AMA I'm one of 9 (all full siblings), DH one of 11

[iwanttobeonleave]

Just that really...

Where did you come in the order? Did the eldest help a lot and did they mind?

Did you enjoy growing up together?

Also do you do a secret Santa for both your siblings at Christmas or start shopping in good time and buy everyone a present!

I was 6th of the 9. Husband is 5th of 11.

My childhood was not a happy one unfortunately. It was chaotic and traumatic at times.

Yes we did do secret Santa a few times as young adults but not now we all have our own families.

@TillyDevon

Where did you come in the order? Did the eldest help a lot and did they mind?

Did you enjoy growing up together?

Yes the eldest carried a lot of responsibility. It was not fair at all on them.

Do you have children? How many do you have? How did your childhood inform your work, adult relationships and family?

Do you know why your parents and husbands parents had so many children?

Why do you think your parents had so many children? Did they crave a large family, or just slack on contraception.

I wanted 5 myself, but ended up with 3. I watch Our Yorkshire Farm and do feel quite envious of Amanda having a large, amazing family!

That is the exact same sizes as my parents. Are you my Mum

@ThroughThickAndThin01

Why do you think your parents had so many children? Did they crave a large family, or just slack on contraception.

I wanted 5 myself, but ended up with 3. I watch Our Yorkshire Farm and do feel quite envious of Amanda having a large, amazing family!

My mother was an only child. My father had narcissistic traits so it probably stoked his ego thinking he was so prolific.

Did you ever get quality alone time with your mum and dad?

@Muttly

That is the exact same sizes as my parents. Are you my Mum

My kids are primary school age and asleep so I think not!

How many kids do you have/ are planning to have?

@CuteGirlsWatchMeEatEther

Did you ever get quality alone time with your mum and dad?

No, but I wouldn't want it either.

I find it very uncomfortable being alone with either one of them.

I don't think I'd ever want to be alone with them when I was a child. They both made me feel very uneasy.

@Aimee1987

How many kids do you have/ are planning to have?

3 children. They're my world!

Sounds crap.

Are you close to any of your siblings?

Do you think about the environmental impact having so many children has?

@Notanotherusernamenow

Do you have children? How many do you have? How did your childhood inform your work, adult relationships and family?

Coming from a large family made be extremely independent, self reliant, I can't bear conflict so quite a people pleaser. Due to lack of positive support I had to carve my own way and I've been pretty successful, professionally.

Wow. How many nieces and nephews do you have between you?

Have any of your siblings decided to have loads of kids? Have any decided to have none?

Did your DH have a more positive experience? I’m so sorry yours sounded hard.

What sort of meals did you eat and was there enough ?

Ooh interesting. Did any of your/your husband's siblings go on to have a very large family?

Was your home very overcrowded?

@TillyDevon

Did your DH have a more positive experience? I’m so sorry yours sounded hard.

What sort of meals did you eat and was there enough ?

Yes, he had a much better experience. Although he barely sees any siblings now and is not close to his parents. There was no physical or emotional abuse in his family but they were pretty poor.

Food was pretty dreadful - as it tended to be in the 70s and 80s. Generally there was enough but not lots.

What’s your view on people having an only child through choice?

@Oodlesofdoodlescockapoodles

Ooh interesting. Did any of your/your husband's siblings go on to have a very large family?

No - one has 4 but that's the biggest. A few won't have any. Most have 2 I'd say.