Those from large families

[CareBear17]

How was your childhood? Do you get on with siblings as adults? Do you wish you’d had less siblings?

We have 4, I’d love one more but feel I’ve read so much negativity around big families that I worry it’s detrimental to them. To the point that the last few days I’ve even started feeling guilty about having 4 (though of course I wouldn’t change it! I love them all and our little life). I’m just a chronic overthinker and let these things get in my head

I'm one of six and have five myself. I had a happy childhood but our mother died before I (3rd) left school. I think it helped that there were a few of us as we looked after each other. As adults we aren't close though. We are all very different people though so don't really have much in common.
Mine now are aged from almost 40 to early 20s, they are all close and happily spend time together and would always help each other out.

I’m the youngest of 6. Wouldn’t change anything for the world, absolutely love my siblings and had a magical childhood all playing together. I always wanted to have 4 myself, but we only have 2 and so feel our family is incomplete. I don’t understand why people think 3 children is a large family these days!!

I think there are pros and cons to all sizes of families. As you can see from these responses.

However, if I had 4 happy, healthy kids, I would not risk rolling the dice a fifth time.

I would just be happy with what I had.

Secondhand but my mum is in her 70s and still scarred by growing up as one of several. The noise, the chaos, the lack of attention, fighting over the best food and the best toys.

I’m the middle in 7. Never had any alone time with either parent but I didn’t know any different. We had a great time playing with other. Had a lot of fights and money was very tight. we’ve all done well & are all close as adults. I hated my teenage years as use to long for some quiet

I’m one of 4. It was OK - we had less of the things that mattered a lot when I was a teenager (fashionable clothes, holidays, treats etc) than most of my contemporaries and we did fight a lot but I didn’t feel deprived of parental love or anything.

I left for uni at 18 with a sense of relief at setting off on a new path unencumbered by my predetermined role in the family (bossy big sister).

I’m not particularly close to any of my siblings, but we get on fine, and in practical terms, it’s been a big plus to be able to share responsibility for ageing parents.

I'm 1 of 7 and I have 5 and a foster daughter. My brother also has 5 and a foster daughter. I suspect that means that we liked being in large families and were keen to have our own. We do prioritise monthly 1-2-1 time with our kids. That means popping to costa or something for a chat and some individual attention. They are only young and think its a real treat!