Should We Have More Children?

My parents have 5 children, 4 sons in law, 1 daughter in law, 15 grandchildren, and 3 great grandchildren.... whoa that sounds like a lot for only being 60. My dad also has bipolar. As far as I am concerned you do whatever life throws at you. Yes it was hard for my siblings and I when my dad had his episodes. But every family has their problems and now all of my siblings and I have turned out great. This morning my mom actually told me that she wishes she had had one more.

We never had money for vacations. Somehow my parents found money for my sister and I to take dance. While other kids got a new wardrobe at the start of every new year I got a pair of hand me down shoes and maybe one outfit. When I was a kid I know I complained a lot. It sucked for me then. Now that I'm older I would rather have those hand me down shoes than not have my sister who always showed me how much she loved me. Or my brother who scared the crud out of the bullies at my school. Or my other sister who worked hard and earned money to buy her own nice clothes and then shared them with me.

Whether or not you should have another child is between you, your husband, and God. Just know that Disneyland and designer jeans don't equal happiness. They are cool sure, but in the long run they don't matter much at all.

If neither of you are sure, don't. You are perfectly happy with the girls you have enjoy them! Just think, when they all are over 18 you two will have time for yourselves. If you have a bit of extra money, put it away for a family vacation that will be fun for all. Since your husband is bipolar keep his mental health up and don't stress over it. Enjoy what you have.

the fact that you're really not sure speaks volumes. Mental disorder (sometimes genetic) is very hard on the kids, its hard for them to understand and hard to deal with too, as I am sure you know firsthand.

First, i want to ask how you cope with your husband's disorder and kudos to having a husband who is not in denial. That alone is such a big step, because I am currently dealing with the episodes, but without the treatment.

Now, to your question, we also have three children: 9, 11, 13 and sometimes I wished that we had a fourth to give our daughter a sister...which is not guaranteed. No one can answer that question for you, you and your husband will know when you are done. Find the balance between feeling like you want more and feeling maternal (as a woman, that is natural) and you will have your answer. Any child would be blessed to be apart of your loving family....

Mrs. D

I watch a lot of "Discovery Health" and they have a lot of shows on large families, one in particular: the Duggars (http://www.duggarfamily.com/). They are one amazing gi-normous family, and they seem to be doing fine financially which they attribute to going to a financial seminar that changed the way they budget and helped them a lot. Check out their website. I hope it brings you some encouragement.
God Bless.