Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Larger families

Find out all about large family cars, holidays and more right here.

Flip

1 2 3 4

Original poster

Is the no. of children you want related to the size of family you come from?

76 replies

hotpotmama · 27/10/2008 21:26

I don't know but am guessing so. Have 3, am one of 4, and still feel there's one missing.

Is this because 4 seems more normal to me because thats what I grew up with or is it just because I am a hormonal woman and would still feel like I wanted another even if I had 5 or 6 (not planning on that!)

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

struwellpeter · 31/10/2008 22:34

Dh and I are both from families of two. He just wanted two but I persuaded him to have number 3, then he persuaded me to have number 4. Our families were horrified thinking of all the practicalities and cost I suppose. But we don't regret it. Thinking back I always enjoyed stories with lots of siblings and my mother always considered herself one of four even though two of her sisters died in infancy, so I think I'd always liked the idea.

It can be hard to find time to give individual attention, but I think the sooner mine learn that the world doesn't revolve just around them the better. They can play really well together but they do rub each other up the wrong way and bicker. I am hoping that all these years of me telling them to be more tolerant of each other will turn them into lovely thoughtful adults....

Interestingly my eldest says there is no way he'd want more than two. My youngest says he'd like lots and my second son says none at all! Wonder how many grandchildren we will end up with.

Our own siblings have so far been very slow to produce cousins for our children. The first was born this year, so we felt even more justified in having a bigger family.

lactator · 04/11/2008 21:50

I am an only child and hated it - I craved siblings. I have five children.

honeydew · 05/11/2008 23:21

I am an only child and have three -all under 5! I hated being alone too and so had my bunch!

SexyDomesticatedDad · 21/11/2008 11:41

Both DW & I are from families with 4 DCs - we also have 4 boys now and no more. My two dbs have no DCs and only sister has 1. DW family, sis has none, other two dbs have b&g each.

zaphod · 21/11/2008 11:44

I'm one of three, but have five. Dh is one of eight, but I'm the one who wanted the large family, he would have stopped at three I think.

TeenyTinyTorya · 21/11/2008 11:51

I'm the oldest of 6 and would like 4-6. Dh is one of 2, and would like 2 maximum. We'll see who wins lol!

Pinkjenny · 21/11/2008 11:53

Without a doubt. I am an only one and I am determined that dd will not be an only child. Although I've never felt hugely disadvantaged, I really want to experience siblings in my own family.

blueshoes · 21/11/2008 12:47

I am one of 3.

I have never been keen on babies but once I had dd, I did not want her to be an only if possible. So despite dd being a very difficult child, my advancing age and the increased cost and hassle, I managed to eek ds out.

I am happy with 2. The minimum which satisfies dh and I and my dcs.

idlingabout · 21/11/2008 12:51

I think it is very likely (and judging from some posts) that only children could decide to have more than one child as they might feel they would have liked siblings. However, people coming from a family with siblings are more likely to be influenced by how well they got in with their siblings and also their position in the family ie first-born / youngest etc.
I never wanted children and finally gave in to pressure from DP on proviso we had only one.We are both from families with 3 children. As the first-born in my family I never really got on with one of my siblings and other was alot younger than me. Subsequently, I never saw siblings as a huge benefit. DP was a middle child and felt far more benefit.
I actually think that alot of first-borns would prefer to have been only children.

AnAngelWithin · 21/11/2008 13:02

i am one of 2. spent 3 years living elsewhere without my sister so an only child really. that combined with the abuse i suffered and being the outcast in the family while i was actually in the same house as her.... I have 4 children between ages of 2 and 9. I want more.

IllegallyBrunette · 21/11/2008 13:04

I am one of 3, with a younger and elder brother.

I wanted 4, I have 3.

sb6699 · 21/11/2008 13:41

I am one of 3 but also have 3 step-siblings as well. DH is one of 2.

We agreed to stop at 2 but were gifted with another and love having 3. But now dh has decided he wants 4!

thequietone · 21/11/2008 13:42

Absolutely. DH is one of three. We have two and he wants another. I don't. I'm one of two. We're at loggerheads (in a humorous way so far) about another baby.

misscutandstick · 22/11/2008 13:15

im the youngest of 2, but loathe him

I was a very lonely child. Im a VERY VERY broody person - so is my husband (also the youngest of 2, loathes his sis).

We have 5 sons. and ding ding we're done. except of course if the stork got lost or flew off coarse and landed at our house there will ALWAYs be room if thats what fate decides....

ilovetochat · 22/11/2008 13:19

i'm an only and want 2, have 1 at moment. dp is 1 of 3 and wants 2 or 3.

whonickedmynickname · 19/12/2008 10:07

i'm one of 9 - and the eldest. I love the idea of the massive family and all those siblings but wish i wasn't the eldest. Its terribly hard being the eldest and i hate it. I would LOVE to have 5 myself but I worry about my eldest DC - how will he feel if more and more children keep turning up!

I currently have 2. DH is middle of 3 siblings - is very laid back about 1,2 or 3 children but wouldn't want any more than 3 - he thinks my family suffers being so large

lilLAURAand4poorlykids · 27/12/2008 09:49

hi all im one of 7 and have 4 and stopping at 4,
i also came from a really crap background and upbringing , and Know that i can do better than my parents did i would love to have more but NEVER EVER want to be pregnant or give birth again so we have decided we are happy at stopping with 4

i do think that it has some effect on how many you have one way or another my younger siblings say they dont want any cause they dont want many and my older siblings want tons

PeachyBidsYouNadoligLlawen · 27/12/2008 10:28

Dad- one of 16, has 3 (and had to beg Mum for last one- even though Mum was pg before they could start trying, happy accident LOL)

Us- 4

DH- one of 2, me one of 3

SparklyGothKat · 27/12/2008 10:39

am 1 of 4, and dh is 1 of 4 too. we have 4, ranging from 11 years to 1 year. Would like another thought I was finished after dd2 (who is 7) but then I fell pregnant and miscarriaged at 6 weeks, so we had Ds2.

kittywise · 27/12/2008 10:43

I'm an only, so is dp we have 6 and I'd love more. I hated being an only.

jenkel · 27/12/2008 10:45

I am an only and dh has a sister 13 years younger, they are not close at all.

I have 2 and we will probably stay at 2, they are close in age (18 months) and are very close and best friends, I look at them in wonder and would love to have had a relationship like that when I was younger.

MrsMattie · 27/12/2008 10:46

For me, yes. I am one of two, have two and won't be having any more.

ukpluvver · 30/12/2008 10:53

I have 4 kids and I only have 1 sister and So does DH. I feel I have 2 kids missing but I stopped having any due to economic pressure

mummyflood · 01/01/2009 12:36

I am an only, DH is one of 6. Decided we wanted 2, have 2 lovely DS's. DH has NEVER wanted any more, I only stopped being broody approx 12 months ago, DS's are 15 and 13!

mamaof4kids · 01/01/2009 13:00

I had 1 brother and 1 sister but Dh was one of 7, always knew we wanted 4

Flip

1 2 3 4

Swipe left for the next trending thread