– To Produce, Or Not To Produce. #mondaylisticles

Just Jennifer picked this week’s Monday Listicles topic, and I’m afraid I might have to make two lists.

Let me explain…Jennifer wrote: “I would love for everyone to write 10 reasons why you do or do not want more children!”

Well. This is a good topic, but not one that I really know how to answer. You all (probably) know that we have four kids now, and that my husband is pretty much done.

I’ve always said I wanted four kids…I grew up with three brothers and thought that that was just the perfect number.

Probably, we’re done. I just don’t want to admit it yet.

So. My Listicles list will be five reasons I DO want more kids, and five reasons I DON’T. Sound good? Cool.

Five Reasons I DON’T Want More Kids:

1. I’ve been changing diapers nonstop for a little over six years. My days lately have been (literally) filled with poop. I think I’m good with Erv being the last one to wear diapers. Because, I mean….I could be wearing them myself soon.

2. We don’t have room in our house for another baby…..not the way we’ve got it set up now, anyway.

I’m just going to pause here and say that I already sound ambivalent about this, don’t I? Anyway…

3. We have plenty of room in our Suburban right now, when we take trips and such. I think if we were to add another kid, we’d actually be pushing it. And I do enjoy having a little extra space.

4. Packing for trips? Well, it’s already a nightmare with six of us. And I pretty much do it myself. I think my husband would say that I’m already a big ol’ meanie when I’m trying to get us out the door.

5. Kids are expensive. When it comes to groceries, the six of us eat A LOT. We wear a lot of clothes (related: there’s a mountain of laundry to be done at all times). We go to the dentist regularly. And college? Oh, Lord. It all adds up FAST.

Five Reasons That I DO Want More Kids:

1. Each new child has about brought a crazy amount of joy and love. And there’s always room for more of that.

2. We’re just one short of a basketball team. Five short of a basketball team. Seven short of a football team. See? We’ve got a ways to go yet.

3. We’re at least ten short of a reality show. And if we had a reality show? Well….#5 of the first list would no longer be a concern.

4. I had a moment of deeply emotional panic the other night when I thought I had to wean Big Erv. I realized that I wasn’t ready, but….it will end at some point. And that makes me sad.

5. Baby snuggles are the best. And at some point, Erv will not want to snuggle as much anymore. He’s already ready to get up and walk out the door. To his car. Which he will drive to his college dorm room.

So, in conclusion…I don’t have a conclusive answer. We have the perfect balance right now of two boys and two girls, all of whom are healthy and thriving. And that’s probably good enough.

But we’ll see.