No more for me, thanks....

Having read some stuff lately written by parents of large families, I decided to write about the joys and tribulations of having just the one. I am an only child, as is LSH. And guess what? S&H is one too. Strange? Maybe. But no stranger in my mind than those people who feel compelled to have large families. So here we go...

Things that a parent of an only child knows:

Your child knows how to share.

Your child does not have to be "spoilt". Just because there's one, the answer doesn't always have to be YES.

Your child gets lonely sometimes. We all do.

There is always be time for talking. Lots of time.

You take a lot of photos.

Your child probably eats most things, because he has always had to.

You only ever have to buy one Nintendo, or Wii, or Xbox. Or, you might never buy one.

You will never be accused of providing hand me down clothes. Even when you do get them from friends and second hand shops (Unseen = Unknown).

You only have to pay one lot of school fees, scout dues, guitar lesson fees, swimming fees or judo lesson accounts. Or, none at all.

A child is completely capable of entertaining themself. Being bored is being boring.

You are able to travel as a family further, sooner.

You can keep the sportscar you bought before you got married. In three years, you can take your child for a drive (and he will love it!)

Other families assume (wrongly) that your child is lonely and invite him around to play, lots. 

Sleepovers with other kids are awesome.

Family ticket prices are a con.

You stress more about the little things because you want to get it absolutely right.

You hear yourself being repeated at least once a week from the time he can talk. And you laugh and are mortified all at the same time.

You wonder constantly how your child compares to others, from teething to reading to career path.

You over analyze, stress, get anxious and obsessive about things other parents take in their stride. But you're ok with that.

You wonder how it's possible to love another human being quite this much.

You are constantly asked, are you planning for another? And be given a range of looks from puzzled to pity when you say, no more for me, thanks.