Possibly we can all agree on this from the Sussexes ...

[Mumsnut]

... highly cute photo

www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-10339953/First-look-baby-Lilibet-Harry-Meghan-release-Christmas-card.html

I wouldn't put it the way they have, but one child is much easier than two.

Well that’s a bit of a sweeping generalisation. So much depends on the children and their personalities and interactions. I found that life was easier with two as their got on so well (and still do), and entertained each other. Equally, I was an only child but I certainly feel that I was part of a “family”. It’s an odd thing for HaM to have said. All families are different and have different experiences. To say that they are only really a family now they have two children seems to me to be a bit dismissive of Archie, although I’m sure that’s not what they intended. It is also, as others have said, dismissive of families with only one child. I’m not sure why there was even a need to make a comment like that 🤷‍♀️
The photo is lovely and they all look very natural and happy. Unfortunately the text spoils it for me.

@smilesy they are saying how they felt. Other people will feel differently. I found two much harder, you find it easier. Doesn't make either of us wrong.
And loads of people talk about becoming a family when they have kids, which many childfree people disagree with. I remember reading a whole thread about this on MN.
Personally, I think a family is whatever you want it to be. If you think you and your pet budgie is a family, I will go with that.

Meghan is just so beautiful.
What a lovely happy family.

@Kanaloa

Also, there’s a bit of misrepresentation of what they said in the comment. They didn’t say ‘one kid makes parents, two make a proper family.’

They said ‘Archie made us a mama and papa and Lili made us a family.’

It wasn’t a generalisation about how many children people should have but a specific comment on their own family.

Thank you !

I was going to say that Mumsnet must have put this post on trending when so many 'I'm not a fan' are on here to criticise. Just realised it's the same individuals who jump at anything Harry and Meghan do.

No, they are not talking to you. I believe one publication even announced it as 'for their fans'.

I wish you had not linked the DM, and just shown us the screenshot of the pictures (trust them to show us the feet, most publications did not).

The children are beautiful.

Archie's shock of red hair reminds me of Diana' sister.

[quote RoyalFamilyFan]@smilesy they are saying how they felt. Other people will feel differently. I found two much harder, you find it easier. Doesn't make either of us wrong.
And loads of people talk about becoming a family when they have kids, which many childfree people disagree with. I remember reading a whole thread about this on MN.
Personally, I think a family is whatever you want it to be. If you think you and your pet budgie is a family, I will go with that.[/quote]
I totally agree with this. People need to be more sensitive to the fact that not everyone has the perfect, traditional family unit. I’m a TA and recently we had the children drawing family portraits to make a calendar for their parents. One little girl, who is normally a tough little cookie, was sitting with tears silently going down her face. She was an only child with a single mum and her friends were all drawing their large families. I’m still upset thinking how she must have been feeling. The class teacher and I agreed in future we need to emphasise families come in all shapes and sizes.

@Gilmorehill that poor girl.

The class teacher and I agreed in future we need to emphasise families come in all shapes and sizes.

You can't have just realised this.
For decades now children have been living in all sorts of family set ups. Some had to be removed from siblings, others live with one or two grandparents, others with two mums or dads etc. It is something you sensitively address in advance. You should have surely known those DC who live in a non- nuclear family set up in the class.

Once again, H&M were talking about themselves no one else.

@smilesy they are saying how they felt. Other people will feel differently. I found two much harder, you find it easier. Doesn't make either of us wrong.

Well that is exactly what I was saying. It was a sweeping generalisation. I was not saying that you were wrong to say you found two harder, just that it was your personal experience. But the thing is, HaM seem to be saying that having two is not easier, but somehow better. I may be misinterpreting what they are saying, but judging by the comments here and on other threads, I’m not the only one. I just don’t quite understand why they needed to say anything at all along those lines. As several of us have said, all families are different and all equally valid.

Yes, I think you are misinterpreting.
My SIL thought she didn't really have a family until she had 3 children. Because to her a family meant lots of kids and noise. We all grow up and develop an idea of what a family means.
We wouldn't put this on a Christmas card. But I have some American family and the culture is incredibly different. They see British people as very stiff upper lip as there are so many things we won't say or talk about. American culture is more, let it all out.
Personally I suspect in between the two is probably best,.

[quote smilesy]**@smilesy they are saying how they felt. Other people will feel differently. I found two much harder, you find it easier. Doesn't make either of us wrong.

Well that is exactly what I was saying. It was a sweeping generalisation. I was not saying that you were wrong to say you found two harder, just that it was your personal experience. But the thing is, HaM seem to be saying that having two is not easier, but somehow better. I may be misinterpreting what they are saying, but judging by the comments here and on other threads, I’m not the only one. I just don’t quite understand why they needed to say anything at all along those lines. As several of us have said, all families are different and all equally valid.[/quote]
Once more :

@Kanaloa
*Also, there’s a bit of misrepresentation of what they said in the comment. They didn’t say ‘one kid makes parents, two make a proper family.’

They said ‘Archie made us a mama and papa and Lili made us a family.’

It wasn’t a generalisation about how many children people should have but a specific comment on their own family.*

*They didn’t say ‘one kid makes parents, two make a proper family.’

They said ‘Archie made us a mama and papa and Lili made us a family.’*

Sorry, what is the difference between those two statements? And why didn’t having just Archie make them a family?

Bold fail 🙄

Gosh, lots of telling people what they can think here. The Sussexes can put what they want in their publicly released Christmas card, and people can also say what they think of it. Not sure how anyone who doesn't know them personally can state with certainty it's being 'misinterpreted'.

I don't get why having Archie didn't make them a family. And having made comments like this already does suggest they see having more than one child as being somehow a better choice.

Actually, now I come to think of it, it's particularly odd given that Meghan herself grew up as an only child - she's said things to that effect with regard to her half siblings. And given that she and
Harry have suffered the loss of a baby.

Archie and his little sister are very cute.
Harry looks genuinely happy. Good luck to them

@Skiptheheartsandflowers I have already answered this.

[quote RoyalFamilyFan]@Skiptheheartsandflowers I have already answered this.[/quote]
Are you their spokesperson? I can see you've given your view. I've also given mine. Neither is definitive.

@rubicscubicle

I wish you had not linked the DM, and just shown us the screenshot of the pictures (trust them to show us the feet, most publications did not).

The children are beautiful.

Archie's shock of red hair reminds me of Diana' sister.

Harry decided to do the photoshoot barefoot. How can the Daily Mail be blamed for Harry wanting photos of his feet distributed everywhere?

@smilesy

*They didn’t say ‘one kid makes parents, two make a proper family.’

They said ‘Archie made us a mama and papa and Lili made us a family.’*

Sorry, what is the difference between those two statements? And why didn’t having just Archie make them a family?

Well they’re two different statements. They weren’t saying ‘this is what makes A family, they were saying this is what made OUR family.’

You see it all the time on here, people asking questions like ‘when did you feel you were ‘finished’ having babies.’ And lots of people will say ‘oh after my last child I felt ‘done’ or the family felt ‘complete.’

Honestly I’m not a fan of any of the royals. Find them massively overrated and don’t understand what they put out into the world except commemorative plates. They’re glorified British Kardashians to m.

BUT I don’t understand the hero worship of William and Kate and their children versus the constant vitriol aimed at Harry and Meghan and their children. They’re both just people raising their kids. They both put out family photos for Christmas. Both photos showed a pretty and relaxed family picture. Neither really had much to spark controversy in them.

I just don’t get where it comes from. It’s like people want to feel really ‘invested’ in their family drama or something or feel like they need to ‘side’ with someone.

Well they’re two different statements. They weren’t saying ‘this is what makes A family, they were saying this is what made OUR family.

Well the words are different but they mean the same thing. I appreciate that they may well have meant what you say about their particular family, but it is certainly open to misinterpretation. I’m not sure why they had to say it at all and they have said pretty much the same thing on a previous occasion. It’s just a bit odd. They have effectively said “we weren’t really a family until Lili came along, we were merely a mum and dad”. Why say something like that at all? I don’t care how many children they had or wanted to have, but surely you are always a family, not “just mum and dad”?

Maybe they presumed people wouldn’t try so hard to ‘misinterpret’ it and would just go ‘huh, cute picture’ and move on?

wow
lovely picture, yet people are still offended by some words.

It is a nice picture as I said. I’m not “offended”. I just think it’s an odd thing to put in a Christmas message and I don’t see why it even needs saying. That’s all 🤷‍♀️

And I don't see why it even needs saying that you don't see why it even needs saying and I don't even really see why I need to say this

I've had some very odd things said in some of my Christmas cards this year... I think covid has got to some people...
Someone asked if I enjoyed Thailand (haven't been)
And strangest thing ever... someone asked how the dog was settling in (don't have one!)