Jodi over at jodifur got me thinking about having a second child. With an 8-month old the experience is way, way too fresh for me to be thinking about getting pregnant again but I started thinking on a more theoretical level. In Jodi’s post she expresses that she feels like she “should” want a second and I sometimes feel that way as well despite the fact that I cannot imagine having another child.

My mom has a theory that when Booger starts wanting to be more independent that I will decide I want another baby. She may be right but only time will tell. The problem is that my mind will tell me that there are many, many reasons not to have another one. Money is a big, big issue. These little people are expensive. Day care is like a second mortgage payment as it is, I can’t imagine having two daycare bills to pay. Not to mention all the stuff and school, etc. Then I have people say, “well is money really a reason NOT to have a a second child, don’t you want Booger to have some siblings?”

I think money is a huge factor, one not to be dismissed as minor but there are other reasons not to have another baby. Some would argue that our world is overpopulated as it is (after all there is a whole child-free movement, as ridiculous as that is). I have a hard time feeling like I could ever love another child as much as I love The Boog. Which of course is also ridiculous because parents love their children no matter how many they have. And, I am a second child myself so I know this is ridiculous. However, I just can’t imagine it.

I suspect that many Moms feel this way before the second bundle of joy arrives. I have a friend right now that is pregnant with number two and she expressed the same sort of sentiment in the beginning of her pregnancy. That’s not to say that second children (or third, or fourth, etc.) aren’t wanted or loved but I just think there is something special about that first experience.

Now, having said all that I do also think there are many, many reasons to have a second child. Siblings offer something to a child that their parents cannot, a cohort. I have two sisters and a brother and I have both loved them and hated them at one time or another throughout our lives. I think that having someone connected in a way more than just friendship or love is important in life as well.

When I read what Canape went through last year with her parents it makes me want to give Booger someone to go through hard times with when I may not be available, someone else to lean on and depend on for support. The question remains though are these good reasons TO have another child.

I don’t remember why I wanted Booger to begin with. I was simply bitten by the baby bug. Maybe it was that biological clock or maybe it was that everyone around me was pregnant. I certainly don’t regret having him, he is by far my greatest accomplishment to date. It doesn’t mean I couldn’t do it all over again I’m just not ready to say I want to. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see if that baby bug bites again.