Has the economy affected the # of kids you're having?

shouldbeworkin

I had an IUD put in today, which was bittersweet.  I'm glad I no longer have to worry about BC every day and have really struggled with finding a good solution for this lately.  But, this solidifies that #3 is a ways off, if even going to happen.  I was laid off in Nov, got a new job in Jan and just feel way too insecure in my job to get PG right now or anytime w/in the next year or two.  #2 is turning 2 next month, so if we have another we're looking at a 4-5 year age difference between 2 and 3.  Not really what I'd envisioned, definitely not what my DH envisioned. 

Sometimes I hate being responsible.  KWIM? ;-)  It's the right thing to do, but it kind of sucks.

tosababy

I'm not sure it will affect our overall number.  We always said we'd have 2-4 children, but now that we have one other factors (like the sheer enormity of being a parent) may lead us to stick to the 2 (v. the 4).

The economy is affecting when we have #2, though.  DS will be 2 in September, and we'd probably be pretty close to trying if DH weren't unemployed (his position was eliminated in Feb).  We'll wait until he's got a job before we start ttc #2).

I also generally agree with you that being responsible frequently sucks!

ElizC

It has impacted how many kids we will have right now, but in the opposite way.  Since it is looking more and more like I am going to get laid off, we decided that if it does happen we will TTC #2 sooner.  My logic is that I am going to be off from work anyways and we want another DC, so why not now.  However if it looks like I will find another job soon we will probably wait longer.

beenbizzy

It hasn't affected us.  We always said 3 or 4.  We are planning on TTC #2 this summer.  At that point, I will stay home. 

Although... my job is very stable, but I make 1/6th of what DH makes.  So even though the money isn't great for me, I do think I'm silly to leave a stable job. 

Maybride2

I answered you on the 9-5 Nest board.

But yes, we are being affected.  We had planned on TTC #2 around the time DS was 18 months, but we just can't afford it right now.  It's depressing.

katy75

Yes, unfortunately.  We'd like another one now, but we can not afford 2 in daycare and we can't afford for me to stay home.  Stupid salary freezes and prices of everything going up.  I get REALLY sad about it.

greeneyes9800

DH and I have always talked about having 3. But I'm starting to think that it would be selfish of us to have three if we aren't sure we can financially handle it. I think that if we only have 2 and are able to vacation more, enroll the kids in the activities they're interested in, and even send them on trips with their high school ( I went to Europe, Disney, California, and Canada while in HS) without a huge financial burden it may be better. Maybe we wouldn't be able to give our kids those experiences as easily if we have 3 children.

BTW my mom was on the IUD when she became PG with my brother and also me  

massdreams

The current economic situation won't affect the number of kids we decide to have, but finances in general may play a role in whether or not we have 2 or 3. DH may go back to grad school full time starting in Fall 2010, and would be a student for 2 years. This may affect when we decide to have #2. We're talking about whether we wait until he's done and in a new job, but that would make the two kids 4 years apart, which is more than what we want. However, we don't know if it is too risky to have #2 while he is still in school and not earning much.

swtmely

Absolutely.

I had a mirena put in last year. DC#2 is on hold until things get better.

I want to go back to school and having 2 kids is just going to make it that much more difficult. On the other hand. We do not want our kids to be too many years apart. So we are weighing our options...