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Isn't It Time For Another One?

© Shannon

You wouldn't believe how often my husband and I have been hearing that lately. Or maybe you would-if you're the parent of a large family (more than 2.2 kids).

I got pregnant shortly after my husband and I were married ten years ago. Since then this is the first year I have not spent the summer pregnant or nursing a child.

To date I have four wonderful children. Because of this people tend to get the impression that my reproductive system is in overdrive and can't quit.

Instead of hearing "How about those Broncos?" we hear "So, isn't it time for another one?" I hear it from my aunts, my husband hears it from his customers and we hear it from our in-laws. Maybe they do it to start conversation. Maybe they're hoping to be the first ones to discover that I may possibly be expecting again. Maybe they should mind their own business.

I never really know how to respond to this question. My husband and I have honestly talked about having more children. But we're still not sure when or how many. And even if we did know, we probably wouldn't tell you.

I admit I have been a little embarrassed at times when I hear comments like "don't you know how that happens?!" or "maybe the doctor can help you with that problem". Such insensitive mumblings imply that each of our children were accidents or something we didn't want. On the contrary, we put a great deal of thought, prayer and planning into each of my pregnancies and were overjoyed at each of the births of our children.

So now my baby is two-and-a-half, I'm sleeping through the night and two out of my four kids are in school. No diapers, pacifiers or breastfeeding. Independence is the name of the game at our house. I can leave my kids with a sitter without worrying the whole time that the baby cried hysterically.

No more sweet, toothless baby grins. We've about outgrown the babytalk. No more falling to sleep with an infant on my chest, our breaths simultaneously in tune. No more sweet smelling, soft cuddly infants to rock to sleep.

Hhmmmmm.....maybe it is time for another one.

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