"Are you planning on having more children?"
I get asked this question a lot. I don't take offence; I know that people are just naturally curious when it comes to these things. Also, I guess once you have three kids you're already considered to be a bit bonkers, and could easily be planning on popping out another.
Before I had any sproglets I always said I wanted either two or four, I had a strong feeling that having kids in odd numbers was a bad idea. That someone was bound to get left out of the games; or worse ganged up on by the other two. Also, three is commonly thought to be the most challenging number of children you can have.
I wasn't going to have three kids. Nope siree. I'd have two or four!
In my experience the best things in life are often unplanned; and my little man (and third child) came along entirely of his own accord. I won't bore you with the details, but suffice it to say that his pregnancy came as a shock and felt like the immaculate conception.
By the time he was born, four and a half years into sleep deprivation hell, my confidence was beginning to wane. My dream family unit which included four children faded to a distant memory. Two years and a whole load of stress and more sleep deprivation later, I know with absolute certainty that he will be the last.
People ask if I feel sad about this. Sad about never going through pregnancy again, or having an infant in the house. Won't I perhaps feel a little differently once my three are a bit older and life has become 'easier'. The honest answer is no, I don't feel sad or wistful at all. I feel blessed to have three gorgeous, healthy children already, and for our family circumstances, any more would just feel like tempting fate.
If you can identify with this list, you're probably done having kids too!
You hope your husband will surprise you one day, by telling you that he's had the snip on the sly.
Your ovaries used to weep when you came close to a newborn, nowadays you can meet a friend with a new baby and not even feel the need to have a cuddle.
You've given away all your old maternity clothes.
Ditto the baby stuff. All of it. Clothes, toys, useless paraphernalia that you hoarded from your pre-pregnancy #1 days. The whole lot has been given to friends or the charity shop.
You would rather be celibate than take even the slightest risk.
You don't get dewy eyed at the sight of a pregnant lady, you just feel sorry for her.
You're excited about your children growing up, and know the current dynamic works well enough. Adding to the mix would just complicate your lives.
You've really really enjoyed getting a snippet of a social life back recently, and don't want to relinquish it again.
The sleepless nights are still too fresh to even consider going back to square one.
You know your littlest would be utterly devastated to not be the baby of the family.
It's hard enough to find willing babysitters as it is!