Big Family Values:More kids than cash

[Huskylover1]

WTAF? Why do people have so many kids? It looks SO stressful. And why is the single mum of 7 home schooling? I just can't get my head around this absolute mayhem. When is her downtime? She looks after the kids by day, and works on-line at night. It looks like fresh hell. Personally, I've had 2 kids, and when they were young, it felt like hard work. I can't imagine another 5 or 6 on top! Mine are at Uni now, so I'm sitting here alone, supping wine and grimacing at this programme. I'm only in my 40's too, surely these people will have kids at home when they are 70?

The Mormon lady seems incredibly calm & relaxed, how?!

Ooh when is this on please?

It's my worst nightmare all the noise and mess and washing. All the food shopping, cooking etc. They all seem happy but I don't think I could live like that.

The family who have moved to Kent seem really relaxed too. Where am I going wrong?

As long as the country isn't supporting them they can have 15 for all I care!

Lord Channel 5/Channel 5+1

Thanks v much :)

I'd have liked more, but at what point must do you stop if you can afford it and enjoy it? I always think the mums of big families will feel very old quite young, and I say that kindly

My heart rate is increasing as the programme goes on...maybe it's the wine....

I mean, when do these adults get any "me" time? Our kids are now 20 & 19 years old.... me and DH are mid 40's and now finally doing some lovely adult stuff, like mini city breaks and hot holidays in winter....the people on this programme will be still parenting in their 60's/70's. Oh god, and the guy who keeps going on about his "super sperm"...eew, but you are fat and ugly! Yuk!

Did anyone else notice in episode 1 how, when the Dad of the family of 10 was driving the Mum to her cleaning job, the young kids did not appear to have car seats?

I did wonder how they would afford car seats...

They also seemed to have parked in a space on the beach front and then were sat with the car doors open feeding the baby, taking up the next space and got annoyed when another car wanted to park in the neighbour space.

Corinne seemed like a very hard working lady. I hope my kids seem as over the moon about each others achievements as her kids were.

Hats off to them all I suppose though as I find 2 DCs bloody hard work!

Maybe they don't need/want "me time"?

I don’t have a big family but we definitely do city breaks and hot winter holidays with our two.

The kids are so grateful and cooperative! My two have the moon on a stick and I don't think they have ever acknowledged the cost or stress of arranging anything. It just happens for them. I'm obviously doing something wrong!!!

I agree Corine is an amazing inspiration. Her kids are a credit to her.

I think there is something in the thought that the more you have the more relaxed about it you are. I've four very young ones and the stresses I felt with one and less so with two are a distant memory. Down time is also fine you just tell the kids you want some time by yourself whatever and they play with each other. They do not constantly demand attention like having just one did. Routine helps but in our house it's quite relaxed as in as long as kids are fed and well everything else is ok, that said I will not be having a 5th.

We HE and know a few families like this - they have lots of free time as the older kids look after the younger ones and they are strict about everyone doing chores.

They are also normally organised and spend time organising and planning their homes and life's to minimise the work.

It is a different life to most people's but an amazingly fulfilled one.