@jlkuhioe I have an amazing, yet small village. My kid (nearing 2.5 years old) describes her family as 6 people. Mom & dad, and then my in-laws, and SIL & her spouse.
My in laws, specifically MIL, watches my kid 5 days a week, and sometimes for half a day on the weekends. She buys her food & gets diapers at local diaper drives. She gets her clothes at local churches and thrift stores.
I realized how much she really does for us, and I am so thankful, but it made me realize I’m not sure we could really afford having my kid without her. (Thankfully my husband got a promotion recently and we’re headed to better days & hopefully can start paying for stuff at my MIL’s)
But I couldn’t bring another kid into this situation knowing I’m typically broke all the time and completely reliant on my in laws for childcare & snacks and lunch.. They’ve never asked for a dime & are not at all rich themselves.. I’m so grateful but also feel incredibly guilty and couldn’t see myself adding a second little one for them to do it all over again.
My SIL doesn’t really babysit but man, her relationship with my daughter is so beautiful. She’s always said she didn’t want kids, and recently changed her mind a bit, and we didn’t get along as teens.. but it’s amazing seeing my daughter have this cool aunt who adores her. I honestly don’t wanna add another into the mix so my kid can have her all to herself (until she becomes a mom herself, lol)
I couldn’t do this without my village so I ain’t about to add no more