Let's hear it for large families

[christie1]

I had my fifth baby this year and if I hear one more time "I don't know how you do it" or a look of horror on faces of other mothers, I will scream. I know they don't get why I want lots of kids. I don't get why anyone just wants only one but I keep my judgements to myself. Any other mums out there relate?

Queen eagle

dose the sex ban realy work i love mn such fab advise dont know how i have ever managed with out you all dont think dh will agree when i try and put ya advise into practice

Marmar, it worked a bloomin' treat! Even though it nearly sent me mad with frustration! Actually it coincided with AF so 4 days of it were out of the question anyway but I didn't tell him that! I did make sure when ahem....normal relations were resumed that it was well worth his while and it wouldn't be in his best interests to stop the new man routine.....I have threatened to put my black pvc thigh length boots and fishnets in the charity shop clothes bag if he starts slacking....

This is just fab my poor dh aint gonna know whots hit him. let you know progress as it arises or not being the case

Anyone think that if you're from a big family you're more likely to have a big family?
I'm one of four and have four.

i agree with this as im one of ten. ooooh christmas is so expensive 4 me

Yep, me too marmar
as do April/May as two of my dds and 6 of my nieces have their birthdays then.

oh yeah, so you have bedroom shoes too QE??!!!!

Queen Eagle respect!!!!!!!!!!!

Just what I would do and have done! {grin] Loving your (lack of) work!!!!!

christie1

"I don't know how you do it" is meant to be an admiring comment from mums of just 1 or 2 who are seriously impressed that you can manage a large family - so maybe you should take the comment as it is intended?

However - noted, next time I see a mum of a large brood I'll wont compliment them in case they are prickly about it!

Have you ever had the comment when you are having a tough time

" Well you chose to have 4 children"

Could have poked my MIL's eyes out

I have five children, 22 months, 3, 7, 9, and 10, and used to work part-time, 3 days a week. I am currently on parental leave, but work as a clown at the weekends.

Since I have been on parental leave, I kind of miss the 'I don't know how you do it' comments. I also feel that I now have no excuse for the house being like a tip, and the garden like a wilderness.

More importantly, I now realise after reading Marslady's comments that since I stopped work, I have been much more lenient on the children, who used to have set chores as well as responsibility for their own rooms. That must be why, although I am home more I still never get everything done, much less do things like redecorate, or have a good clear out.

Well, the children are in for a shock tomorrow

I'm jealous. Too cowardly to have more than two (but kind of fancy the idea of 3 or 4)

Thanks Zaphod. I'm now gonna be hated across the country. lol

For those of you who think it is a compliment, you clearly haven't been on the receiving end of those comments from the many people who don't mean it as a compliment. Just because you are admiring doesn't mean that everyone is. It's not about being prickly, I'm pretty sure that there are comments that you hear about yourselves or your own lives that bug you cos you've heard them once too often. Trust me, I'm pretty laid back and I've heard all sorts in my time. But every so often someone pops up and try to make it your fault that they aren't up to the task they never got.

Well, certainly there is an element of 'you must be mad' implied in every 'I don't know how you do it' comment, but I have never sensed any malice. Probably it's different here in Ireland where most people my age come from VERY large families. My husband is one of eight.

Someone said to me though, that they were relieved that I gave up work, as my having so many children and working too, made it harder on everyone else.

I'm still not sure what she meant by that.