I'm a mum of 6 AMA

[Ellomo]

Not sure if anyone would be interested but if anyone is feel free to ask i have 6 children, ages ranging from 15 to 1

I have four. It was fine until they were older and ended up with diagnoses of autism and one is now very unwell - I think it works (attention wise) until it doesn't.

noeurf how many were diagnosed?
I've got 4,number 3 is 13 and on verge being added to list for assessment.

1. How do you square your Christian faith with your self confessed lack of interest in how your life choices impact the environment?

1. Do you receive any benefits?

How do you square your Christian faith with your self confessed lack of interest in how your life choices impact the environment
Did Christ teach that we must limit procreation to “protect the environment”?

@Stilllivinginazoo
One at nine when the younger ones were still little and then another early teens. Four is difficult now as one of mine is very unwell (thread in mental health). I just think larger families are lovely until something goes wrong and you run out of hands/time/space etc

@noeuf totally get that.you need more hands don't you?
I find it a real struggle to manage give everyone time they need D's has MH issues too

@Stilllivinginazoo yes I think lots of kids is great unless they have additional or significant needs which obviously is a gamble. Obviously I love all mine but I can't give them the attention and support they need all the time.

I’m pretty ambivalent tbh, live and let live.
But I can hear my right on mum saying “doesn’t matter if you can personally afford to maintain them, have you thought about the planet and it’s dwindling resources”. So I’m asking on her behalf

I feel guilty having 2 don’t you feel guilty for 6? Do you listen to the news? I agree with Langrishs mum

Guilty? No I feel lucky having my children.

I have two dc...I am always tired. Do you have a lot of energy? Do you ever think, why did I make life harder myself?

For myself that should say

I know, guilty can fuck right off. I feel guilty enough about every other aspect of parenting

Do your children have to pass stuff on/share more then their friends? Do you think this is a hardship or a good life lesson? (I don't personally believe that sharing a bedroom or wearing outgrown-but-hardly-worn clothes is damaging.)

Did your faith influence your decision to have a large family? How many of your children (if old enough to make that decision) share your religion?

Do your children hope to have large families themselves?

Judging from the outside I imagine a supportive family of capable and independent children, but do think it is a bit selfish environmentally (I have 3 DC and found pregnancy easy so if I'd started earlier might have had more although was not thinking about the environment back then). Do you feel guilty about having to use a tumble drier so much and the amount of rubbish you must produce, even if you recycle as much as possible?

I don't really have an answer to this one which isn't great, I know. In all honesty I chose to for my own reasons, over population was never really in my thoughts

OK so now that you've given it some thought, what do you think?

My children are already well and truly alive, I cannot change that nor do I want to. Yes it was a selfish decision to have 6 when it comes to the environment but in that case everyone should feel guilty for being alive

I am so sick of seeing the ever present over population argument on large family threads.

NEWSFLASH:

the parent has already had the children. Short of getting in a TARDIS and deciding against any that ship has sailed.

And I trust that every single one of you pointing the finger on that theme follows a strictly plant based diet and never drives nor takes a flight anywhere. Monbiot himself acknowledges these as greater environmental threats than big families.

Rant over.

Tang Paul the dwindling planet has been quite the subject of chat during the past 15 years. It didn’t all go tits up last weekend.

I’m having DC3 this year, and this thread has give. Me some hope that I’m not going to drown in children or laundry!!
I know you said your eldest is 15, so sorta him/herself out, but what about bedtimes for the younger ones? Do you have a system? Staggered bedtimes? My DCs will be 4 and almost 3 when DC3 arrives, and once DC3 starts sleeping at more regular intervals and needs a proper “bedtime” I can’t see how I’m going to juggle 3 bedtimes! (DH is military, so away a lot and it’s just me flying solo!)

ellomo I'm sorry if I offended you derailing slightly about poorly children
Are any of yours fussy eaters?
How do you cope if they are ill in multiples(for example flu,chicken pox etc) I have 4 and swine flu was a nightmare as I went down last as they perked up!!

@Stilllivinginazoo you didn't offend me it's okay, I have a very fussy 4 year old, every meal is a fight to get her to eat something, the others aren't too fussy.
It seems like if one gets ill someone else is bound to catch it, there's just one poorly person which is lovely because I have a feeling I'm coming down with something. A couple years ago 4 of them had chicken pox at once

I meant there's never just one

That's what runs me aground.day to day with 4is ok,but once they start dropping I'm exhausted!!
Hats off to you

Six children sounds lovely ❤ I would love a big family but we aren't financialy sound anymore, how many times do you have to find lost socks and shoes on average a day 😂 with my three its still quite a lot! And do you ever have a long hot relaxing bath in peace and if so, what's your secret? 😁

Can I ask why you want so many children? As in, did you have a strong urge to keep having them? I'm not taking the piss btw, I've got one dc, but I've never felt maternal like others do, and the thought of doing another 18 years + of washing, cooking, cleaning, school runs, non uniform days, juggling childcare etc etc makes me feel a bit ill.

I did have a traumatic birth experience though and my dc has been very ill for a lot of her childhood so I don't know if my lack of broodiness is due to that.