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Original poster

What is it like having lots of siblings?

69 replies

Charlavail · 04/11/2022 09:17

Inspired by thinking about Nick Cannon having child number 11 on the way and rumoured to have another baby due as well. That means he will have 12 babies, 10 of which were born within the last 3 years. I don't think he will stop at 12 either.
Surely he can't be an attentive father to all of them? I feel stretched between 2 DC. I wonder if he will just throw money at them.

OP posts:
Hooverphobe · 04/11/2022 09:19

A friend is 1 of 9. They raised themselves - had they had NC’s cash I’m sure it would’ve been different.

erikbloodaxe · 04/11/2022 09:36

It's shit tbh.

CookPassBabtridge · 04/11/2022 09:57

Yeah we're a 2 parent 2 kid family and attention wise can't imagine even stretching ourselves between 3.

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Families
MargaretThursday · 04/11/2022 10:21

I think it does depend.

I know one family of 8, who say they had a fantastic childhood, and seem very close. However I notice that of them, one has 2 children, two have one and the others have (they say, obviously I don't know if that's the whole truth) chosen to remain child free.

I know families (I'm talking about 5+ children) that loved it because there were always lots of people around. And families that hated it because they never got time to themselves. And families for whom some loved it, and some hated it. Actually thinking about the last section in both cases the older two hated it and the younger ones loved it. They did have to do a lot for the younger ones I suppose, which may have effected their feelings.

A lot depends on the parents and the personalities involved.

DebbieDoesDoughnuts · 04/11/2022 10:24

I’m the youngest of 7. Has its ups and downs but generally love having siblings and we all get along, with some of us closer than others. It’s nice having that network of people.

I think Nick Cannon is a disgusting fool.

awakenme · 04/11/2022 10:26

I'm one of 6. It's not ideal. Parents are stretched on every resource including time. No we are grown up it's nice and luckily we all get on well but I can't imagine doing it in today's world unless I was rich.

Sarahcoggles · 04/11/2022 10:28

I remember chatting to a school mum who had 6 kids, about kids birthday parties. She said that without exception, when asked what they wanted to do for their birthdays (and offered party options etc) her kids chose to have a one-to-one day with their Mum. So I'm guessing they felt a lack of that in their lives, and it was an annual treat for them.

totallyaddictedtocheese · 04/11/2022 10:30

I grew up with lots of siblings and most of the time I enjoyed it because there was always something going on or someone to play with. It had its downfalls though because your toys were never your own and would frequently get broken or lost. It was rare to get clothes that weren't hand me downs too. My sister was a difficult child so my mum was regularly so busy with her that she missed things going on with the rest of us. Despite all of that though I'm glad i grew up in such a large family.

PauliString · 04/11/2022 10:30

Right now, with elderly parents, I must say I'm appreciating having multiple siblings to spread the load. DH is stretched very thin for his.

slug · 04/11/2022 10:35

I'm one of 11. I remember as a child and a teenager being a bit embarrassed at my friends houses when they interacted with their parents. The unspoken rule in our household was you don't bother the parents, they're busy.

On the plus side, when it came to have a baby of my own, NOTHING came as a surprise. I could competently change, bathe and burp a baby before I was 7.

On the minus side, we raised ourselves. I've always felt sorry for my eldest sister who bore the brunt of childrearing before she was 16. None of us have wanted to replicate the experience. We al have small families.

SpinningFloppa · 04/11/2022 10:39

I am one of 6, I had a happy childhood don’t remember feeling sad but then my sister has one and he is sad he never had a sibling. I have 4 myself now and my kids have never asked to have a 1:1 day with me on their birthday 🤣🤣🤣

roxisolerenshaw · 04/11/2022 11:10

I'm one of 6 and hated it as I child. As adults we've all had small families ourselves.

xogossipgirlxo · 04/11/2022 11:16

My friend had 7 siblings and as PPs said, they raised themselves. Also, very tight budget, my friend was working every summer since she was 13 to have money for some nice stuff like new trainers, or necessary stuff like braces. They relied on food banks etc.

Lastqueenofscotland2 · 04/11/2022 11:22

a close friend from school was one of 8. Hated it, financially they were catered for but not emotionally. All of them suffer from moderate to severe MH issues now.

HelenWick · 04/11/2022 11:25

Cannons children are fraternal half siblings and he is unlikely to make the time/effort to raise them as siblings. He's an utter imbecile.
I'm one of many and it's mixed. I am very very close to my youngest siblings, but not the older ones. I'm the only girl. The boys are like a pack, all very close and interdependent. A clan. They're lovely but very loud!

timeandagain1 · 04/11/2022 11:53

Hated it, house was too chaotic. Now as an adult they are happy to leave all care for elderly parents to me as the only daughter. Also as adults means there are numerous in-laws (and multiple divorces) which can lead to more conflict as not everyone can get on with everyone (or even pretend too seemingly). A pain basically but this could be due to our poor parenting and siblings being arseholes.

Ghostlight · 04/11/2022 12:36

I am one of 7, its alright, we came in two 'batches' so three of us older ones, a six year gap then four more children within 5 years.

As adults we are all very close, we have all got (smaller) families of our own so our children all have lots of cousins and generally its like having a big close friendship group that have been around for our whole lives. I don't think I have ever been lonely.
Even though we did a lot of raising ourselves and each other, so had to grow up quick- things like christmas are more fun with children and there has never not been at least a few little children around.
Anything I couldn't talk to my mum about- I had older siblings for- they picked me up from house parties when I was tipsy and taught me to do eyeliner and there was always someone around for a chat or to go somewhere with. I did the same for my younger siblings, and my younger brothers girlfriends.
My children have their pick of aunties and uncles and cousins to confide in and play with, they have built in friends.

There are downsides like having no money and not having as much time with my parents, feeling like you are part of a group and never getting to be an individual and bunk beds until you leave home.

I know that I would never have that many kids, but I think I can give mine the positive parts of it through having that close knit massive family around that my parents made for us.
And I can give them that small family attention and space within our home. So not something I will do but I am grateful for it.

freyamay74 · 04/11/2022 13:10

Dh is one of 5 so not a huge family but bigger than average. He says it was fine. They were all close in age (born within 7 years!) so it was a busy household but he was never short of playmates and they all grew up together.

In contrast, a friend of mine was one of 6. Her mum had her and her 2 brothers, then about ten years later had 2 more kids and then when the youngest of those started school there was a final 'last chance' baby! My friend as the eldest resented having to mind the younger ones and help out and she feels her mum was quite selfish in just wanting more babies to do the baby stage again. She says the middle and younger ones in the family seemed to get a better deal but she really feels she missed out

User2145738790 · 04/11/2022 13:41

Nick Cannon needs institutionalised.

Ingrainedagainstthegrain · 04/11/2022 13:46

Lots of parents don't make themselves available adequately to a couple of kids. Others devote themselves to a couple or more. I agree that twelve in three years is ridiculous. But big families are not necessarily bad.

Ingrainedagainstthegrain · 04/11/2022 13:48

Most of us resent our parents for something don't we. Big families is a convenient reason. I'm not sure lots of those people would have found their parents more attentive if there had been fewer of them and I don't have a problem with older children developing nurturing skills and responsibility by helping. It's far better to take your little brother to the park with a football than sit on tictok.

AuldWan · 04/11/2022 13:53

Fifth of six here, loved it. All very close still. I think there isn't a fixed answer, varies from family to family, just like it does for only child families. But the older I get the more I value my siblings.

Cats23 · 04/11/2022 14:08

Im the eldest of 4.
My parents married young and by age 22, my Mother had A 4yr old, 2 yr old and twins, my father worked away.
My mother was a SAHM and we all had plenty of attention equally.
We all get on well ,though a few issues in he last few years have seen me step back a bit from my parents & 1 sibling but still overall fine.
I have 5x Dc myself and hopefully I give my Dc the attention my DM gave me

Chloefairydust · 04/11/2022 14:11

Ugh Nick Cannon needs to start wrapping it up or get the snip or something… WTF is wrong with that man?? 😬… Must be some sort of gross breeding fetish he has🤢

And I seriously doubt he is a good father to all those children.

schnubbins · 04/11/2022 14:27

My cousins are a family of 11 with 15 years between the first and the last child . There was always enough money so they didn't starve but meal times were survival of the fittest and treats were demolished within seconds .There was no attention paid to any of the younger ones when they were babies so for me as a young girl that was hard to witness .I still think about it and know that my younger cousins know how neglected they were .We talk about it now and they are all doing ok but it was wrong on all fronts to have so many children .My aunt could not cope but it was all brushed under the carpet.