are you from a small or large family yourself?

[foreverastudent]

I was talking to my MIL ( a mum of 3 who wanted more) about us being only children and she thought that not liking being alone when we were children has made us want bigger families as adults. Have others found this or have most mums with big families come from big families?

[lou33]

i am the youngest of 3, and have 4 myself, but only planned to have 2!

[racmac]

I am an only child and i have 3 - i always said i wanted a big family because i wouldnt want my child to be an only - i loved the idea of a big family.

However i wont be having any more - the reality is its bloody hard work!

[Insanitybecomesme]

I am the eldest child of 3 but my brother died nearly 17yr ago when he was 18 and I was 19. I think that is partly why I chose to have a large family, Planned on having five but got twins at the end so have 6 lovely dc

[bronze]

I am the youngest of 3 or 3. One of my brothers died as a baby

I have 4 though two weren't planned I wanted a large family just didn't think we would because of circumstances

[bronze]

meant youngest of 2, or 3

[Tortoise]

I am one of 4 and have 4 DC myself. Would like more but have been single for 5 yrs. I'm Only 32 so still have time!

[Lionstar]

One of 5, have 2 DC - and that is more than enough! My Sis has 4 kids though (and then got her tubes tied!)

[dwpanxt]

I have 7 siblings . Together we have a combined total of only 12 DCs . Perhaps none of us like company much

[usualsuspect]

I am one of 5...dp is one of 12 .we have 3

[colie]

I am one of 3. Have 4. No more for me though as 4th dc born only 11 days ago by c section so got tubes tied whilst having him. .

[Momdeguerre]

I am one of four and have two but intend to have at least one or two more. My DH is one of two with parents who were both only children and he used to be totally nonplussed by my huge extended family - grandad one of eight, mum one of five etc He has always found it harder to understand larger families. It was not until we started to have our own hildren that he ever contemplated anything other than one child - two at the most. I think that seeing our two in the melée of nine other cousins makes him realise what he missed.

[tots2ten]

I am the eldest of 3, dh is the eldest of 2 (there is 11 yrs between him and his brother) I have 6dcs.

[Lilyloo]

I am one of 3 , dp one of 4 we have 3 dc

[ElenorRigby]

Im one of 4, my dad was one of 12.
I have one atm, she is my world, I just want to do my best her, so no I do not want more.

[KatnKankles]

I am the eldest of 3, DH is the youngest of 2 and we have 4 DCs.

I love having siblings, we were in consecutive years at school and all played/fought together.

[FiveGoMadInDorset]

Number 6 of 7/8 First 5 from Dad's first marriage, then he had a child then he married my mother and had me and sis.

[Chalkpink]

I am eldest of two, dh is 3rd eldest of 4 (big gaps between each).
We have 4 dcs and wont have any more. It's hard work but I hope that they will always have at least one sibling to be best pals with (my sister have a very on/off relationship and are not that close). DHs family in contrast is large and close knit.
I watched my father shoulder the responsibility of caring for his widowed mother for over 30 years. He was an only child. I am hopeing that my 4 dcs should never have to compromise their lives to the same extent as he did.

[Maybee]

I'm one of five and growing up with siblings was good fun overall. Lots of rows as teenagers but also lots of parties you got to tag along to. I often craved solitude and still do at times. I have 3 would love more but dh is not so keen and we are skint

[asdx2]

I am the third of six and have five myself and would like at least 1 more tbh.
I have happy memories of the camaraderie and enjoy seeing the interaction between my brood

[MUM2BLESS]

I am the third oldest child of seven. I have four myself. My 2nd youngest brother has five children.

I dont think I would have liked to be an only child, or have only one child myself.

[newpup]

I am the eldest of three and DH is the youngest of two! Very different upbringings. We have 2 and are yet undecided about a third!

[MUM2BLESS]

I have a cousin who is the second of ten children, she only has one.

Is there anyone is an only child who has a big family?

[slipperandpjsmum]

I was an only one and it was def a motivator for me having a larger family (have 4). I was very lonley as a child and still sometimes feel alone now. Its always felt like a pressure and when times have been difficult within the family there has never been anyone to lean on. All my aunts and uncles are dead and I don't really know my cousins as we moved away from the family when I was little.

[sweetkitty]

I am one of two as is DP, we have 4

We have very little family around us for a variety of reasons and this is one of the reasons we decided to have 4 ourselves.