To wonder how anyone..

[Smartiepants79]

.. With more than 3 or 4 children copes?
Where do you find the time, energy, patience, money etc. etc.
Just watching 16 kids and counting and can't imagine how you manage with such a large family.

I agree! I have one Dd and although I always wanted one more I think I would be a wreck with even 3 or 4. I think people that cope with large families like this must be a different species! I admire them very much.

I have 4 dc, dh would love another one but I couldn't cope. As it is I find it hard to spend one on one time with them, but its not impossible, it would be with any more than 4 though. I can't even comprehend how they cope with 16 children.

I don't always admire them

Fine if the parents are doing all the childcare, but all too often the older kids have to feed, wash, help dress their younger siblings before being able to get themselves ready for school...sometimes they can't even play out with their mates without having to take full responsibility for siblings too.

This is how it was for my cousins (a family of 7) and for a lot of large families I went to school with.

If the parents want lots of children that's great, but I don't like seeing older kids turned into mini parents because of it.

I have 3 with a big gap between no.2 and no.3 ( 10 years) and couldn't cope with anymore. Massive numbers like 16 - I just can't imagine ever getting out of the house with all the laundry and babies needing feeding etc!!!