Just the one or half a football team?

[bigbrummiebertha]

A friend of mine said that in his son's class not only did all the children have siblings but his son was one of only two children with only one sibling (ie from families with 2 children). Most of the class had 3 or 4 siblings with 5 children families also reasonably common. I was quite surprised and curious to know if large families are becoming the norm. This is in a well-heeled school in Surrey, by the way (and no, alas, we're not in it!) so not sure if any North/South or post/not-posh conclusions can or should be drawn.

Anyway, not very clearly explained but what I wanted to ask was,if you don't mind me being nosey, how many children does the average MNer have?

wow, this is great. Keep them coming..!

PS have changed my name from Bigbrummiebertha since I started the thread because I'm trying to become mini-me and feel Geranium is more aspirational

Now I've killed the thread

midlands, 3.

I read somewhere fairly recently that nowadays it is quite trendy with the middle classes (dunno how you define that though!) to have more than two children.

We wanted six (and two labradors) but stopped at three (and a Cavalier King Charles spaniel). Then No4 arrived unexpectedly. I suspect we've run out of time for No5&6 but may yet get the Labs!

Well, we're on v low income and only have one DS. But to be honest, having just one child wasn't about finances. We just weren't ready to try for a child until we were almost 40 (and had been married 11 years). I'm an only child and always wanted a sibling so another would be very nice.

hmc - I must be barking too then as I'm as you describe yourself! I'm not laid back in the slightest and I can't abide mess or muck! Oh dear, 3 boys...hmmm, me forsees a lot of mess!!!

I think it's often driven by the size of family you came from too but it can work either way depending on whether you liked it or not. I'm one of 3 so have always wanted 3 or 4 - a bigger family with more hustle and bustle just appeals to me and I never saw myself with just 2 children and certainly not the one girl, one boy supposedly 'perfect family' scenario.

Can depend on finance as well though - said friend is sticking to 2 for financial reasons and would not hesitate to have another if she felt she could afford it.

I agree your own personality comes into it though as well.

gdg, I've got the one boy one girl set up and you'd have to be cerifiable to describe us as the perfect family! We all live in a midden, but that has little to do with the kids and more to do with the slobs they have for parents!

Sheffield, just the one DD but trying to TTC for #2. No plans for more than two though.

But, we have a few of DH's older, more senior partners (solicitors) and some barrister friends have 4 and 5 children. Sure one has 6 - all at private school!

I'm in the south, not exactly poor but we don't have much money as dp is in final year of uni and I'm not working much (ds is 11 months). We only have ds, dp wants another 2, I want another 3. We'll see who wins

I've got one, one on the way and I'm thinking of maybe 2 more, that may be just the pg insanity though!!!!!