It is funny how things work. As soon as you meet someone special, people ask you when you are getting married. As soon as you get married, people start asking if you are ‘trying’ yet. When you have the first baby, people ask you when you are going to have a second child. You never really seem to get ahead of the game.

Before turning 40 this past April, I was feeling very sensitive about the new decade. Not that I wasn’t happy with my life, I have a great husband and kid, nice home and very satisfied my job. I was just fixated on the number 40 and leaving my 30’s. behind.  Then I started to think about the positives about entering the next decade. Reaching an age where you feel empowered to say exactly what you feel rather than beating around the bush. Realizing getting a speeding ticket isn’t the end of the world. And most importantly, I thought the question of having a second child would change from frequent to occasional. As modern medicine would have it, women more than ever are having babies later. While I’m extremely happy for my friends trying to have babies over 40, I was still less than enthusiastic when turning 40 did not change the frequency of this question.

I realize there could be a lot worse things to worry about. It’s just that I feel the need to defend myself for making the decision not to have another child. I go on to tell the same speech about feeling very fulfilled with one child and like the balance of work and personal life, including getting to know my husband again. Yet most people will persist on reasons to have another one.  Your son will have a playmate. It’s not fair to have one child be responsible for aging parents. An only child doesn’t know how to share as well  and will have a tougher time developing social skills. While I understand some of the arguments for 'pro second child campaigns', I feel like a have a pretty good case as well… isn’t a sane and happy mommy with one child better than a bitter and crazed mommy with two children?

- Wired Mommy