I'm a mum of 6. AMA.

[Lotsofbabies6]

That's it, really. I'll answer if I find any time 😅

All tiny. They were 5lb 10oz, 5lb 12oz, 6lb, 6lb, 5lb 7oz and 6lb 10oz.

They weren't premature, but some stopped growing in the womb.

I just think, as pp have said, it can get linked to religious beliefs, or poverty and lack of aspirations, although that's clearly not the case here.

I think it can also be associated with being a bit of an addiction - either to actually being pregnant or just constantly wanting a baby or wanting to be the mum of a baby and the older ones get boring basically, sounds awful but in my line of work I see a lot of this, and that’s why I think people do worry over the effects on older children. It’s sadly not uncommon for older kids in large families to be an afterthought. And also in the case of women having babies with multiple partners - sometimes men also - feeling like a relationship isn’t a relationship unless you’ve got a baby, like it cements things even though it overwhelmingly does the opposite.
But I don’t get the feeling at all that that’s the case with the OP.

No. I remember their due dates, day they were born, times and weights they were born. Dates of most 12 and 20 week scans. My brain is weird like that 🤣

How old will you be when the youngest flies the nest?

Do you think you’ll have grandchildren by then?

Do you think you’ll ever have an empty nest? Is that something you’d like? Dear? Crave? Don’t know the feeling of?

Do you ever think about what your life would have been like if you’d been unable to have children? Not related to you having 6 DC as such, only because they fill all your life.

How do you have time to make professional cakes with 6 children around?

I made a basic apple crumble earlier with toddler ‘helping’. It was like a fruit flour bomb went off in the kitchen.

If she left at 18 then 49 I think? I could have grandchildren by then I suppose.

I can't imagine what it'll be like having an empty nest but I'm looking for to having adventures with DH.

If I couldn't have had children, I'd probably be dead.

I don't make cakes luckily!

If she left at 18 then 49 I think? I could have grandchildren by then I suppose.

How do you feel about them also potentially having large families? Would you look forward to having many grandchildren or do you think by then you’d maybe hope for a bit more time to focus on yourself?

I don't mind either way!

No idea what MLMs are but I bake for a living :)

what do you bake if not cakes?

When you say your dh “”manages pretty well” with his 4 SC that live with him - what does this mean in practise? How does he get on with the 11 year old? How long has he known them?

Oh and how did you meet him? 4 very young children…. Where did you find the time?!

Brownies

We met online and had our first date with my baby in tow!

but what are the odds of ‘hating’ every one of your 4 or 5 siblings Confused I don’t know anyone who does! Your ‘model’ places a lot of value on money, OP’s on people - both are good bets to make. On a balance I would choose people as I think being poorer but in a good circle is better than rich and lonely/isolated. But who knows how things will turn out? Both are strengths.

It's a very good point - I realise that my post probably sounded quite mercenary and I really am not a money-driven person at all. We didn't deliberately only have one child by choice. My instincts (for me - others will differ) would just be to maybe strike a balance and have a more 'average' amount of children.

Of course, family bonds and friendships are part of what makes life wonderful, but money is also a big contributor (as in a reasonably sufficiency, not talking about fortunes) - and it takes a great deal of the fun out of life if there just isn't enough to go around without a lot of worry and sacrifice, when it could otherwise have been avoided (same with time, actually).

My mind boggles OP!

I have noticed that only certain sections of society are allowed to have large families, and I am not the only one to have noticed that. It is discussed often in the media, most recently by our lecturer in chief Prince William.

You're spot on, there. It's like the privileged just assume that normal considerations couldn't possibly apply to them.

Prince Philip and James Lovelock were both extremely vociferous for decades on overpopulation and about how crucial it was for us all to be having fewer children. Both of these men were the fathers of four children - and as far as I'm aware, they never felt the need to 'apologise' or justify this to those to whom they were preaching.

'I have noticed that only certain sections of society are allowed to have large families, and I am not the only one to have noticed that. It is discussed often in the media, most recently by our lecturer in chief Prince William'

Very true.

Sounds like a big, happy family op. I'm impressed! I don't think I'd have the energy for 6 kids but I grew up in the middle of big family and I loved it. Ignore the naysayers

Thank you x

Would you describe it as a “big happy family” OP?

Not all the time, no

Any particular reason or just normal sometimes kids squabbling etc?

Is your husband a good dad to the older children? Has he found it hard?

A huge portion of your DH’s earnings must go on his step children, given you receive no CM whatsoever. Does he ever or ever in the past expressed any view on this?

I have four myself and it’s hard work, so I have some more practical questions. How many loads of washing do you do and have you any tips? How much is your food shop bill and how do you stop the kids eating it all in the first day? And finally how big is your house and is it a big enough for you?