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AMA

I have eight children

138 replies

amazinggracing · 24/11/2019 10:20

Ask away!

OP posts:

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OhWifey · 09/12/2019 21:32

Did you sleep train any / all?

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IVEgotthetinselBITCHES · 09/12/2019 13:06

How big are your washer and dryer op? Do you have just one of each?

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housinghelp101 · 08/12/2019 21:30

OP regarding your love of chaos being a reason you wanted so many, I have heard that quite a few times from large families (the Radfords being one example) and I wonder if there are underlying issues regarding fear of self that might become apparent during quiet/'normal' life?

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Booboostwo · 08/12/2019 20:06

Do you organize 7 birthday parties a year? That alone would finish me off!

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Fundays12 · 08/12/2019 20:05

OP this is a very interesting thread. I have 3 kids and feel that’s enough but one has additional needs. I can’t imagine having 8 as the thought of the washing alone scares me.

I noticed you commented you had lots of family help. Do you not think it’s a bit selfish having kids but expecting your family to help lots whilst you continue to have more? I ask that question as I have seen many times over the years family members feeling put upon by other family members frequent asks for childcare help whilst they continue to have more kids. Sadly these family members never tell the actual parent they feel taken advantage of or it’s too much. I don’t have any help really unless I pay the childminder though dh is hands on but works full time so really struggle to understand the thinking behind having lots of kids whilst relying on other people’s help.

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PeriComoToes · 08/12/2019 19:43

Do you and your husband ever get a night out?

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BrutusMcDogface · 08/12/2019 19:38

Bedtime! How do you manage it? What’s your routine?

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BrutusMcDogface · 08/12/2019 19:38

I have four and it’s chaos!! How the hell do you do it?! (Not a real question I suppose, but reading with interest!)

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housinghelp101 · 08/12/2019 19:21

How many bathrooms do you have?

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UnderneathTheMangoTree · 26/11/2019 10:42

Did your body change more with every pregnancy, or did you find that after a certain number of pregnancies your body kept going back to the shape it was before?

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amazinggracing · 26/11/2019 10:34

What additional needs does one of your children have?

One of our nine year olds has 'mild' ASD.

Are they state or privately educated?

State educated.

What does your husband do for a living and how much does he earn?

He owns two recruitment companies and trades on the foreign exchange. He earns 6 figures from his recruitment. The income from his forex trading is unpredictable.

OP posts:

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amazinggracing · 26/11/2019 10:29

A trust fund and inheritance-explains a lot! Am wondering where in the U.K. you live-can’t be London I take it!?

We live in Liverpool.

Also, if 3 of more of your children had an important event on the same day, and you obviously can only split you and your DH once, what would you do and how would you feel?

We haven't had this problem yet. I really don't know, to be honest. It would be very difficult. We'd have to seek family help.

OP, do you judge those with one or two children, who struggle to manage and moan about it, ever thinking ‘well, if I can do it with 8....! Be honest with yourself now.....)

I really don't judge them at all, everyone wants different families. Some don't want children at all. That's fine, I understand that we are unusual.

Did you have any home births? C-Sections? Are your older children opinionated about your reproductive choices and their own?

My last three were home births with no hospital transfer. I have never had a c-section, the twins were almost a c-section, they were born naturally, unexpectedly in theatre. My older children say that they want lots of children too, although that could well change. They all love having so many siblings.

Do you host (and enjoy) sleepovers?

Host? Yes. Enjoy? Sometimes. Sometimes I do get stressed, I get stressed having other people's children in general. When the older children have sleepovers it's fine.

*Do you meal plan? (Id love to see it if so!)
Do you get through a thousand loaves of bread and bottles of milk each week?*

Yes, we do meal plan. I don't strictly stick to it but it helps in keeping costs down and things organised.

We get through lots of bread, I'm not sure how much. We have a bread maker that is constantly going. We get through quite a lot of milk, but we're not huge milk/tea/coffee drinkers. I've started to make my own almond milk with the younger ones.

How do your kids get alone time?

Some have their own room, we have a playroom and a reading room. If a child wants time alone then I make sure that I facilitate this. We're a big fan of baths in our house so that's some alone time for them. They also like sitting on mine and DH bed for some time alone or with us.

How do you check in with the quieter ones to make sure they're okay?

We're constantly checking in with everyone, daily. We make sure that each child gets plenty of one-on-one time with us.

Someone may have already asked this, but how organised are you? Is you house really tidy? Or like mine, pretty messy?

I really bloody try to keep things tidy, but as soon as the children get home from school it's like a bomb site again. To be fair to them, they are mostly tidy children but sometimes need encouragement. I keep it as tidy as I can but I have to be realistic.

Did your births get better/shorter/easier? Or was the 8th on par with 2, 3 etc?

Each has been different. My most recent birth was the hardest, she was born three days after my first contraction. A gruelling slow labour and extremely irregular contractions. Aside from that birth, they did get easier and shorter with each child.

OP posts:

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BadnessInTheFolds · 25/11/2019 21:48

Do all your children enjoy being in a big family equally (as far as you can tell)? I think DSib would have loved a bigger family, I would have hated it!

Do you find some of your DC enjoy quiet /space more than others and how do you manage it?

Do they all share a bedroom and are there plans for if they get a bit older and want their own room?

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ChloeDecker · 25/11/2019 21:33

Also, if 3 or more of your children had an important event on the same day, and you obviously can only split you and your DH once, what would you do and how would you feel?

Just posted my question again because you have missed it again. Also if you could answer my other question too (it’s not too far back) that would be grand!

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tempnamechange98765 · 25/11/2019 17:19

What additional needs does one of your children have?

Are they state or privately educated?

What does your husband do for a living and how much does he earn?

What part of the country do you live in?

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Namechangeymcnamechange11 · 25/11/2019 17:06

Did your births get better/shorter/easier? Or was the 8th on par with 2, 3 etc?

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BlackCatSleeping · 25/11/2019 12:33

Someone may have already asked this, but how organised are you? Is you house really tidy? Or like mine, pretty messy?

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amazinggracing · 25/11/2019 12:30

How on earth are you getting up at 8 am when you have 8 children to get to school?

DH gets up at seven and I get up when our youngest wakes.

Has having so many children taken its toll on your body?

Yes it has, but not as much as one would assume.

Do you also have pets too?

We have two goldfish and one cat.

At what point did you become aware of the environmental impact of children?

Only fairly recently from all of the media coverage on how much our planet is suffering and from watching documentaries.

OP posts:

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Waytooearly · 25/11/2019 08:41

How do your kids get alone time?

How do you check in with the quieter ones to make sure they're okay?

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Lobsterquadrille2 · 25/11/2019 08:00

I have no questions, merely awe. You sound like an incredibly calm and organised person .... i believe that I am to an extent but definitely wouldn't be with your household!

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Sharonthetotallyinsane · 25/11/2019 07:52

I think you missed my question.

At what point did you become aware of the environmental impact of children?

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Caramel78 · 25/11/2019 07:38

Do you also have pets too?

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Ginfordinner · 25/11/2019 07:17

Has having so many children taken its toll on your body?

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fantasmasgoria1 · 25/11/2019 06:38

My first husband was from a big family. The age ranges were more spread apart though. Three had left home by the time the last one was born. They had absolutely no money and the children were somewhat neglected, no encouragement to do homework etc. They ate mainly junk food, chips being eaten 5/6 days out of 7. I admire you for the way you are raising your children. They have a good diet, they are all given attention, encouragement and you give them everything they need.

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HollowTalk · 24/11/2019 23:58

How on earth are you getting up at 8 am when you have 8 children to get to school?

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