I adore my son, but he answers all my maternal urges, and I frankly acknowledge that to anyone who askes "Why only one? If you can handle one, you can certainly handle two!" Maybe, but I don't think kids should be "handled" or "dealt with". They should be wanted and loved, and I am honest enough to admit that while my son is both, a second child would be neither.
If more people were as introspective about their family planning, I think we'd have a lot more happy, healthy children and parents in the world. Especially here in the States.
