To think that the more kids someone has the more likely they are to all get on?

I know loads of people with 1 or 2 siblings who don’t get on.

True. Many years ago - pre 1980s, most women seemed to want a boy, and then more boys, and were disappointed if they had a girl... And girls were often treated like second class citizens. They would be assigned household tasks, and treated like a second mother, whilst the boys did fuck-all to help, and could do no wrong...

I have never EVER known a man or boy do any caring duties, or domestic tasks/housework, if there's a woman or girl available to do it.

But yeah you're right, most women long for daughters now. Weird how things turned around!

.

My experience matches yours but up to 6/7. When you start getting closing to 10 there seems to be more division.

What is LC?

Edit: never mind, I just got it I think... 'low contact?'

.

Definitely not in the experience of many people I know.

I know/have known at least 15 families with 5-8 DC (mostly born before the 1980s, not many people have that many now,) and in almost every family, one half of the kids don't get on with the other half. I know a few sets of 3s and 4s who all get on well, but a few sets of 3s and 4s who don't. In most families I know with just 2 siblings, they tend to get on more often than not.

In the families I know/have known with 5+ children, it's pretty much only the youngest one, and the oldest one who seem to have been happy with the big family. The 'middles ones' don't report a brilliant life with multiple siblings...

I am sure there are some people who are a 3rd or 4th or 5th of 6 or 7 children who had a great life with their big family, but I believe more have a not too good experience than those who do have a good experience

I am the middle of 5. I am NC with 2 siblings, LC with the other 2. I don't really like any of them, tbh.

I’m one of 7. NC with two, LC with two more and occasional but friendly interactions with the other two. It’s all chance

Both DH and I come from fairly small families. Around this time of year it sometimes feels a shame that we don't have the kinds of big gatherings you see on TV to look forward to. I'm not sure bigger families tend to be closer or more harmonious as a general rule, though. Perhaps it can appear that way as in a bigger/busier group there's less pressure for relationships to go beyond the superficially amicable?

I have 2 friends who come from large families. Person A has 6 siblings and talks to 3 of them. NC with the other 3. Person B has 8 siblings and doesn't talk to any of them.

My partner is one of 5 and none of them seem close and he's NC with 1 sibling. His mum is one of 8, only some of them are close.

Loads of undervalued girls can be produced in the quest for a boy.

far more likely to be the other way round now

You're so wrong, OP.
Loads of undervalued girls can be produced in the quest for a boy.
Overwhelmed, overworked mothers can form a bond with the eldest daughter based on slagging off and putting down the younger siblings.
Siblings can compete ferociously for the money and attention of their parents.
Parents learn to play their kids off against each other to control them.
Overwhelmed, overworked parents never really get time to mature as people, and become comfortable with their own resentment and hostility towards their kids.

I've found the complete opposite, the inheritance drama, favouritism beefs and general scrabbling for position is insane with larger numbers.

It’s often said that people from larger families are good at getting on with people in general, because they’ve had the experience of being around lots of other people from a young age.

no it depends on parenting in my opinion , I’m one of five and theres issues in every direction

I'm the eldest of 5, I'm NC with 3 out of 4 of my siblings. I got on with 3 of them when younger, but absolutely hated the sibling closest in age to me.

My anecdotal experience is the oppposite

My husband is one of five, three boys two girls. The sisters no longer speak due to the younger sister sleeping with the older sisters fiancé 😲. She broke the unwritten rule, you just don’t do this to a sibling.

My hubby gets on well with his younger brother, his older brother is a dick and jealous of what we’ve achieved (youngest brother informed us), he’s not very bright and absolutely vile when he’s had a drink.

So after witnessing this display of in house fighting for 40 years I’d say larger families aren’t destined to get on, 🤷‍♀️

I'm one of six, I text one sibling every three weeks or so. I'm no contact with the rest. I only actively dislike one of them but it's easier for me by keeping them all at bay and avoiding any dramas.

I’m an only so have observed DH’s sibling dynamics from the outside. What I’ve noticed is that it’s easier not to have many expectations and also not assume that you’ll have a lot in common just because you were brought up same household.

DH and his older brother get on well, they have a few common interests and they like a good laugh. Their life choices are totally different though and neither criticizes the other. His wife has suggested that we go on holiday together though and I’m not keen-I think it could expose the differences and I don’t want that to happen!

I have one brother and we get on very well, meet up regularly for coffee etc.
I have 5 children and they all seem to get on, although 2 are quite young still. The older three all went out clubbing together this weekend, all have plenty of friends but also enjoy each others company.

I have one brother whom I squabbled with as a child. As an adult he is one of my closest people and one of the only people I truly know is in my corner.