US attitude to large families

[Guest guest]

Talking of large families, in case anyone is interested, there is a

one-off documentary on BBC1 this Weds at 9pm called Big Families.

According to my TV guide, it looks at 3 families that have 9 children

each.

Todman

Treasurer, Stansted Branch (R5)

Mum to , 3¾

Ooh thanks for the tip - it looks really good - can someone remind me

on Tuesday? I'll be gutted if I forget.

Hannah, 28 (very large family aspiree)

Mum to Bethany 7 1/2, Lawrence nearly 6, Verity 3 1/2, Alfie 9 months

Visit me on the web at :-

http://hannahshome.20m.com

[Guest guest]

> Hannah, 28 (very large family aspiree)

> Mum to Bethany 7 1/2, Lawrence nearly 6, Verity 3 1/2, Alfie 9 months

>

> How large are we talking here?

>

> Trisha

> SAHM to 3 boys

> Jack 8, 6 and Isaac 2

Don't know really - LAM dictates probably no more than one every three years

approximately, and I shall probably want to stop at around 40 so 4 more at

the most? (if I can persuade dh that is - he's 41 already and thinks he's

getting too old:o((

Hannah, 28

Mum to Bethany 7 1/2, Lawrence nearly 6, Verity 3 1/2, Alfie 9 months

Visit me on the web at :-

http://hannahshome.20m.com

[Guest guest]

Now if my additions are right that makes 8. How will you transport them

all?

>

> That's me practical as ever!

>

> We were having this conversation at lunch time today and somebody had seen

a

> programme recently about large families but their opinion was that it is

> harder now as she used to just throw them all into an estate car and not

> worry about seat belts (or seats for that matter).

>

> Trisha

> SAHM to 3 boys

> Jack 8, 6 and Isaac 2

I've already got my eye on mini-buses! I'm a car safety fanatic so would

have to have enough seats for them all.

My mum used to drive a mini when I was young - my sister and I would sit in

the back with the younger two on our laps. I don't think it even had rear

seat belts.

And we used to bounce about unrestrained in our motorhome. Was just common

practice in those days though wasn't it?

Hannah, 28

Mum to Bethany 7 1/2, Lawrence nearly 6, Verity 3 1/2, Alfie 9 months

Visit me on the web at :-

http://hannahshome.20m.com

[Guest guest]

said: > On a related (almost) note, a lot of our US

acquaintances were horrified

> that we are having a third baby - <snip> Makes me wonder what the US

attitude is to 'large families'?

Are we talking all America, or well-heeled America? Most of the

professional families I know of in well-heeled US have got two, apart

from a couple of couples who have three (professional, but very

christian) and one Catholic family with seven...but that's only the

people I know. Oh, one Jewish family with four. Are we going to

slide into the perilous land of over generalisations here?!! But an

intresting topic...

Caro

[Guest guest]

We live in a very well-heeled community in middle America, and it is very

normal to have four children. Three is fairly common too. Anyone with

just two seems very unusual. Saying that, we live in one of the top-ten

public school districts for the whole of the US, so our community does

attract larger families.

I don't think the Catholic stereotype holds nowadays. I think

statistically speaking, that most (around 60%, IIRC) families ignore the

teachings of the church wrt contraception, and a lot use natural family

planning with great success. I only know a couple of Jewish families, and

they both only have two. I think in our neighbourhood, the Methodists

probably have the biggest families, followed by the Anglicans and

Catholics, followed by the Baptists. How's that for generalisations, LOL?

Some time ago, I was looking at some WHO data about reproduction. The USA

seemed to be the only developed country on the list with more than 2

children per woman. All the European countries were perilously low.

When we were expecting our third (this was in the UK), everyone assumed we

were trying for a girl, having already had two boys. The fourth, they

assumed was a mistake. No one talks about the fifth.

Joyce

US attitude to large families

Are we talking all America, or well-heeled America? Most of the

professional families I know of in well-heeled US have got two, apart

from a couple of couples who have three (professional, but very

christian) and one Catholic family with seven...but that's only the

people I know. Oh, one Jewish family with four. Are we going to

slide into the perilous land of over generalisations here?!! But an

intresting topic...

Caro

[Guest guest]

> When we were expecting our third (this was in the UK), everyone

assumed we

> were trying for a girl, having already had two boys. The fourth,

they

> assumed was a mistake. No one talks about the fifth.

>

> Joyce

hmm... With this one (3rd) after " was it planned? " (yes, but how dare

they ask) the next question has been " are you trying for a boy? " (no)

trouble is now we know it *is* everyone will assume that we were

IYSWIM

Might have to have a fourth so it isn't assumed that we stopped at 3

having got our boy...!

Angi

[Guest guest]

Congratulations Joyce! You slipped that one in very quietly at the end of

your message! Maybe as 's friends said they all just think you're

sex maniacs and don't dare say a thing.

Hope everything's going well, that you're not too tired and that the rest of

the family are helping.... ;o))

Hannah

-----Original Message-----

From: J.M.

When we were expecting our third (this was in the UK), everyone assumed we

were trying for a girl, having already had two boys. The fourth, they

assumed was a mistake. No one talks about the fifth.

Joyce

[Guest guest]

Caro Heyworth wrote:

> Are we talking all America, or well-heeled America? Most of the

> professional families I know of in well-heeled US have got two, apart

> from a couple of couples who have three (professional, but very

> christian) and one Catholic family with seven.

I suppose we are talking well heeled Americans (unless it is the norm to buy

your 16 year old daughter a brand new BMW for her birthday in the States).

I'm not sure what part religion played though as we were a real mixture! No

one had more than 2 children though - I suppose it gets expensive if you have

to buy them all new cars!!

> --

http://www.foxstitch.co.uk

SAHWM to (4), Kitty (2) and bump (expected Jan 2002)

[Guest guest]

Angi Nutt wrote:

> hmm... With this one (3rd) after " was it planned? " (yes, but how dare

> they ask) the next question has been " are you trying for a boy? "

I do like telling people that this was one (3rd) is totally unplanned and was

the result of too much alcohol at lunchtime and having a weekend away with

out the other children... actually given that response its little wonder they

think we are sex maniacs! I still have about 9 weeks to get used to the idea

of being pregnant! Haven't found out the sex of this one yet, but only have

a name for a girl so it will probably be a boy!!

--

http://www.foxstitch.co.uk

SAHWM to (4), Kitty (2) and bump (expected Jan 2002)

[Guest guest]

Still, planned or not, it's a lovely age gap. Mine are all two years apart

and I love it that way.

Hannah

Mum to (4), Nicky (2) and Euan (7 months)

-----Original Message-----

From: Dick

I do like telling people that this was one (3rd) is totally unplanned and

was

the result of too much alcohol at lunchtime and having a weekend away with

out the other children... actually given that response its little wonder

they

think we are sex maniacs! I still have about 9 weeks to get used to the

idea

of being pregnant! Haven't found out the sex of this one yet, but only

have

a name for a girl so it will probably be a boy!!

--

http://www.foxstitch.co.uk

SAHWM to (4), Kitty (2) and bump (expected Jan 2002)

[Guest guest]

Hannah Hutton wrote:

> Still, planned or not, it's a lovely age gap. Mine are all two years apart

> and I love it that way.

> Hannah

> Mum to (4), Nicky (2) and Euan (7 months)

I know! And at the back of my mind there was always the thought that we might

have another baby at some point, although as my 2 were getting older I was

starting to go off the idea! DH wants 4 but I have told him in no uncertain

terms that I will not be providing the fourth!

--

http://www.foxstitch.co.uk

SAHWM to (4), Kitty (2) and bump (expected Jan 2002)

[Guest guest]

DH wants 4 but I have told him in no uncertain

> terms that I will not be providing the fourth!

>

>

so what's he going to do?!?! especially as he and *my* DH were being

rather too enthusiastic about the big V (and I don;t mean you!!) the

other night!!

A

_________________

Angi 0:-)

Georgi 4, Susy 2, Tim 34

#3 due 4th week Jan 02

~Kids get colds, men get flu, women get on with it~

[Guest guest]

Someone wrote:

>Haven't found out the sex of this one yet, but only have

>a name for a girl so it will probably be a boy!!

>

>--

>http://www.foxstitch.co.uk

>SAHWM to (4), Kitty (2) and bump (expected Jan 2002)

Oi, !!! ;-))

At least I think it's you.... I know the rules allow you to advertise

your co in your sig but it'd be nice to include your name ;-)

--

Sue

Mum to Steffi the Pomwi

Moderator hat on

[Guest guest]

Sue Woollett wrote:

>

> >--

> >http://www.foxstitch.co.uk

> >SAHWM to (4), Kitty (2) and bump (expected Jan 2002)

>

> Oi, !!! ;-))

>

> At least I think it's you.... I know the rules allow you to advertise

> your co in your sig but it'd be nice to include your name ;-)

>

Oops!! Blonde, pregnant, bimbo that I am I forgot to include my name when I

re did my sig file!!

--

http://www.foxstitch.co.uk

SAHWM to (4), Kitty (2) and bump (expected Jan 2002)

[Guest guest]

In my home town, it seems like 2 kids was about it for most

families. My parents were fans of ZPG (Zero Population

Growth) ideas, so after two, they adopted (older kids, not

babies). I knew several families with three and a few with

one, but four or five was pretty rare. But again, it might

be a class thing, too. We weren’t particularly well-heeled,

though, more well-educated (university town).

Joyce: Methodists ? Hmm... Must be a local thing. I guess

since they’re not supposed to drink or gamble, there’s

nothing else left to do on a Saturday (before anyone freaks

out, I was raised Methodist AND I’m just joking)

> The fourth, they

>assumed was a mistake. No one talks about the fifth.

C’mon Joyce, ‘fess up! You’ve dropped a couple of hints and

someone even asked you when you were going to announce what

you had announced on another list...

No wonder you have been doing research on if there are

midwife-led centers in SW Ohio

Phyllis (token American)

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Hannah, 28 (very large family aspiree)

Mum to Bethany 7 1/2, Lawrence nearly 6, Verity 3 1/2, Alfie 9 months

How large are we talking here?

Trisha

SAHM to 3 boys

Jack 8, 6 and Isaac 2

[Guest guest]

Hannah wrote:

> Don't know really - LAM dictates probably no more than one every three years

> approximately, and I shall probably want to stop at around 40 so 4 more at

> the most? (if I can persuade dh that is - he's 41 already and thinks he's

> getting too old:o((

>

> Hannah, 28

> Mum to Bethany 7 1/2, Lawrence nearly 6, Verity 3 1/2, Alfie 9 months

>

Now if my additions are right that makes 8. How will you transport them all?

That's me practical as ever!

We were having this conversation at lunch time today and somebody had seen a

programme recently about large families but their opinion was that it is

harder now as she used to just throw them all into an estate car and not

worry about seat belts (or seats for that matter).

Trisha

SAHM to 3 boys

Jack 8, 6 and Isaac 2

[Guest guest]

>In my home town, it seems like 2 kids was about it for most

>families. My parents were fans of ZPG (Zero Population

>Growth) ideas, so after two, they adopted (older kids, not

>babies).

My parents were of this view - and considered adopting more. My

father said explicitly that he thought people should only have two

children but they could be excused my (accidental) sister as she was

so lovely. But he did take certain steps thereafter...

--

jennifer@...

Vaudin

[Guest guest]

Talking of large families, in case anyone is interested, there is a

one-off documentary on BBC1 this Weds at 9pm called Big Families.

According to my TV guide, it looks at 3 families that have 9 children

each.

Todman

Treasurer, Stansted Branch (R5)

Mum to , 3¾

[Guest guest]

It's the thought of the cost of putting them all through uni that would make

me faint! ;-)

Unless grants are reinstated, of course.............are we all holding our

breath???

Lesley

SAHM to four (one DS with an MA, another currently at uni - you really don't

want know how much we've spent!)

Chair, Deeside NCT

-----------

From: <orTrisha@

To: <nct-coffee >

> >

Now if my additions are right that makes 8. How will you transport them

all?

>

> That's me practical as ever!

>