I have 7 children AMA

[whirlwindwhirling]

AMA

Do you want any more? What was your hardest transition?i.e. 2 to 3 children.

Do you think that wanting a big family means that it's fine to have one? Or do you think that sometimes people should put their own selfishness to one side for the sake of the bigger picture?

I’m not a fan of big families for environmental reasons but if you are raising them to be productive citizens that’s what’s important.

Don't you have any inkling that it's irresponsible to have so many children? I can't understand this at all, how would things be if every couple had 7?

Do you find a lot of people judge you for having a large family? (I've just had my 8th and get a few snotty comments)

(Not being mean I promise. Just curious) but are you on any benefits (and if so, which?). How much does your husband make after tax? Did you have a look through your financial situation before planning each child to see if you could afford them? And do you have any plans in place to manage financially if with your or your husband were to die or if your husband were to leave you and the kids?

Do you have time for hobbies/interests and friends/social life outside the family?

Do your older children ever say or intimate that they dislike having so many siblings?

How old were you when you had the first and do they all ha e the same father?

Do you ever stop to think if it was fair on your children to have so many?

What do your own parents think? Were you from a large family yourself?

How do you feel when you can tell that someone judges you for your choices?

Well that was the shortest and most pointless AMA ever.

How on did you find going through labour 7 times?

Ouch - very negative posts on this thread! Hope you're ok op.

Has it taken a physical toll on your body?

An AMA where OP doesn’t answer any questions?!

Do you reuse baby equipment and clothes, so no need to buy lots of clothes after the 1st 3 as you can reuse them.

You are correct to a certain extent WaterWisp. However, you can't get away from the fact that nine people eat more, produce more waste and use more water than a family of three or four.

I am flabbergasted at this thread. If i say I want an only child, people say really inane stuff like 'a sibling is so valuable, much more valuable than a private education' (wtf). Or 'children need siblings to teach them how to share'. And then when this woman has 7, it's suddenly too much? Why does everyone need to have cookie cutter families of 2 children. Bearing in mind she is the one doing the raising and night feeds, not you.

Why assume her children are maladjusted because she has 7. Mothers with 1 child, 2 children or 7 children are all stressed, it's just that some mother's have the ability to deal with more. In fact families with 2 children get the worst end of the stick- they don't get the help and benefits of big families or the resources of an only child family. My mother was 1 of 7 and she turned out fine. And I am pretty sure my future only would be fine too.

To Reiterate, not trying to compare siblings to a private education or any other material gains. They are just 2 completely different things. We should be allowed to choose the number of children we want, whether it's 1 or 10

OP question- how do you deal with idiots who question your family size.

In population /environment terms surely the point is not how much resources the family use now, as presumably there are economies of scale and its not too bad. The point is that one couple has produced seven future adults, who will all start households of their own some day, and probably have kids too.

Because I'm not sure all 7 will have kids.

You need 2 children to replace a mum and dad. Then any more replaces the fact that a huge chunk of the population is now remaining childless. We are going to have an enormous elderly population in years to come. Who's going to look after them and support the economy?

There's also the fact that a family with one child who live in an enormous energy-consuming house, don't recycle, constantly waste, eat high meat diets is going to be worse for the environment than a family of three children who are extremely environmentally savvy and you know, give back to the planet in their future careers too.

We have no idea how this family works, so give this woman a break. No wonder she's not replying!

Those who remain childless and think everyone with them is selfish, who do you expect to take care of you when you're old? It's just tit for tat.

By baby has aptamil creamed banana porridge would he’s only a different like ? Do you think I should give this him or just discard it , thanks x