By the time I was 26, I had 3 children

By the time I was 26, I had 3 children. I never thought I would have any more, even though I was never 100% closed off to the idea. I said to myself that if I didn't have any more by 30, that would be me done.

People would constantly ask "when are you having another baby?" My reply would always be "I think I have my hands full with 3." I was on the fence I guess, indifferent. A small part of me felt my family wasnt complete, even though my 'sensible' voice, influenced by societal expectations, told me 3 children was plenty.

My mum used to say to me "you'll know for sure when you're done having kids. You'll just know, there won't be any uncertainty to it".

I found out what she meant at 38 when I gave birth to my 5th baby. There was an overwhelming sense of family completeness, and I knew that I wouldn't have any more children. It's been 24 years since I started my parenting journey and I also reached a stage where I had to start remembering who I was as a woman, and pushing forward with my own personal goals, wants and ambitions.

When I talk to other mothers, some will say they knew for certain after one or two children that they wouldn't have any more. I also know some that are in their 40's like me with several children, and they haven't reached that point yet! When I say I have 5 children, it's usually followed by "wow, how do you manage that many", and then "when are you going to have another?"

Some parents will undergo vasectomies and sterilisation because they feel they won't have any more children, only to undergo subsequent reversals. So how does one know for definite that they dont want any more?

When did you know that your family was complete?