Time to De-Clutter

I remember Uncle Dean saying a few months ago that their house looked like they had been burgled. I am beginning to know what he means. Jamie is now nearly 11 months and is into everything that he can reach. We have left the days of moving things out of his way as he moves about and we have entered the phase of things being moved permanently. I must say this felt quite cathartic yesterday, as if a wind had blown through, making me feel somehow calmer and happier.

I am just conscious of all the 'stuff' that now resides in the loft..... Do I get rid of all Jamie's baby stuff now or wait in case.......in case of what? Daddy casually said this week; 'why don't we have another?' but I think this was chiefly because we both feel so lucky to have Jamie and he has been a wonderful baby thus far. At the moment it feels right to stick to just the one for a number of reasons; space, money, luck factor (he's been so good, the next may be hell!). When we went out with some friends for my birthday we did mention the 'one or two' debate. Both couples had two children and both said; "if you think you have hardly any time for yourself now, you will have no time at all if you have two."

Currently reading a very good book; Family Life Made Easy by Grace Saunders, Arrow Books (2009) in which she discusses the second child dilemma with the help of Rebecca Adams; journalist and writer. 'Many people who would really be happy to settle for one child feel under pressure not to condemn their first born to life as an only child, whereas in fact there are clear advantages to being an only child. Academically, only children do better and research has failed to turn up any proven emotional or psychological drawbacks. Any disadvantages to being an only child are more likely to be felt later in life when responsibility for ageing parents cannot be shared with a sibling. My advice to a mother who feels under pressure is to remain true to her own instinct. After all, there's no law saying 'those shalt have more than one child' and what an only child might miss out on in terms of the hurly burly of larger family life they will certainly make up for in other ways.'