Why One Child Can Be Enough: Top 10 Reasons | Erie PA Parenting | Northwest PA Doulas
We support families of all sizes. A local parent explains why she adores her family of three.
Top 10 Reasons Why One Child Can Be Enough:
1. Time.
Having only one child allows us to focus on him exclusively and sometimes even have a little time left over for ourselves.
2. Energy.
We are not up at night with other children, nursing or comforting them. We (generally) get more sleep than parents with multiple children and therefore we are more ready to face the day as our best selves which benefits our son.
3. Money.
We only need one extra of each thing, one set of clothes, one plane ticket, one extra meal at a restaurant. Having one child is significantly cheaper.
4. Adult Engagement.
There are not always children around and my son has developed the flexibility to enjoy the company of adults as equally as he enjoys other children. My son interacts easily with people of all ages and makes friends everywhere he goes.
5. Close Family Friends.
It is important to us that our son has the opportunity to interact with other children regularly which has really forced us to put ourselves out there and connect with people. We collect numbers and follow through with playdates. We’ve developed strong friendships and a nice support network.
6. Less Arguing.
Frankly my husband’s and my relationships with our siblings are not the lifelong supportive friendships parents picture when they have multiple children. My relationship with my brother is actually toxic and if you asked me if I know him I’d deny it. We see it as a privilege that my son gets to choose his family.
7. We Enjoy Every Moment.
Every first is also a last. The first moments are bittersweet with all children, however, there is a certain amount of reverence you give when moments are once in a lifetime. We also do not have hurry milestones to make way for the next child. Many people rush things like potty training or starting school to avoid the cost of paying for twice the diapers or childcare, this was never a concern for us.
8. We Started Having Children A Little Later.
We were not under pressure to start our family while we were young in order to have time during our peak years to have more children. This allowed us more time to enjoy our twenties, establish our relationship and our home to prepare for adding to our family.
9. Reduces Carbon Footprint.
Our little family is quite eco-friendly. We don’t create as much waste or use as many resources. We can drive a small car, take fewer showers, use fewer diapers, the list goes on. Population growth and use of resources is something we consider as we think ahead to our child’s future.
10. There Is Always Room For Our Family To Grow.
While we are not planning to have more children of our own we have discussed the possibly of adding to our family at a later time. I’m adopted and my husband’s parents always provided a haven for friends during his high school years. Later on we can perhaps grow our family in a way which would benefit someone in need of a home.