On some occasion we have commented that the feeling that two is the number of children that people consider ideal. When you have a child and time goes by, you start receiving messages like “when is the second one?” And, when you already have it, the messages change to “now it's done,” “you've already met” or even “now the cat and the whole family, ”who told us once.
This feeling is confirmed by the study "Childhood and future: new realities, new challenges" of La Caixa, which we talked about a couple of days ago, in which the couples surveyed considered that the ideal was to have around 2.13 children per couple.
This figure is, however, quite far from what happens in reality, since in 2008 the fertility rate stood at 1.5 children per couple, which leaves us in a very bad situation if we think about the importance of there is a correct generational change. In fact, it is estimated that, if everything remains the same, 35% of our population will be over 65 in 2050 (and I will be one of them).
The ideal number of children years ago
Returning to the issue that concerns us, in 1966 the ideal number of children for Spanish couples was 3.3 and 3.1 in 1970. Comparing the figures that said how many children were ideal with the actual birth figures, it was observed that Women had even more children than was considered ideal.
In 1975, however, the trend began to change and the ideal of children for women was 2.83 children per couple (2.66 for men).
Little by little, the figure dropped to 2.15 children in 2000. Nowadays this figure has increased a little to 2.3However, contrary to what happened in the 60s, the ideal number of children, 2.3 children per couple, is much higher than the current fertility rates, as we have said before.
Why two and not three
Personally, I can say that almost always that I have talked about the ideal number of children, people have commented that 3 was the ideal number (“they are not fighting all day” if they are two). This is quite logical since, to speak of an ideal is not to express what the real intentions are. Surely many people express that the ideal is 3 children, but probably only have 1 or 2 for economic or labor reasons, or the doubts of an uncertain future.
Another reason for not having a greater number of children and being closer to the two than the three is that Motherhood is a life project that with the leap of generations has been delayed at ages close to thirty (Most of us can say without lying that our parents had their first child at the age when we were still finishing a career or starting work.)
So, in summary, you know, if you intend to have 3 children, it is very likely that you will receive looks and messages of strangeness (“uff, you are crazy”) so if you want to be part of the majority have two sons, two daughters , or the couple.
