Finances play a major role as well, many couples simply cannot afford to take care of more than one child. The majority of women are now out in the workforce and the cost of daycare for multiple children is rather high. The decision to have children is a personal matter and I believe only the individuals involved know what they can handle and their choice should not be up for debate.
 
As a young girl, I like many others planned out my whole life. I imagined myself marrying a "Prince Charming" and having three kids.  I envisioned us having a big, beautiful house and living a charmed life. Once I became an adult, reality hit. I realized that "Prince Charming" does not exist. I dated and eventually met a really great guy whom I had a lot in common with.  After a couple years of dating we got married, and decided to have kids in the near future.
 
Our friends and family warned us that once we had children everything would change.  They suggested we enjoy ourselves, travel, and cherish our newlywed lifestyle for as long as we could. We decided to take their advice and went on some really great vacations. About a year after our wedding, I found out I was pregnant. My husband and I were both happy about welcoming our baby girl to the world. We couldn't wait to share our lives with her.
 
My pregnancy was a little rough. For six months I couldn't hold any food down and wasn't gaining much weight. In my seventh month I felt better and the rest of the pregnancy was much easier. All in all, I gained over thirty pounds and gave birth to a healthy baby girl. Our daughter was a good baby and the plan was to have another child in a few years.
 
From the very day our daughter was born our lives changed forever.  Being a mom is very rewarding, but it is also one of the hardest things I ever experienced. Taking care of a baby is a 24 hour job. There is no 9 to 5 schedule and unlike babysitting you don't get to leave the baby behind and go home. 

I was fortunate enough to be a stay at home mom and took care of my daughter. My husband worked a lot to pay for everything we needed, so most of the parenting was left up to me. There were lots of good days and some bad days. The first year was the hardest because of the lack of sleep, but once my daughter started sleeping through the night it got much easier.
 
I remember people asking us when, and not if, we were having more kids. The question came from our relatives, friends, coworkers, neighbors and even strangers. My husband and I weren't sure when we would have another child and after a while we felt pressured by all the inquiries.
 
Each year that passed we became very content with our only child. I had mixed feelings whether I wanted to start all over again with a new baby. We went back and forth and after our daughter turned six we made a decision not have any more children. Even though the decision was ours we got lots of input about reconsidering and having at least one more child.
 
Having an only child meant that I had to provide opportunities for her to interact with other children. This included having play dates and enrollment in preschool. Luckily my daughter is not shy and a people person so she makes friends easily. I don't believe a child requires a sibling to learn how to share and socialize. My daughter never suffered from separation anxiety and her transition from preschool to elementary school went without a hitch.
 
Being a parent to an only child means that I have to ensure she remains grounded and realistic about her expectations of others and about life itself. I assign age appropriate chores and responsibilities in which she contributes to the well being of our family. I make sure I don't overindulge her by buying lots of toys and things.
 
Being a parent is an amazing experience whether you have an only child or multiple kids. Many of the challenges are the same, but with an only child there is an additional responsibility. I treat my only child as I would any other in order to ensure she will grow up to be a caring, responsible, mature, and productive adult.