Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think that larger families should be classed as 4 dcs or more?

77 replies

notnagging · 03/12/2012 09:03

The larger families thread is meant to be for families with alot of children. I have bookmarked it as a favourite topic but it seems mostly about going from 1-2 or 2-3. It's all people asking advice. 3 children is not a large family, I have 5 which I don't particularly see as large, 15 is large. The amount of times I've heard '5?! I can't cope with 2'. That doesn't need to be repeated over and over on a larger families forum.

OP posts:
SPsFanjoIsSantasLittleHoHoHo · 03/12/2012 09:07

My mum has 7. That's quite large Grin

devilishmangerdanger · 03/12/2012 09:07

I agree, I have never ventured on the board as I feel 6 is not enough, might take a peek now lol

devilishmangerdanger · 03/12/2012 09:09

DH is one of ten. My dad is one of eight. My grandad was one of thirteen. My sil's DH is one of 16.

TrillsCarolsOutOfTune · 03/12/2012 09:11

Maybe people who have two and are thinking about having a third would like advice from people who have more children. (if so I'd assume that they want to be told that having 3 is easy peasy and they should definitely do it :) )

YABU to say that you think people shouldn't be able to post on a section because they don't fit your criteria.

notnagging · 03/12/2012 09:12

I wouldn't bother devilish. It's only people asking for advice on how to cope with 2, trying for number 3 or how many car seats fit into an estate. I always start reading with hope then realise again it is not posted by a mumsnetter with a large family.

OP posts:
5dcsinneedofacleaner · 03/12/2012 09:13

I agree I dont go on the larger families board because most of the threads seem to be about "should I have dc2/3/4 etc" which I just want to say "seriously you expect US to tell you?!?"

TrillsCarolsOutOfTune · 03/12/2012 09:13

Also please bear in mind that many posters use "Active Conversations" or "Last 15 minutes" rather than browsing via the sections, so if a thread comes up with an interesting-looking title they may click it without worrying about what section it is in.

(this applies to replying to threads, not starting them)

SPsFanjoIsSantasLittleHoHoHo · 03/12/2012 09:14

I'm technically the oldest of ten as my sperm donor went on to have 3 after leaving my mum.

My mum is the youngest of 10.

I haven't really seen large family posts on here.

notnagging · 03/12/2012 09:16

Yes I know IABU but I would love to go on there and get some advice for once rather then giving it. People wouldn't do that on the other specialised forums. But I am constantly asked how I cope in rl as well!

OP posts:
libelulle · 03/12/2012 09:18

I think you sound like you're boasting and you really want the board to be a competition about how many kids you can cope with while still saying 'oh haha you can't cope with 6? try 10'. How bloody pointless. To me, 3 is a big family in terms of the logistics of modern life (yes, cars to start with). And how patronising and unpleasant you sound with your 'only people asking for advice about how many car seats fit into an estate'.

VisualiseAHorse · 03/12/2012 09:18

I'm one of 7, plus I have another half-brother and two step-sisters. I'd say that was a big family.

My step-dad is one of 7, and I think his dad is one of 12!

honeytea · 03/12/2012 09:19

But 3 children is a larger than average family.

devilishmangerdanger · 03/12/2012 09:20

top trumps........so far my sil's DH family have done it lol

5dcsinneedofacleaner · 03/12/2012 09:21

It is a shame because MN as a whole is quite hostile to larger families in my experience !. I asked to have a post removed once (under an old username) because I posted that I had had a really hard day and the level of hatred, swearing and criticism directed towards me because apparently I clearly wasnt coping (it was one bad day) and I shouldnt have had so many children was massive.

D0G · 03/12/2012 09:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

devilishmangerdanger · 03/12/2012 09:25

but 4 kids, mam and dad, how do you fit them in an estate with car seats?

libelulle · 03/12/2012 09:30

well I don't see what you mean D0G, no - 4 IS a large family, even though it wasn't 100 years ago. Why on earth not post there if you want support with something to do with your family logistics or dynamics? Is the oneupmanship that bad?

MissCellania · 03/12/2012 09:37

LargER families, not LARGE. So larger than the average, which is what, 2?

So 3 or 4 is larger.

notnagging · 03/12/2012 10:10

Libelulle there's nothing I need to say to you

OP posts:
notnagging · 03/12/2012 10:14

My point is people with larger families have said they are put off posting in there which is a shame. It's not about boasting. There is no one in rl who would call me mean or nasty. So I don't know how that conclusion was madeHmm

OP posts:
Aboutlastnight · 03/12/2012 10:15

I have three and find some advice on the larger families thread quite useful.

I could 't give a monkey's how many children the other posters have...it's not like you get a medal for having 6 kids

Annunziata · 03/12/2012 10:19

3 is quite large nowadays though.

DH only has 3 siblings, I used to think it was such a small family!

15 though. Jesus. 6 is enough for me. I'm one of 8 though.

ChippingInLovesAutumn · 03/12/2012 10:23

It puts people off posting? Really? Then you need to look at yourself - not others.

Fifis25StottieCakes · 03/12/2012 10:23

My family feels large but is deffo not, 3 dd's although they fight so much i feel like i have got 10 kids.
Im frequently seen pulling my hair out and cursing in the toilet.
I would not cope with anymore than 3 kids and would get sterelised if they would let me. I go to great length's to make sure i do not get pregnant
DC4 would be a disaster.

YuleBritannia · 03/12/2012 10:24

No wonder this country is becoming overpopulated.

Swipe left for the next trending thread