To every Parent on the forum............ (choice, church, LDS, marriage)

[michel]

Why (if you have Children), did you have them ? Was it a conscious choice between you to say "O.K, we are going to try for three, four children" ?

If you did plan on having Children, what was the motivation? (ie because you really wanted to raise children, and to love them, or maybe you wanted to see them attain goals you had never reached?)

[Katzpur]

Originally Posted by michel

Why (if you have Children), did you have them ? Was it a conscious choice between you to say "O.K, we are going to try for three, four children" ?

If you did plan on having Children, what was the motivation? (ie because you really wanted to raise children, and to love them, or maybe you wanted to see them attain goals you had never reached?)

We had children because we wanted to raise and love them. We have only two -- a grown son and a grown daughter. There is a certain amount of social pressure in the LDS Church to have a large family, but we didn't want to. We actually remained childless, by choice, for nine years before I got pregnant -- also by choice.

[Terrywoodenpic]

My wife became pregnant on our Honeymoon.
Our son was borne 9 months later
Our daughter was borne 14 months after that.
Both were borne at Home.
It was our choice, as was our chice to stop at that.
We wanted to be a young family My wife was 20 and I was 25
I would not have changed a thing.

Terry________________________
Blessed are the gentle, they shall inherit the land

[James the Persian]

I always wanted children. I'm one of those strange men that really likes children (in a completely appropriate way!) even other people's children. I think it's their innocence, exuberance and curiosity which I like. Coupled with that, it's actually considered sinful for Orthodox Christians to deliberately stay childless after marriage.We aren't so strict re. contraception as the Roman Catholics (except when it comes to abortifacients) but deliberately not having any children is considered very bad, so we never really even questioned that we would have kids. Our first child was not planned but was rather a welcome surprise. Our second one (due in a few weeks) was. I never seriously considered only having one child as I think it's better for a child to have siblings, but we did put off our second child for a few years. When William was born we lived in rented accomodation, had no car and I was on a comparatively low wage. Now we own a house, I have a company car and my salary is reasonably good. The time just seemed right. I doubt we shall have third, though - unless God sees fit to bless us with another little surprise!

James

[QTpi]

Originally Posted by michel

Why (if you have Children), did you have them ? Was it a conscious choice between you to say "O.K, we are going to try for three, four children" ?

If you did plan on having Children, what was the motivation? (ie because you really wanted to raise children, and to love them, or maybe you wanted to see them attain goals you had never reached?)

I have two grown daughters. It was definitely a conscious choice for me to have children. I love children of all ages, so my motivation was to love them and raise them. I have never regretted that decision for even a fraction of a second.

[michel]

OK for those who did not state "it was a conscious choice", was ir just a case of 'fitting in with what is expected' ?

Did you want to have children because you wanted someone else to love ? - Some people say that some of us have children out of totally selfish reasons; very few want Children for the sake of their own lives. How do you feel about that statement ?

[Solon]

Originally Posted by michel

Why (if you have Children), did you have them ? Was it a conscious choice between you to say "O.K, we are going to try for three, four children" ?

If you did plan on having Children, what was the motivation? (ie because you really wanted to raise children, and to love them, or maybe you wanted to see them attain goals you had never reached?)

My wife wanted children, I said let's wait. Wife was supposed to be on the Pill, but was she lol. Result, two daughters, but I love them dearly. Couldn't imagine my life without them.

Solon

[QTpi]

Originally Posted by michel

Did you want to have children because you wanted someone else to love ? - Some people say that some of us have children out of totally selfish reasons; very few want Children for the sake of their own lives. How do you feel about that statement ?

I don't understand how, if you want children, you can not want children for the sake of their own lives.

[Evenstar]

All 3 of my children were not planned. And of course my youngest I was raped and conceived him.

They are all such a blessing though.

[Shadow Wolf]

I have one god-son, and I know his parents had pregnancy as the last thing on thier minds.