Hi C.,
Well I have 4 children, I thought the samething when I had my 3rd child I was "done". So what made me change my mind ... It was Christmas of 06' we had spent the night with my husbands parents and his brother and sister and all of the family which 17 total including his parents. So we were sitting there on the couch watching Christmas vacation and it hit me that I love the idea of having a big famliy, so a week later I asked my husband could we PLEASE try for #4 he about pooped his pants and after many discussions we decided it was a go.
So now my 4th child is 6 months old, I have 2 boys and 2 girls, I am totally happy having 4 children. Is it overwelming at times, yes, I'm not gonna lie but at the same time I love it and them. We have an even team 3 girls and 3 boys counting my husband an I. There is the money factor in raising 4 children, my childrens ages are 15 yrs, 6 yrs, 3 yrs, and 6 months. Right now I have 2 in school and 2 out but in 2 years I will have 3 in school and then 3 yrs later I will have one on his own and the last one in Kindegarten.
The one thing I did know is that if I was going to get pregnant again with the 4th I wanted to be by 31 which I did accomplish that.
So now when my children grow up I will have 2 weddings to pay for, 2 rehearsal dinners, 4 son/daughter in-laws and if my 4 children give me 4 grandchildren a piece I will have 16 total. That would be 26 total for all major holidays. Can you imagine 26 people in the immediate family for thanksgiving dinner, oh my gosh, but I love the thought of it!! Am I crazy or what ??
I have no regrets for adding another child, but now at 31 and 4 children I can honestly say I have no desire to do it again on purpose. But that was one thing I did say to myself that I didn't want to go thru my life and be down the road at 50 and say I wish I would've had another child. So I did it.
Do I worry about paying for college yes, do I worry if I would've been making a better life for my child(ren) if I would've only had 1, 2, 3, yes. I worry about all those things but I also know that if God wasn't I my side than he wouldn't of gave me 4 healthy pregnancies, 1 child that likes to argue so he will probably be a lawyer, 1 child that He is so matter of fact and at 6 tells you just how it is, 1 who I can only imagine will be a famous painter and dance on broadway she colors the walls and anything else she can, she dances to all types of music and yet to be seen the new one, what will she be, at this point she has spikey hair that stands on end and she screams with happiness. I have 2 dark brown headed kids with brown eyes (the oldest and youngest) and the middle 2 have blonde hair and blue eyes. The oldest and the 3rd have very curly hair, the 2nd and so far the youngest has straight hair. I LOVE each and everyone of them and encourage them to be whatever they desire in life. What is my answer only you can know that, you have to do some soul searching. I hope I've helped you in some way, W. mom of 4.
P.S. I would like to add the middle child syndrome never even crossed my mind on what number of children to have. But since I was a little kid I had always known I would have children I just didn't know how many, my sister on the other hand has 1 child and has no plans on having more (she is not the child type) she on the other hand fosters puppies and kitties, lol those are her kids. Right now with my 4 children the middle 2 pester the oldest, the middle 2 a boy and a girl fight with each other but at the same time when they lay down at night to go to sleep they snuggle up next to each other. The middle 2 love to play with their baby sister. I think that the number of children you have is determined by what you can handle in life. I only have 1 sister, my husband has a sister and a brother and each of them have one child a piece.