8 minutes ago, Giraffe said:

Hard agree. This is so many of the families I snark on. I have a number of friends who are over having newborns and toddlers and young children in general. And you know what they did as a response to that? They stopped having children! One friend was always a one an done. But another friend became a one and done after going through life with a newborn and realized she could not cope with dealing with that again. So she didn't! 

I’m the same age as Braggie and I was so glad to be over the baby toddler stage. Her girl twins are the same age as my older son and her son Theo is the same age as my younger son. And she’s had 4 kids since having this kids. I would be so miserable and phoning everything in. If I had 4 more kids. I’m so glad I can focus on my 2 kids and enjoy parenting them. 

2 hours ago, SassyPants said:

I think AH and Shaun are just over having to do any of the hard work that parenting requires...

Hard agree. This is so many of the families I snark on. I have a number of friends who are over having newborns and toddlers and young children in general. And you know what they did as a response to that? They stopped having children! One friend was always a one an done. But another friend became a one and done after going through life with a newborn and realized she could not cope with dealing with that again. So she didn't! 

Makayla Landrum Thathcher and her husband are having their 2nd. They are Bates adjacent. Makayla is Josie's best friend and also does hair. I think she has her own salon? Her husband is friends with all the Bates boys. Has stood up in some of their weddings. Cuts their hair because he has his own barbershop. Wanting AZ as the back drop for their announcement photos is part of why they tagged along with Kelton and Josie. Kelton is there for a conference with his work, so Josie and the kids went.

17 hours ago, Father Son Holy Goat said:

Jill was parentified and forced to provide parental like care for Joy. That adds a level of complexity to everything. 

That, and even if Joy wasn’t the first official “ little buddy” in their system - 6 1/2 years can be a pretty big gap - especially when there are a ton of both older, younger and middle siblings. And given Jill being a more nurturing, super responsible type, and Joy being an active rough and tumble child - the difference probably felt even bigger. 
 

I think AH and Shaun are just over having to do any of the hard work that parenting requires. If they were in a more standard sized family for our current era, they’d have 3 teenagers and would be free to date and travel at their leisure with less help needed. They are in their 40s and so over running around after 5 little boys and doing all that is required to keep those kids safe, nurtured… Most people who have access to BC and medical care make other, more responsible decisions. What is particularly sad about this situation is AH doesn’t really have a motherly bone in her body- and she’ll admit that this role does not come naturally to her. Having lived through many decades and “seasons”, I thought the 40s were the hardest ones. I had tween aged kids plus peri menopause- the health issues were starting to creep up- it was just not a pleasant time.