we've got kids

A phone conversation with my mum when Poet was about 6 weeks old:

Mum: "How are you?"

Me: "Good thanks Mum."

Mum: How are the kids?"

Me: "What kids?"

Mum: "Your kids."

I remember holding the phone away from my ear and saying to Daniel: "Shit! We've got kids!" This concept, or reality, was probably harder to get used to than when we first became parents. While saying out loud that we were parents to children was difficult, the transition, from the 3 of us to the 4 of us, has been really smooth. I think that has a lot to do with our babymoon and the fact that we don't try and squeeze too much into each day - sometimes getting a load of washing on is good enough (we aim high here!).

So, now that we've got the picture perfect pigeon pair, most people presume that we're done.

"Oh no," we say. "We want four."

Yep, Daniel and I would love to have four kids. Our only concern is whether we can afford four kids. I know money doesn't make the world go 'round but there's no denying that it plays a pretty significant role in our lives. For instance, 2 litres of organic milk (currently $5.29) is not going to go far with four little ones, is it? My solution? We'll buy a cow.

So, while pondering the realities of four children today (an interesting thought process to have while at the hairdresser and spending the first hour ever away from Poet - and subsequently realising that four kids probably wouldn't allow me the pleasure of having my hair done at the rather expensive salon I go to) I stumbled across an article about families. And the gist of the article went something like this:

Is it environmentally-friendly to have more than two children in this day and age?

One interviewee said: "No! The world is full enough. We have no more room for the little tuckers."

And the family advocate, unsurprisingly, said..."Yes! A family of four who grow their own food and raise their children with an awareness of healthy, eco-friendly living is far more essential than the family with one child, a slew of technology and the desire to consume, consume, consume."

So while there were a lot of generalisations and only two perspectives, the article got me thinking and still has me wondering.

I'd love to hear what you think...

top photo: "Che waiting for an ice-cream"

bottom photo: "Poet in her cocoon (with new Ikea spotty quilt)"