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Only Children: One Singular Sensation



I’ve always had a thing for babies. Always loved keeping the nursery at church and playing with my baby cousins. But that love for babies didn’t necessarily lead me down the path of mommy-hood like you’d think it would.

Key word here is that I loved “playing” with them. It was the taking care part of them that always scared me.

I was never that girl that wanted to get married, have lots of babies, and stay at home while my husband went off to make us money. The thought never occurred to me growing up that I would ever stay at home. My mother worked as a teacher, and I was going to go to college, get a good job, and make some good money to take care of myself.

I graduated from college, got a job, found a husband, and there I was. I branched out into our community and met new friends, had some hobbies, got a cat. I was happy.

Then my friends started having babies. I didn’t have baby fever, knew that I wanted a family one day, but not sure when.

Then my friends started having more babies. The baby fever kicked in strong and hard. I wanted a baby and I got one.

I hated being pregnant. I hated delivery. I hated the first several months at home. My post-partum depression was intense. I was scared to cut my little guy’s fingernails, terrified to go out with him alone.

It got better, I adjusted. Learned how to balance work and home. My little guy started loving me back as much as I loved him and I was satisfied. I knew I got one singular sensation, and that’s all I wanted.

To be continued...

*Today, single-child families are the fastest-growing family unit in the nation, up from more than 10 million in 1972 to more than 15 million, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Comments

  1. Wendy, can't wait to read more. You are an inspiration. THANK YOU for this post! I have felt for a couple of years like I was in the minority or something was "wrong" with me, but not anymore. :)

    ps. Love that picture!

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  2. I look forward to the rest of your story.

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  3. I had the same reaction after the birth of my first child - but somehow I forgot it all and had a second. Luckily for everyone, the second was much easier for me.

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  4. I can't wait to read more on this. We don't have kids yet, but if we do, we are thinking about maybe just one so this will help me out!

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  5. I had my one and only at 43. He was high risk and a second pregnancy would have been higher. Glad he is everything I need and could want.

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  6. this is an amazing post and i can't wait to read more. i'm currently in the wrestling with myself over whether or not i want more children or not... i'll definitely be following your blog to read more about this!

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  7. I really enjoyed this, Wendy. I can say that I had a positive experience being an only child. Also, since having Clara, I have learned there are as many ways of being a mother as there are moms out there, and you have to listen to yourself from deep within in order to know what works best for your child and your family. I don't have all of that figured out, but I like discussions like these that you have opened up. Thank you!

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  8. I'm a rather new follower of yours, and this post made me smile. EVERY one of friends has multiple children or is currently pregnant. We have a 5 yr old little girl and are in noooo rush for another anytimeeeee soon, not to mention that we're not even sure if we WANT another one. We're completely happy, content and satisfied with our little ray of sunshine. She's independent now, and life is great. But my friends always bring up "when's baby #2 coming???" etc. So this post was definitely refreshing :)

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