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I have eight children

138 replies

amazinggracing · 24/11/2019 10:20

Ask away!

OP posts:
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SleeplessWB · 24/11/2019 10:23

Why?

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amazinggracing · 24/11/2019 10:25

We have the money and the time, DH and I both come from big families. I love children and being a mum.

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flapjackfairy · 24/11/2019 10:25

I have 5 myself and love a big family.
What is your most vital piece of household equipment? Mine is washing machine for sure ! I have palpitations at the thought of it dying on me !

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orangeteal · 24/11/2019 10:26

How do you each dedicate one on one time with each child?

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BlackCatSleeping · 24/11/2019 10:26

Aren't you ever tired?

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Waytooearly · 24/11/2019 10:28

I'm one of eight children so I'm interested.

When you say you're from a big family, how many siblings do you have?

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SleeplessWB · 24/11/2019 10:29

I suppose I mean, what do you get from having 8 children that you wouldn't get from having 4?

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Waytooearly · 24/11/2019 10:32

How much time do they older kids spend looking after the younger kids?

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Velveteenfruitbowl · 24/11/2019 10:34

How early did you start?

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DieHardISaChristmasFilm · 24/11/2019 10:35

Do you/ did you ever consider the environmental impact of so many children?

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Baguetteaboutit · 24/11/2019 10:36

How big is the washing pile in your house? Do you need to keep the machine going constantly? How are you managing the laundry turnover in the winter, when line drying is a distant memory and most clothes shrink in the dryer? What contingencies do you have in place for when you and your husband are sick to stop your house becoming one big laundry pile?

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Baguetteaboutit · 24/11/2019 10:38

How the hell do you manage laundry when d&v bugs are doing the rounds?

I have three dc, happy to take any hints and tips.

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amazinggracing · 24/11/2019 10:47

What is your most vital piece of household equipment?

I agree with washing machine. The poor thing is constantly in use.


How do you each dedicate one on one time with each child?

It just works out. I get more one on one time with each children than you'd think. After working at home for a while I've given up work all together to be with the kids. DH is very hands on so we share the load.


Aren't you ever tired?

I've been tried for years and years.


how many siblings do you have?

I am one of six.


what do you get from having 8 children that you wouldn't get from having 4?


Chaos. Which we love. A big family. More love to go around. Everything is more fun.


How much time do they older kids spend looking after the younger kids?

Barely any. They do help out from time to time but we make sure that we don't put that responsibility on them. They are our children and our responsibility.


How early did you start?

I was 21 when our first was born and DH was 25.


Do you/ did you ever consider the environmental impact of so many children?

Yes, I do. And I feel bad. I wasn't aware until relatively recently about how large the impact of having so many children has. It's something that we do feel guilty about.


How big is the washing pile in your house? Do you need to keep the machine going constantly? How are you managing the laundry turnover in the winter, when line drying is a distant memory and most clothes shrink in the dryer? What contingencies do you have in place for when you and your husband are sick to stop your house becoming one big laundry pile?

The washing pile is huge. Huge. It's going most of the time. We hang clothes on rails indoors and use eye rubble dryer. We have family around and sometimes we do just have to let the pile grow. It will get washed at some point and the kids never run out of clean clothes.

How the hell do you manage laundry when d&v bugs are doing the rounds?

DH and I are very rarely sick at the same time, but when we are we just try our best. The pile does tend to mount up a lot.

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SebandAlice · 24/11/2019 10:49

What age is the youngest? Do you want more?

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amazinggracing · 24/11/2019 10:50

What age is the youngest? Do you want more?

The youngest is 2. Definitely no more. DH is booked in for the snip.

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spacepyramid · 24/11/2019 10:52

Do you ever call them by the wrong name?

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user6289264 · 24/11/2019 10:55

What was your hardest transition? I.e. 1-2, 5-6 etc.

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Baguetteaboutit · 24/11/2019 10:56

Do you have very easy babies or are you hard as nails?

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orangeteal · 24/11/2019 10:59

Do any of your children have additional needs? Was this something that concerned you? One of my biggest fears and the main thing stopping me from having a third is the fear of having a child that needs a lot of extra support and the impact that would then have on my older 2.

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orangeteal · 24/11/2019 11:00

Also, how do you and your DH maintain your relationship? Do you get much time alone? Date nights etc?

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Footballmumto3 · 24/11/2019 11:01

Do you work? Obviously you have a massive workload but do you have a job outside the home yourself?

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Lovemenorca · 24/11/2019 11:08

Why did you name change for this thread?

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Ginfordinner · 24/11/2019 11:08

How are you going to support them when they are at university?

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rosieposies · 24/11/2019 11:12

Wow op, id love a huge family but I'm bloody knackered and I've just got two!

Do you get to go on holidays?

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HollowTalk · 24/11/2019 11:13

Did you factor in how you'd cope if you had a child with extra needs? This happened in my family and it meant most of us suffered neglect.

Don't underplay how much time your older kids spend with the younger ones - my mum would say that none of had to look after the others - we have a completely different story.

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