Unfulfilled Dreams

Updated on June 18, 2012
S.A. asks from Chicago, IL
10 answers

Growing up, I really had two dreams about what to do with my life: Become a writer (either a journalist or a novelist), and raise a big family. As a child, I wrote many stories about big families because I wanted one so badly.

I was originally the middle child with an older half sister, and a younger brother. In my early childhood, my half sister went to live with her mother. Then when I was 13, my younger brother was killed in an accident.

My teen years at home were very lonely, and I wanted to spend all of my free time at my friends houses who had big families. I loved all of the noise and commotion, and just loved watching that big family dynamic. I hated going back home to my quiet house. It made me want to have a big family of my own even more.

When I met my husband (one of five kids) we talked about having 4 kids. After we had two, he changed his tune and was done. Luckily, we had a third even though he was unplanned. I was thrilled, my husband not so much. But now he says he can't imagine life without him and is so happy we have him.

The baby is going to be three in August and this is always about the time I have gotten pregnant with the next one. My kids are all 3.5 years apart. I know my husband thinks our family is complete, but I really want one more. I feel like it's now or never. I will be 37 in August and wouldn't want to wait much longer. But I know my husband won't even want to discuss it.

I feel like he has fulfilled his dream of becoming an architect. I supported him while he was in school, and studying for his exams. I was basically a single mom for a long time so that he could do all that. But now, what about my dream? I absolutely love having little ones and am in no hurry for them to grow up. My oldest is 10 and I just want to stop time so she doesn't move into the teen years. I feel like this time is so precious in our lives and I don't want it to end. I couldn't wait to be a mom, and love being home with my kids. My baby is about to outgrow the crib, but I can't fathom getting rid of it because I feel like we should still need it for another one!

We are great parents who devote our lives to our kids. They are well cared for and loved so I don't think it would be difficult to add another child to the family. I do the majority of the child rearing since I am a SAHM and he works long hours. I feel like since most of the work and effort would be on me, that I should be able to have another one if I want. He worries about paying for future expenses like college. I say with already having three kids, nobody's going to get a free ride anyway. We'll be able to pay for some of it for each child, and they will have to take out loans for the rest. I don't see anything wrong with that. He also thinks he doesn't spend enough time with the three we already have. I don't agree. He spends ALL of his free time with the kids. He's an awesome dad, and would be an awesome dad to a 4th.

I am envious of friends and acquaintances whose husband's let them decide how many kids they want. There is a family on my son's Tball team with 7 kids, and they'll probably have another. I am so jealous I could spit! I wish my husband would throw caution to the wind and just say what the heck, let's do it.

So my question is, have any of you felt this way and were able to convince your husband to see things your way? Or, did you just let it go? I've tried to tell myself that we're done at three, but I can't stop thinking about having another one. I think about it every single day.

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

So What Happened?

Thanks to those who have responded so far. I really read your thoughtful answers, and they were just what I needed to hear! I know that men can't always express their feelings in words, and although my husband does talk about his feelings, perhaps he doesn't talk about them in depth the way I do. I guess I will try to have one more heart to heart talk with him and see what happens, but time is short and if he doesn't agree soon, I will have to give up on it. I really am truly blessed to have three healthy, beautiful kids.

@ Bug, you have a really good memory! There is no way I'd be able to remember details someone posted a couple of months ago! The reason I was relieved to not be pregnant a couple of months ago was because it wouldn't have been a planned pregnancy and it would have been my fault. Our third child wasn't planned, but that time it was my husband's doing. Of course, I didn't mind one bit.

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

B.K.

answers from Chicago on

I wanted to have a second with my bf but he already has 5 kids; he did say yes but by that time I was almost 40; I did get pregnant the next year but lost it after 10 weeks. we now have most of his kids staying with us, as well as my son, and are dealing with teen issues now (which can be a good birth control lol) but i would still have loved to have a baby with him and it makes me sad that it won't happen now.
Ultimately it should be the decision of both of you, especially if he is providing all of the financial support. He may be apprehensive about having enough money before they go to college; or maybe he would like to have extra money for vacations or spending money on the kids, and you :) Definitely have the heart-to-heart though, good idea. Good luck!

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.M.

answers from Missoula on

Unfortunately, this is one of the few issues on which there is no compromising.

I understand wanting a big family... I have had 13 siblings (deaths, halves and steps included...) and always loved it. I never wanted to have any less than 4 kids... After we had our first, Hubby has decided he doesn't want any more. I finally convinced him that we should have one more, after a few years. I still hope that I will be able to convince him to have a couple more after that, but I highly doubt I will.

The thing I have when one parent is so adamantly against having a child, is that oftentimes their reasons go so much deeper than they are willing to admit. Maybe he struggles to be such a great father, or the fact that the three he already has take up all his free time, and that isn't even enough for him, makes him worry that he WOULDN'T be able to make the time for a fourth... or that the fourth will somehow detract with the relationship he already has with the three. Maybe he sees the way the economy is going, and is scared that they WON'T be able to get loans for school, or maybe it's more important to him to be able to financially help them. You can't discount his emotions out of hand just because you don't agree with them. Even if you are doing most of the work at home, he is putting in just as much work supporting the family, then coming home and spending all his free time with them.

I would have a serious conversation with him, let him know your feelings and how strong they are. But understand that his feelings and reasons are just as legitimate. If you need to, you could even try getting counseling on the subject. It may help you see each others point of views, an help find a resolution without resentment.

I hate to say this, but when it comes to family size many mothers have to sacrifice what their ideal is. Consider yourself lucky that you were able to conceive and give birth to three beautiful children... There are hundreds of women who want nothing more than to be a mother who can't say the same.

Maybe now would be a good time to start on that book?

17 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.P.

answers from Portland on

We all have dreams that do not come true. And we learn to let go of the dream when pursuing it is to our detriment or is impossible to achieve. I wanted to be pregnant, to have children. I had to change that dream to adoption. And it's worked out well for me and my adopted child.

When you insist on having more children when your husband is definitely against it, you're sacrificing your relationship with your husband and the happy family you have to fulfill a dream that's no longer practical. You can adjust your dream to something more easily obtained. I'd switch it to finding ways to be happy with what I have.

Use a positive affirmation. Every time you think about having another one, repeat that you're happy with the 3 that you have. Your thoughts will change.

9 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

B..

answers from Dallas on

A job, is different then a life. Comparing fulfilling the dream of a career, to a child...is apples to oranges. They simply don't compare. We all have unfulfilled dreams from our childhood. It's quite easy to dream of a big family, but it's not always easy in life. The reality of parenthood often squashes what ideals we have before we become parents. YOU think he has enough time, YOU think you can make do financially, YOU think he would be an awesome dad to a fourth. This is clearly not what HE thinks. You can't make him think the way you do. You can't dictate someone's feelings. It's unfortunate and sad, but when one spouse is done, the other has to be as well. You yourself, said you were relived after a recent pregnancy scare. Perhaps, when the reality hit you...deep inside you realized it wouldn't be the best situation? Otherwise, why the relief?

I am done at one, and my husband would have liked a second. I just can't do it. I don't want to be a mom of 2. I don't want the pressure. My husband understood that the way HE feels, is not what I feel. He agreed that bringing a child into our home that was not agreed upon, would be very unwise and unfair. That was that. Logic has to override emotions. We are feeling humans, and we want things we can't or shouldn't have just about every day of our lives. At some point, we HAVE to give in and accept, that it's just not wise, and it won't happen. Gosh, my answer sounds so harsh, and that wasn't my intent. I'm sorry about that.

7 moms found this helpful

N.P.

answers from San Francisco on

One thing I've learned about growing up is the fact that I've had to set a lot of my childhood dreams aside. They don't always fit nicely into my reality. What's that old saying? Man plans and god laughs? Something like that...

Long story short, I had dreams too but circumstances beyond my control squished them. Medical and financial problems abound. If I got upset and all consumed about it, stomped my foot screaming to the wind, "IT'S NOT FAIR!" I wouldn't be able to fully be invested in the life I DO have.

Try and be happy.

7 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

B.M.

answers from Chicago on

Yep, I always felt 3 or 4 would have been nice, but I look at it this way. My husband didn't want any children and I wanted 4. I would have broken the engagement if we couldn't decide, but we both went half way and had two children. I did have feeling on having 1 more, maybe because I was in my late thirties, I thought menopause is coming soon. Maybe it's a way of feeling young to have another child, or it could have been that I was the third child I felt I had an obligation to have one more. As time goes on, I am just happy I had two healthy boys. I am now 45 and once in a while I get the urge. My husband is dead set against having another one, because raising two children was costly, and I am not sure if we could of afford 3 children. I never really was prepared how much kids cost, and it's a lot of money. So I just look what I have and feel blessed on what I have then what I could of had.

2 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

R.M.

answers from San Francisco on

I agree with everyone else. This "dream" falls into a different category. You both have to agree. You can try changing his mind, but you don't want to risk the harmony of your marriage by bringing home another baby when he is adamantly opposed to it. That will be extremely detrimental to the kids you have now.

Try for a heart-to-heart on a good day, and see where it gets you. Then try to find another dream.

2 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.B.

answers from Dallas on

I'm kind of in the same boat. We agreed on 4 kids before we got married, then the reality of having children changed his mind, and he's done at 3 kids. My youngest just turned 3, and I would love for him to be a big brother. But my husband is seeing the light at the end of the tunnel regarding the baby years. We've had a couple of big talks over the past couple of years, but I'm really trying to give him space and not pressure him, hoping that the knee-jerk response of "NO!" will fade. At this point though, it'll take divine intervention to change his mind. So, I pray that we can come to a consensus (either he change his mind or I have peace with our current family size). I still think about it often, but not everyday anymore. And I try to love on my friends' babies as often as I can. But here I am on the verge of tears after reading your post. You're not alone! I wish I could give you a more hopeful answer. For now, I intentionally try to not think about it. And when I do, I immediately distract myself. My 3 kids certainly keep me busy enough! I'll be looking back for others' answers though. Best wishes :)

2 moms found this helpful

S.L.

answers from New York on

I REALLY understand how you are feeling. I had wanted 4 but we had a really hard time "getting" the third. We wound up adopting which has turned out wonderfully for us but by the time it happened we were on the older side and dealing with a difficult teen. My desire for a 4th has slowly passed, though I am still jealous sometimes when I see a mom with 4! When I get the baby fever, I remind myself that I will be a grandma some day and enjoy cuddling a baby, playing with a toddler etc all over again!
Maybe you could try volunteering with small children, ask preschools and hospitals what they need help with. Open a home based day care? I know none of this is the same as having another. but try it for a few years and see how you feel. You don't have to have that 4th right now! see how you feel in about 2 yrs. See how hubby feels in about 2 yrs. maybe you'll be on the same page. Also think about children out there who need fostering/adopting you sound like a wonderful family for a child who has never know that ! and maybe hubby would feel differently about giving a home to a homeless child rather than bringing another on into the world. You have a lot of love to give, I hope you find a way to share it with the world.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.O.

answers from Chicago on

I have 3 boys. The first two are three years apart and planned. The third was not planned per say and came four years after the second. My husband let not only me, but his family, and others know after our second that he thought two kids was enough. I did not. I mentioned wanting another often and we had many discussions, some heated, that ended us in a deadlock. I let it go for a time and I don't know why things changed, but they did. One day, he just decided that it was okay with him.... He decided we should stop using protection and sure enough shortly after I was pregnant. I was scared to tell him, I waited days, and to my surprise, he was so happy.....I think time just changed his mind. The pregnancy was different than the others. I was sicker than a dog for several months and my first ultrasound showed I had an "invisible twin". It was scary and we were worried that the viable baby would have issues. I was so worried that he would regret his decision. He never did. Our third boy was born healthy and my husband was so involved and his experience showed!! I think time has a way of changing things. Give him some time and visit it again.....People change their minds.....good luck to you!

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions