What constitutes a large family for you?

[Enko]

I have 4 children and I am often told what a large family I have.

However I know many with 4 children several with 5 and some with 6 8 and 10 children so for me I feel that our family is above average but not large.

I put this question on a facebook forum I am on for families with 4 or more children. I thought it could be fun to see what MN people feel too.

3 or more. I realise that this may not seem like many! We are two adults, we have two children (ie not increasing the population after we have gone).

I am 1 of 4 and people see that as large, but nearly every family i grew up with had roughly 3/4 children. My aunts all have over 3 children. I would put large at 6 and over, think of all the washing!!

I have 4 children. That’s enough for me. My friend has 7. That’s definitely a lot. Quite a few of us have 4 and the ones with one or two look faint at the thought of it 😄

More than 3 kids. If you need a 7 seater car you're a large family.

@pisspawpatrol We only have a 6 seater so by that logic we are not a large family. (plus we only got that last month before that we had a small Yaris)

Three or more. Once you're outnumbered, you're a big family.

I would say 4 would make a large family.

When I look at others with three kids I think Phoaw, how do they do it? and then I think: Wait a minute, I also have 3 DC ...

Four is definitely a large family in my book.

I'm an only. I have two. My mother is one of 6 - half of whom don't talk to each other but that's another thread (!).

So for me 6 is a large family. 4 is fairly normal but not the norm judging by friends and acquaintances.

We have four. Where we live 3 seems to be average. My DD has three close friends, 2 of whom are from families of four, so I dont feel as though we are a large family. I would say 6 is large, but I accept my perception may be somewhat skewed!

Having a number of people above the average family size is a blessing, my dear. We should not feel less about it. I have 4 kids too. The fact of the matter is that every son needs a brother and every daughter needs a sister. So 2+2=4 is the ideal family size. However, families having lesser than 4 kids should not feel less because they can have more sleepful nights. If you have 1 or 2 children who look after you at your old age, are better than having 8 or 10 children who rather refuse to look after you at your old age, dumping you alone at the care-home to be looked after by someone else. Go back 50 years in the past and you will find our ancestors were having large happy families too and they were all connected to each other. Now if one has 2 kids and 4 iPhones in one's home (including parents), it is enough for one to split one's own family into 4 parts. For me, family-bond is more important than the large or small family size. So, I will focus more on my family bond and not the size of the family. For me, a family size of 4 children is the maximum anyone ought to have. Please don't get offended if you do not agree with me. I might be wrong. At the end of the day, we need to get the best for our children and for their future no matter they remember us or not.

Wtf

For me, anything over 2 kids would be considered large. I think that's because I come from a 2 kid family though!

Families with 1, 2 or 3 are 'standard issue', surely? I think I probably know more people with 1 child than with 3 but it's close.

4 is a larger family, but very much a small large family IYSWIM, 5 or 6 being a 'normal' large family and 7 plus large. 9 plus isn't large but enormous.

3 is above average, 4+ is large and enough to raise eyebrows especially if they aren't from the better parts of town. (Dd has a friend who was one of 8, now 9 I'm told and the family were demanding to be rehoused)

Up to 4 is standard. 5-7 is big, 8+ is large

More than 6 to be a large family.
3 or less to be a small family.

I think 3 kids is a large family and I'm 1of 4 and a larger family in general - my nanna has 20 grandchildren.

I'll definitely be sticking with the one DD.

I grew up as one of four children and I think we were a big family. So yes, for me, four dc is a big family. Always thought I'd have four myself but two is enough for me!

4 is a larger family, but very much a small large family IYSWIM, 5 or 6 being a 'normal' large family and 7 plus large. 9 plus isn't large but enormous. @InterchangeableEmma This made me laugh but also yes makes utter sense to me

@AwaisKhawaja I have always found my children a blessing yes :) Very happy with the size of family we have. I find it amusing when I am told we have a large family as to me I do not feel it is.

On the other forum They are agreeing 6-7 + is a large family.. Here it seems 3 + is a large one. Funny how perspective changes.

I have four and get lots of "gosh you've got your hands full!" type comments. I've also been asked if they all have the same dad which is rather rude. The thing is though that while some people look and think they couldn't possibly manage four therefore I mustn't be managing either, I'm actually doing alright because this is my normal. My favourite comments are from people who also had four, I get a lot of older people telling me how lovely it is to see me out with them and that it reminds them of when they had their own little ones.

I think 4 is the very top end of normal then 5+ is a large family.

3 kids or more

Haha I didn't know that you can get six seater cars, so I'm revising my statement to if you can't get everyone in a standard five seater then you have a large family.

We have 5. I don't see us as a large family.