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Original poster

Who has four or more children?

119 replies

Lonelymum · 26/09/2004 19:06

I was just wondering as I have four and alot of mumsnetters seem to gasp when they read that and ask how I manage and yet I come across a few other mumsnetters who also have four (or five) children. So I would like to know who is as crazy/besotted as I am and who is more so? Also, who has the most children? You can qualify if some of your children are step-children!

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Aero · 27/09/2004 14:36

Am surprised as your dh didn't want the cats - much easier than another baby - truly!! Part of me would like another one, a sister for dd would be nice, but imagine her having to put up with three brothers! She'd then be on my back to have another try for a girl, and I know my luck - no guarantees in the 'what sex' dept. In all honesty though, the first six months with ds2 were verrrrry difficult, and the thought of doing it all again scares the pants off me!!
Aero rushes off to put her pant firmly back on!! And there they'll stay!

Aero · 27/09/2004 14:37

that's 'pants'

nutcracker · 27/09/2004 14:40

Hehehehehehe Aero

I just don't think this feeling of wanting another is ever going to go away. It makes me feel so sad to think i'll never be pregnant again or have another baby.

Quite selfish i suppose as some people would be so grateful for just one, but there you go.

It's werid how it effects you. I have started to avoid pregnant ladies and new borns where at all possible.

I worry too much about other peoples reactions too. If i knew everyone else would be happy for me then i would be pregnant now.

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Catan · 27/09/2004 14:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Aero · 27/09/2004 14:44

Wow Catan! Am impressed! Nutty - this could happen to you!!!! Have to go now to do the school run and remind myself why I shouldn't 'plan' another.

maddiemo · 27/09/2004 15:28

I have four 11, 8, 6 and 2. Also have two step children, who are grown up but appear to be perpetual students.

Nutty somehow you will probably make ends meet if you have four. The biggest problem I find is lack of time. I never really feel that mine get enough individual attention.
The plus side is that they do stick together and are more mature and understanding than their peers.

MarmaladeSun · 27/09/2004 16:56

Am tempted to make it an even number though . Think 6 is too much?????

Original poster
Lonelymum · 27/09/2004 20:40

Don't know what car (if any) you drive MarmaladeSun but ours only has seating for seven so five is the most munber of children I could have from that point of view. Still I notice from your children's ages that they seemed to come in batches of two so perhaps you should go for it!

OP posts:
jmb1964 · 28/09/2004 00:45

We have four, girl boy girl boy ages 8,7, 3.5 and 2.5. Yes very hard work, yes very expensive, and yes I do sometimes regret the decision to have a fourth. Lou you are NOT a lone voice! But the little ones for the moment play beautifully together and will I hope always be close. Ds1 has Aspergers, dds OK, fingers crossed for ds2... Can report that the urge to go on having babies has well and truly gone away - I too feared it might be there forever and I would end up persuading dh to have the 99th

KateandtheGirls · 28/09/2004 00:52

I have met Ameriscot's 4 oldest children, and they are lovely!

wizzysmum · 28/09/2004 00:57

Had number 4 after a 7 year gap - mine are 10, 8, 7 and 8months. Number 4 is a dream. I certainly feel less frazzled than when I had three kids under 3. (Not bad planning - ds2 is a single surviving twin after her sister died at 24hrs of left heart hypoplasty so we wanted to get on and try for another one straight away.)
However as DS works away from home I do have lots of frazzled moments, the house is often messy and holidays cost a fortune but I wouldn't change the baby for the world - although she wasn't planned she's completed the family and makes me smile every morning (just before I grow horns and turn into Hell Mum to get everyone off to school...

jmb1964 · 28/09/2004 00:59

Forgot to add a quick plug (ugly) for the Fiat Multipla - 6 seats and a proper-sized boot.

Ameriscot2004 · 28/09/2004 08:32

Thanks Kate!

lou33 · 28/09/2004 08:51

Jmb, can I ask a quickie about the multipla? Whereabouts do you sit the children? Who sits in the front middle seat etc? Just interested for us, as later on we will be looking at cars through the mobility scheme (my youngest has cp and is in a wheelchair). Does the oldest or the youngest go there?

shirley4d · 28/09/2004 09:49

I think I qualify to join you all,I have 7 biological kids and custody of my husbands 3! The last two of mine are only 10 months apart but that was an oops!!! It'll be nice to hear from you all.

misdee · 28/09/2004 09:54

currently only pregant with #3 but would love a larger family. but think we'd run out of space in the home. maybe if i convert the lofts............

ggglimpopo · 28/09/2004 09:56

Message withdrawn

tabitha · 28/09/2004 10:26

re cars, we currently have a Vauxhall Astra so we can't all fit in it so usually if we go anywhere dd1 doesn't come. When we went on holiday to Centre Parcs in the summer, dh and ds went by train. Dd1 brought a friend and it was still a tremendous crush fitting in all our luggage.
However, I am (fingers crossed) hoping that my work will let me change cars to a Multipla (or Mulatto as my dh calls it) so good to hear positive things about it.

shirley4d · 28/09/2004 10:40

We have a minibus! All our kids are 14 and under and its great fun to go out as a family unit.
Three of our boys have ASD which can add to the strain of a large family , but we get by ok and they are all happy kids!

JanH · 28/09/2004 10:54

shirley4d -

Respect from me too!!!!

MarmaladeSun · 28/09/2004 11:23

Wow Shirley4D...you have my admiration . I love big families, and all the hustle and bustle that goes with it. I really think that what you miss out on financially is more than made up for with other rewards. Good for you.

tallulah · 28/09/2004 11:35

I have 4, girl 18 & boys 17, 15 & 13. We CAN'T afford 4, esp now DD has gone to Uni!!

Lou, I'm with you. When they were all younger it was hell on earth. Things have got a bit calmer as they've got older but I'm becoming a taxi again & being torn in 4 directions. I'm quite sure that none of them gets enough attention, but that's partly because I HAVE to work (full time).

(Doesn't stop me wondering what my 5th would look like...)

jmb1964 · 28/09/2004 23:07

Lou - we spend hours trying to work out the optimal arrangement in the Multipla.. Middle seat in the back is hard to get at (so difficult to get the youngest strapped into) but has less legroom (so better for a small one). Middle one in the front is best supervised, but does have access to the gearstick and radio. Usually ds1 (AS) goes there in an attempt to keep him out of trouble, but that privilege gets withdrawn if he behaves particularly badly.
You can disable the front airbag, and lock the electric windows in the back.
It's a fun car, and still unusual, so Multipla drivers wave at each other - reminds me of learning to drive in a 2CV (just a few years back.. )

zaphod · 28/09/2004 23:22

I have 5 children, and practically everyone I meet gasp when they find out. One woman asked last week and when I told her she said 'Oh you don't look it'. What does that mean?

My problem with the car(a previa) is where to seat them so that fighting is minimised. They are 10,8,7,2 and 1.

My life is hectic, and my day starts at 7.00 and ends around 9.30. I never seem to have time for myself, but when they are all gone, I'll have plenty of that.

The thing about a big family, is how much they eat. We now have two trolleys doing the supermarket shop. When I bake, I double the quantities. In fact, I've been thinking about doing a cookbook for large families.

Now that my baby is walking I find myself becoming broody again, but dh will have none of it, and I'm sure he's right.

Aero · 28/09/2004 23:47

Well done Nutty for staying off this thread today!! AND now I too know what a near double is!!!

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