My husband and I both wanted kids, then something changed.

My husband and I have been together for 10 years and married for 5. For the first six years we were together, we both wanted kids. We agreed we’d have two, and we wanted to be young parents just so we could be younger when they’re older. We never set an age limit to when we wanted to have kids, just that it’d be nice to have them in our early to mid 20’s. <br><br>I was 20 when my brother and SIL had their first child. I loved that baby so much, and I enjoyed how close I got with my brother just by having both of us going through parenthood together (I was very close with my SIL already, we grew up together). <br><br>Then my SIL got pregnant again, and I got even more excited for the day my husband and I would have kids. Up until that point, we had both been trying to get stable jobs and move into a new house. We were renting an apartment but felt it was a bit too small to try to have a baby in. We were saving up money for a down payment, and then in 2020 we were able to move into a new house. <br><br>I was 23 when we moved, and my brother and SIL’s youngest was turning 1, and their oldest was turning 3. I never really spend much time with them, just at holidays and family functions, but I never really spend alone time with them (my brother and SIL live an hour away, so it’s not often).<br><br>When they would visit, I’d play with them, feed them, bathe them, and never really thought anything of it. But when we moved into our new house, I had just turned 24, and I felt like we were finally in a good place to have kids. We both had been having problems at work, but we made it through. We felt like we could finally just sit back and relax. Up until that point, we had both been trying so hard for so long to be stable just so we could have kids. <br><br>My brother and SIL came to visit our new house when my husband and I moved in, and I realized having kids wouldn’t be like the holidays where we’d just have them for a short while and then they’d leave, it’d be everyday all day in our new house. I’d have to clean up after them and feed them and change them and bathe them every day and night. <br><br>I never really realized how hard my brother and SIL had it until then, I feel bad for not noticing sooner. I’ve always been so excited to be a mom, but the thought of having to do all of that everyday was just too much for me. My husband also felt the same way. We talked about it and decided to just have cats and dogs instead, and maybe we’ll foster kids but never adopt. <br><br>Edit: Thank you for all the awards everyone!! This is my first time getting any so it’s really cool to see. Glad I could inspire some people!!