I came from a large, blended family that was sometimes comfortable, comforting, camaraderic to be in. I was planned; my oldest brother was born October 1941; next brother 2-1/2 years later, April 1944; next brother 4 years later, April 1948; and me, 2-1/2 years later, October 1950. I like to imagine my mother (who died in 1954) wanted a girl so kept trying :-)

My stepmother said she and my father wanted a child together as it would be "their" child. Fortunately for me, my stepmother wasn't able to have any more children so I'm still the baby My stepsister is 13 years older than I am and was an only child.

My husband's 3 sons were "accidents". They got pregnant with the eldest child and decided to marry. My husband was thrilled to be becoming a father, had just graduated college and gotten a good job and says he figured that's what he was "supposed" to do, settle down and start a family, etc.

I think it's mostly a genetic/default thing reminds me of, why did I go to college? It happened to be what came next in my family and was easier for me than other choices. I didn't get married until I was 39, didn't want only one child if I had children and my husband didn't "care" since he'd been there, done that and I wanted any children of mine to have a father "interested" in them. My stepmother had been abusive and I was worried about my anger issues so wasn't sure I would make an okay parent too. I wasn't very self-aware yet so probably wouldn't have made a great parent at that time. I'd be an okay parent now I think.