If you have a large number of siblings, did you enjoy it growing up?

[StormBringers]

I keep seeing negative posts from those from large families (5/6 children and more). Quite a few of my friends have very large families, the kids in all but one seem either happy or not bothered.

Wondering how people feel as adults about it in general. I have a moderate size family myself, and I grew up in the same size family, as did my husband so no variation here!

Watching as expecting dc5

Eldest of 8 here

Didn't always like it, but then again I liked being by myself so I could read in peace. Also don't like being around loads of people.
Christmas was always good though. Made it look like there were thousands of presents under the tree. Dad was also a trained chef so dinner was good.

What I didn't like though was how we couldn't always have what we wanted, and sometimes what we needed, but parents would do their best. (FWIW I wasn't ever spoiled but my 2 DSD were by their Dad so we'd have to deal with their bragging)

I'm LC with DSD now as they don't seem interested in me or my life and it doesn't bother me. Still see other 5 siblings frequently though (youngest 2 still at home aged 14 and 12)

One of six kids here and I loved it. All us siblings feel the same, we always had a lot of fun and now we're adults we are all close and have an inbuilt support system! Wondering if sex, age gaps or which order you were make a difference? I'm a shared middle child. Year of births:
1984 Girl
1985 Girl
1990x2 Girl & Boy
1994x4 Girl & Girl
(Yes my mum had two sets on non-identical twins!)

I'm one of 6, second oldest. I hate my older brother and haven't spoken to him in 15 years but loved all my younger siblings and we are still really close

I'm number 5 of 6 as is dh. Loved it growing up for the most part but funnily enough dh and I and a lot of our siblings consciously had smaller families with most of us having 2. The largest is 4 with number 4 being a surprise so there must be something underlying as to why we wanted smaller.

By spoiled I mean I never wanted flashy expensive things. Usually it was more books, or on one occasion, another pillow because I hate having just 1 🙈. I accepted whatever I was given though. DSM gave her netbook to me as a gift one year when money was tight so I could use it to do my writing for uni that was coming up. Was a way better gift than the new iPod DSD1 from her dad as he was trying to bribe her with love etc.

Middle one of 5.

Growing up had its moments. Good and bad, pack mentality, teenage years were fraught, fell out with one DB a lot, etc but very close to my siblings. Probably spent an undue amount of time choosing my favourite sibling on any given day. Definitely preferred home to school though!!!!

My sibling crew really came into its own when we were in teens/twenties (10yrs between us total). Wouldn't be without any of them. They're my best friends.

I’m the youngest of seven. Had a fabulous childhood, great parents, wanted for nothing, and have a great relationship with my siblings.

However, I do think my parents stretched themselves too thin and, because their children ranged across quite a broad age spectrum (eldest was 20 when I arrived), weren’t able to meet the needs of everyone at the same time in a way that they probably would have been able to with a smaller family.

I'm one of 4 and I can honestly say that my DM couldn't really cope, and I haven't really enjoyed it and am still learning how to manage it. DF seemed overwhelmed and has stepped out of the picture. I know that my youngest sister has hated being the last of 4. She too doesn't think that all of us are equal. Both DBro and I are keeping our brood to 2 or less as a result of our experiences as being one of many.

I think that having many seems like an exciting project to many parents, but there is such a stretch of resources, including parental attention and patience, that it is often the children who suffer.

There are 4 of us but with big age gaps. I’m the youngest. Don’t have anything in common with any of them and am NC with them all.

Growing up we had nothing in common, and having a mother who treated the boys like royalty didn’t help, as it resulted in a complete difference in lives which has carried on into adulthood. I can’t stress how much a parent’s encouragement and fulfilling of all needs and wants helps in confidence and achieving great things. I probably looked like a happy child, because I’d been manipulated into thinking I was a good, quiet child who never wants anything. Truth was I was too scared to ask for toys and things because I knew it would be a straight no. I treat all my children the same as a result, and give them everything they ask for within reason.

Similar to persimon in a way, oldest of four and hated it. My Mother parentified me and expected me to pick up her slack. Lots of abuse of all kinds going on which have left life long scars. I really don't want anything to do with my Mum, but she follows my sister everywhere so if I want to see my sister I have to see her.

We were a blended family, with 5 DC living together in one house with DF and DSM.

I loved it, DSS and I were close in age and got on brilliantly, and as far as I'm aware none of us ever felt left out.

We're great friends as adults, despite the fact that we have different (and often difficult) relationships with our parents.

my dad was one of 9 and hated it. he said he never got any one of one time with his parents and there was a lot of sibling rivalry and ganging up on each other. now in their 40s and 50s and hardly any of them have anything much to do with each other.

That should say all siblings are great friends as adults (and one from DM's second marriage too), not just me and DSS.

I cannot cope with 2 atm, they’re good kids but a testy 3yo and working FT and I’m just totally frayed. I was one of 3 and actually it’s just a bit of resentment now as in theory I would love to have great relationships with them but they live overseas which means I have all the individual only child responsibilities without the fun 99% of the time
It also contributed to us having no more kids- I wanted to make sure we had a ratio and cash to enjoy time as a family —when the threenager finally gets over this delightful tantrum phase—

One of 9, all same parents.

Loved it, experience very similar to that of @Nitw1t both as a child and now, as adults they are my best friends and the first people I turn to.

We have short-hand and shared experiences that I’ll never have with anyone else.

I'm the second of 7. Absolutely loved it and still loving it as an adult, we are all so different but also similar. There is always someone to help out with stuff - a different sibling depending on the situation!

I am 1 of 5. I liked being part of big family. But was v stressful at times. Don’t think I can afford that many so might aim for 3 if we can.

I thought it was v useful to help out with my siblings - tutored then, took them to toilet etc. It made me a more confident parent I think. Now my siblings (younger, not married) take my ds on holiday with GPs - without us.

I'm the youngest of 6, 4 boys and then 2 girls, eldest brother is 12 years older than me and I would say I didn't enjoy it and I don't think there was enough attention to go round.

I wasn't particularly close to my brothers growing up, my sister and I probably hated each other. Now in my mid forties, I am really close to my sister, we have been through a lot together. I am an good terms with 2 of my brothers but we don't speak regularly, they are both close to my sister and the only time I see them usually is at her place. I don't really know how to have a relationship with them.

The other two brothers I am completely no contact with. We used to be fairly close but in my divorce they chose my ex-husband over me, although they would throw me a few crumbs with the occasional text message while inviting the ex and his new girlfriend on holidays. It got too hard to deal with so I cut contact. I actually feel a lot better for having got rid of them.

I will say I don't know whether it is me or my siblings which make it difficult for me to have a close relationship with them, but it does make me sad on occasions.

Within the 6 of us we have the following families 4, 3, 2, none, 3 and 1. I always wanted to make sure I could give my child all the attention they needed so stuck with 1.

I'm the youngest of 5. I'm the only girl.

It could have been great but my brothers all disliked each other and me. There was a lot of vicious squabbling and nastiness in general. I think it was mostly due to a toxic divorce.

We get on okay -ish now. But not at all close.

I am second of 8. Loved it most of the time. Pretty organised parents which helped. Always found l got plenty of attention as my parents were completely family focused. We all had chores and l suppose that helped. As a teen l did resent the shortage of funds for fashion etc but that was shortlived.
What my dm found most stressful was as we got older worrying about our future careers and getting us set up as couldn't afford us hanging around as so many young ones.
Love it now as we have great togethers, great support and we all dearly love each other and get on well. My DC have loads of cousins which they appreciate. Great having that support too for elderly parents before they died.

Oldest here with 2 brothers and 4 sisters. Growing up we all liked each other and got along but as adults it's not great. Used to make me a bit sad and I always tried to make an effort to keep up with them all but seems we are all too different as people and there is a lot of friction there. Shame as it would be nice for all the nieces and nephews to see each other.

I don't think my parents should have had so many, for one thing they were always broke. They have also never encouraged any talent within us so some of us never realised our potential.

I get along best with the youngest who is over a decade younger, but even then she can be difficult at times. I think our dysfunctional upbringing has a lot to do with the way things are. Mum and dad split some years back and she always worries that when she dies none of us will bother with each other.

I'm one of six. I loved it and still do!

I think it very much depends on the family.
My dad came from a massive family (and thanks to ancestry we've found more siblings 😂) and hated it. None of them get on with each other, and they are all jealous of each other.
But he had shitty parents, so that was a big factor on how the children's relationships were mucked up.

Happy one of four here.