So you see a Mum with a baby in a pushchair and 3 walking young dc...

[RandomMess]

and I think how mad they are to have chosen to have 4 dcs etc

Then I go and remember that once me in that madness

Well maybe it was a multiple pregnancy? Had you thought of that?

No it's when you see a PFB in an immaculate single pram, Mum immaculate, matching change bag, no crisis packets/baby wipes/fruit shoot/twigs/leaves/odd socks in the basket and think "that used to be me"

I agree; it might be reassuring that the descent can be quick.... Met this perfect couple with an angelic PFB baby at a group; mother was matching up the sets of toys in the creche the moment they had finished being played with. Yes, putting the sets together in an active creche. I thought 'that was me once'. She thought 'that poor woman with all those chaotic children'.

The next time I saw her, only a few weeks later, PFB was in full explorer / boundary testing mode and she was expecting a multiple pregnancy.

We are now good friends.

at these stories.

It was a merely a tongue in cheek comment about how 4 young dc in a families looks more than it feels IYSWIM.

I don't feel we are a large family but it must look it, especially when they were all much younger and every day things like safely crossing a road is more of challenge

There is a mum at the toddlers drop-in that I sometimes go to with dd3 and dd4. She has three dds there and it looks crazy! I then remember that that was me this time last year, but I was also pregnant with dd4. It always looks like so many more children with other people, and I guess I now realise why random strangers often strike up conversations with me!

I have 4 children 8 weeks, 22months, 4 and 6 . In the play ground I used to see a woman with 4 children about the same ages as mine- Carrying the little one in the sling next one in the buggy other 2 one on each side hanging on the buggy and think wow what a handful!
Now that's me and I feel fine but she came up to me and said ' is that what I look like you look so burdened!'
It's definitley a case of looking worse than it is ( most of the time!).

susiey that's it

I suppose when they're yours they usually turn up one at a time and it's just one more and they kind of slot in

I'm like that imip - people constantly want to talk to you especially when you have 4 same sex. I'm back at work but DH had all the boys last week and was amazed about the chat he got off random strangers.

I love having 4 the same sex, makes life less complicated

4 boys here and then one girl! i get lots of comments, must be hard work, poor you all those boys or how do you do it etc, but most of the time its fine, today was a nightmare afternoon however and i offered my friend a few of them so i didnt kill them! she didnt take me up on the offer, but i gave them all beans on toast and then yog and fruit for dinner and got them in bed asap!

4 boys here too!! And another one on the way....7 weeks to go!! One lady in school playground came up to me the other day to say she always looks at my washing line full of clothes and feels sorry for me! Meant in a nice way so i didn't take offence (however did assure her that her pity was not needed but she could always take a basket of ironing to do!) but really I dont notice it at all. Busy/hectic/noisy/chaotic. That is just our lives and its all we know or what we're used to now should i say. Daytime is mental but i've got my quiet time now. But def can relate to the comments when we're out with all our lads! I quite like it tho

What can you say to people though, if you don't like the comments?

I have (only!) 3 boys and get really fed up of the "I really don't know how you do it with all those boys!" comments.

I don't want to go into a whole conversation about how great they all are individually and together and I love the chaos (maybe not the noise so much). I need a cutting but not rude retort.

just say, yeah Im a great believer in darwins survival of the fittest that should put their gas at a peep

i just roll my eyes or give them a look and say actually they are pretty good on the whole! i really love my gang of boys! i dont think people mean to be rude or annoying, they are trying to make conversation i guess?

I love that msrantsalot I have just PFB for the moment but want to have a large family one day, there is something about a busy house that really makes it a home in my mind, but then when they all leave home I'll have to get tons of budgies,cats, and dogs to fill the space!!

4 boys also and expecting dc5 in dec! I'm happy with the well meaning comments but someone did once say 'oh I bet your so disappointed he wasnt a girl'

I have 2 dc and I look at mums with more and just envy them because they usually seem so much more chilled and relaxed than me!!! because they are better mothers

God, I only have two (but am very, very preg with third - yeah!) and get loads of comments of the was it planned/you'll be busy/etc etc variety! Today met a woman with PFB and was eagerly showing the lovely, gorgeous baby to my DC and saying 'how lovely/we're having another one soon!' and just got this really puzzled stare (mind you, she was three weeks postpartum, so I'm putting it down to the new baby haze....)

Since when was three a large family?

My one-child friends are amazed that people stop to chat about the kids all the time, lolly. I do get sick of people feeling sorry for dh. That is almost daily, drives me nuts.

How's no, lolly (hijack, sorry)

I am a bit about those expecting dc5 but my time is done....

NZ grrr to autocorrect

NZ all good. Darkest winter here but about 17 degrees here and glaring sun. Started work so it's full on especially as ds4 up at 5am sometimes. Full time which is but nice to get some freedom. I feel it's alot more chilled here - less stressy. Kids easier to manage as more space, less cars, more parking etc. They are all up for the no shoes thing too.

Oh reading this thread I'm a bit of all of you with 4 boys! I have 3 and we're hoping for another at some point (boy or girl)

Whenever I get those kinds of comments I just smile and say it's good fun (which it normally is!)

Glad it's all going well lolly, despite the full time work...

Ha ha I see I made a comment on this thread in 2013

I have three at school now and the baby goes this year the number of people who ask me what I'm going to do with myself and I should have another is frightening. I wonder if mums of two get the same thing, I'm 40 this year, DP has been neutered so there will no no more four was enough for me. I do something get when I think there's no more babies but loving the ages they are now.

I commented on this too! I read the title and thought, "that feels like me all the time"...

Now however, even 2 kids close together makes me think how hard it is. I have an 8, 6, 4 and 3yo now - not as if that's easy!