Does Having More Children Make You a Worse Parent?

Image Credit: (see end of post)

In this last trimester, well, during much of the pregnancy with my 2nd child, I found myself allowing more and more things than I would have had I not been severely incapacitated.  More movies and TV were watched by my toddler, and I may have actually caved in a few times to other demands... but not many, I mean, I'm still me. 

I've heard many friends with more than one child say that when there are two or more, and you can't control the situations as easily so you let things slide for your own sanity, but does letting things slide ever turn into just bad parenting?  Does that mean that you become a worse parent after having more than one child because you've "given up"?  Or, does it mean that you've just loosened the reigns and become less controlling and less of a "helicopter parent"?

I know I'm a control freak - I'll admit it - and I don't know what will happen once this child is out of me and I'm able to function fully again at 100% controlling mother.  I'm left to wonder, are we better parents with one child or 2, or more?  Either way, isn't one child getting the shaft somehow?  Growing up, I know I heard my sister say, "Why does she get XYZ?  I never had that at that age!"  Do parents make their mistakes with the first, only to learn the second time around, thus letting the second child get away with more?  (I'm not admitting that I got away with more, mind you)

I just hate the thought of loosening the reigns just because I'm too exhausted, too fed up, or one step closer to clinically insane.  I just wish I knew which way made me a better parent.  Why doesn't Amazon.com sell a crystal ball that tells you how each decision you make will affect your child in the future?  I mean, they sell everything else!!!
---------
Image Credit: Woman Online

---

Don’t miss anything: like my Facebook fan page, and get new entries posted straight to your news feed!

LIKE the Facebook Fan Page NOW!