Family size: how many is too many? [Archive]

Greenkey2

09-07-12, 17:14

With extremes such as China's One Child policy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One-child_policy), and the discussions on the pros and cons of large families (http://www.aish.com/sp/ph/48894317.html), it seemed high time we put this topic up for the collective noodle :)

Do you come from a big family, or are you an only child? Would you want lots of kids, or one, or none?

Discuss!

Draco

09-07-12, 17:16

I have two brothers. In some ways our family is big, but compared to traditonal families... not so much.

I want two, but no more than three.

Melonie Tomb Raider

09-07-12, 17:17

I have two brothers, and when I look back at my childhood, it brings me to tears. Happy tears. I can't possibly imagine a better childhood. It was fantastic, and I am still close with my family.

I used to say I was never having kids, but changed my mind. I want three. After growing up how I did, I believe it's best for children to have close siblings. :)

leglion

09-07-12, 17:25

How much can be supported by the family income(the father and mother) while still giving each child a quality childhood.

AmericanAssassin

09-07-12, 17:26

If I can afford it, I want four kids. :D

You might think that's a lot, but I have six younger siblings, ALL blood related. Seven of us total.

I think four is barely any kids. :p

Ora Dagger

09-07-12, 17:31

I only have one sister who's 7 years older than me.

My mother on the other hand is lucky number 9 out of 10 kids. 4 of which has passed away.

My father is number 2 out of 5 kids.

My parents grew up having a big family. I wouldn't be able to handle that many kids. :p My moms family had trouble soon after she was born, which is why they were all put in foster homes and were separated their entire lives. My dads family could never afford to live in one place for very long which why they moved around so much. When it comes down to it, if you can handle that many children and can afford it, who are we to stop you. :p

Zebra

09-07-12, 17:37

I think two parents and three children is max. I mean, I don't necessarily judge people who have got more children but personally, I just can't imagine having more than three children or having more than two siblings.

Tear

09-07-12, 17:41

Personally, I would like to have only 1 or 2 children, and I think that more than 4 is too many for any family.

Dennis's Mom

09-07-12, 18:31

NRO.

09-07-12, 18:44

I think 6 is way too much. =/

matrix54

09-07-12, 18:45

I think it's a balance between affordability and happiness/lifestyle.

I live in a less than financial prosperous place, and I've seen many people have WAY too many children, sometime the number being two. Sometimes one is too many.

Factoring all of that out, I'd say 2 is a good amount, for those who can afford it.

Legend 4ever

09-07-12, 18:55

I'm an only child, but I don't think that has much to do with my opinion on how many people are too many in a family. I think it depends on how much money a family has. I mean, I think it's really irresponsible and, in the end, bad for the family if the parents don't work or work but don't make much money and still decide to have many children. It can cause many problems within the family, family feuds, bad atmosphere within household etc. I guess the reason poor people have many children among other things, is that they can't buy condoms and contraceptive pills, so those should be cheaper I guess.

If you ask me personally, I'd say I can't see myself having more than five children. Three sounds perfect actually.

Melonie Tomb Raider

09-07-12, 19:18

If I can afford it, I want four kids. :D

You might think that's a lot, but I have six younger siblings, ALL blood related. Seven of us total.

I think four is barely any kids. :p

Big families are so sweet. As long as they can be properly cared for, I think it's great :)

Love2Raid

09-07-12, 19:23

It depends on a lot of factors. For some people, even one is too many.

stevencroft

09-07-12, 20:01

My aunt and uncle had eight kids and they're the most put together family I've ever known.
My parents only wanted one and I wouldn't have it any other way.
If you can handle a big family go for it but people really have to plan it out.

disapearing-boy

09-07-12, 20:01

I don't think there is a "too many" number, but I think it's crazy to have lots of kids in this day and age. "Lots" being, IMO, more than five.

People used to have ten kids and hope 3 would live into adulthood, or they needed kids to work the family farm.

Those days are gone.

Exactly. My dad is the middle child of 10 (5 girls, 5 boys:D)... they used to work on the farm as kids after school and on weekends, as well as do chores ect...

My dad left school at the age of 12 to work on the farm full-time, like his brothers before him. The world has changed, at least in developed countries.

If people can afford big families then good for them, but the world is over populated as it is, and we can only support so many. If everyone had two kids then the population would remain relatively stable but it's the poor countries that are driving the population up.

Greater access to education and contraception is the only way forward.

patriots88888

09-07-12, 20:04

I'm not the type to have/want children, not because I dislike kids but because I would feel terrible if family situations became particularly rough for them. I wouldn't want children of my own to go through some of the things that I have in my early years of life (some of which still remain)... no child should have to go through that. I could go on and into more detail(s) but I'll just leave it at that.

I don't think there is a "too many" number, but I think it's crazy to have lots of kids in this day and age. "Lots" being, IMO, more than five.

People used to have ten kids and hope 3 would live into adulthood, or they needed kids to work the family farm.

Those days are gone.

I completely agree with this.

patriots88888

09-07-12, 21:14

I'd be interested in hearing the OP's thoughts/feelings on the topic... especially when considering that the rest of us have shared our own.

Lara's_Guy

09-07-12, 21:30

I have 2 half brothers and 2 half sisters.

I really don't like kids. lol So I don't want any. :p

iamlaracroft

09-07-12, 21:39

If you can't feed 'em, don't breed 'em.

I'm an only child and I don't ever want children. No thanks. I like my life the way it is, single and free to go and do as I please, no albatross around my neck.

Ceamonks890

09-07-12, 22:01

As I only have a younger brother, I think I'll only have two children. That way, at least they've got an older/younger sibling to hang out with.

Ikas90

09-07-12, 23:25

I think 3 is the perfect number. No more.

Rai

09-07-12, 23:26

Well, if a couple can afford it then it's up to them how many children they have. I'm one of three girls so I often felt like the odd one out, so maybe three was the wrong number :p. If my parents had stayed together, they may have tried again for a son - or maybe not considering my dad had a vasectomy before I was conceived. I think it's probably best for children to have siblings. I'd imagine only children could be lonely and spoilt. My son is an only child and I do feel he missed out a bit growing up. Also I feel he relied a little too much on me for company :o. Two or three children is my 'ideal'. More can be a handful :p. Personal circumstances and individual cases are always a consideration. Large families, as DM points out, aren't as 'necessary' today for a family, plus family planning/contraception is much more widely available than it once was. Larger families weren't always necessary, it depended on a family's circumstances, I guess. I don't think restrictions should be forced on families though. I do find couples who have 20 kids is going too far though.

Greenkey2

10-07-12, 09:10

I'm an only child (my brothers and sisters were all adopted felines). However, my boyfriend has quite a large family.

I think it's quality over quantity, and a responsibility for taking care of the Earth's resources. Two, possibly three children would be more than enough for me (and my boyfriend :p)

Even if we were to suddenly guarantee lottery-sized riches for the rest of our lives, I wouldn't have any more children of my own because I would feel guilty about the impact we were having.

One look at the landfill sites, farmland, mining installations and other resource-consuming or resource-depleting activities humans inflict upon the Earth is enough to make me think twice about unnecessary population growth.

Larua croft

10-07-12, 09:11

only child and my father wasnt there for a huge chunk of my life until i was 13.

scoopy_loopy

10-07-12, 09:35

I'm one of 8. As long as the parents have the income to support a larger family then I think it's fine.

It does get aggravatingly loud, however.

igonge

10-07-12, 09:43

Personally, If I was to have any kids, I wouldn't have any more than 3 as long my partner and I could afford it. I'm an only child and I've always wanted a younger sibling to grow up with.

As long as you have the space, patience and money to support your family, have as many kids as you like. Although, I think having more than 6 kids would be hard to bounce back from :pi:

Draco

10-07-12, 11:16

only child and my father wasnt there for a huge chunk of my life until i was 13.

So... what does that have to do with the topic?

ozzman

10-07-12, 13:45

i have
1 sister
2 stepsisters
1 stepbrother in law
3 cats
2 dogs

Shark_Blade

10-07-12, 14:06

I'm one of 8. As long as the parents have the income to support a larger family then I think it's fine.

It does get aggravatingly loud, however.

This. If parents can keep popping babies and support them, I don't see why not.

patriots88888

10-07-12, 14:25

robm_2007

10-07-12, 16:20

I think it depends on how many are still living at home. Some parents have a few kids and then a few more once the first set of kids are teens or in their twenties, already.

My late grandpa's oldest child is 62 is his youngest is 29 :pi:
---
But, I will say that stories like the Octomom and that reality family with 19 kids is pretty pathetic. Maybe I am just a cynic, though.

Barry Matharoo

10-07-12, 16:30

My dad was out of 4 siblings and my mother was out of 8 siblings.

I have 2 elder brothers.

In India we have a saying "Hum Do Hamare Do" (sic). "We Two Our Two"

Now if only it was followed :p

As for me I want Two. One of each kind. I know its cliched but what can i do about it :vlol:

LNSNHGTDS

10-07-12, 16:34

I come from a small family, I have one brother, my dad has two siblings and my mum one brother.

In my opinion having a family with more than four children is just stupid.

But maybe it's just me, I'm not planning to make a family on my own anyway, I would rather eat my arm, honestly.

Larua croft

10-07-12, 16:54

I only want 1 child but if i dont mind if i endup having twins.

Rai

10-07-12, 19:47

^ As cruel as this might sound, I consider it fortunate that most of us can't. If you think times are tough now, just imagine what it would be like if families of 8, 9, 10 was the norm. Not something I wish to see happening any time soon.

I do find it mad when families have like 20 kids. What were you thinking? I realise for some, it's their religious beliefs to not use contraceptives, but still :eek:.

Sgt BOMBULOUS

10-07-12, 19:55

We're having our first (a boy) in October and I hope to have the second 2~3 years later. I really want a girl, so if the second is also a boy, we might try again.

If I can afford it, I want four hundred kids. :D

You might think that's a lot, but I have six younger siblings, ALL blood related. Seven of us total.

I think four hundred is barely any kids. :p

holy crap!!!

Just kidding

andromeda_eats

10-07-12, 22:48

If you can afford it, do what you want. Don't rely on the Government though.

I have one son and will never have another child, by choice. I might adopt though.

TombRaiderFan.

10-07-12, 23:00

I know everyone has their civil liberties to have as many children as they want and blah blah blah, but scientifically speaking two should be the limit. I've done research on this in the past. In order to maintain a stable global population each couple should have only 2 children. One to replace the mother and the other to replace the father. Of course, when you add in death due to accidents or other cases you end up with a number just little over 2 to make up the difference.

To those who say we're not over populated and that the planet can support more humans, well, you're wrong. We're obviously already struggling to feed everyone. The day we're able to look at society from a global scale and say, alright, no one is starving. Then, and only then should we think about adding more people. Otherwise, ya, population can keep going up (to a limit which we haven't reached yet), but even more people will starve and then we'll end up with mass extinction. It's pretty obvious by just looking at our growth curve.

Killercowz

10-07-12, 23:01

Five.

EmeraldFields

10-07-12, 23:15

Anything past three kids I consider to be a "big" family and anything past four is just too many.

Right now, I would say that I wouldn't want to have kids, but if someday I change my mind, one kid would be plenty. :p

andromeda_eats

10-07-12, 23:15

TombRaiderFan.

10-07-12, 23:40

If Western societies continue to reduce the number of children they have (Australia dropped below 1.99 kids per woman just this year) then our economy will be screwed. We will have no-one to tax and subsequently care for our numerous aging population. It's not western societies that need to reduce the number of children they are having, which are already at an all-time low, it's third-world and developing countries which don't have the resources to support large families.

Pretty much. I found out with my research that the more advanced a country becomes, the less likely it is that its people will want children. It has to do a lot with education, I believe. Educated people tend to have less children, that's a fact.

That's why what I think will happen in the future is that immigration will play a big role in stabilizing the lack of work force in countries which are lacking human capital.

Hairhelmet12

11-07-12, 00:06

I think 4 is to many. 3:

leglion

11-07-12, 00:10

I think 4 is to many. 3:

But what if you're rich?

Stevo505

11-07-12, 00:13

But what if you're rich?

They could still get annoying :p

leglion

11-07-12, 00:14

They could still get annoying :p

I could see it be annoying if you pop them out one after each other and have like 4 screaming babies in your ear but if you space the births apart it should be manageable.

Stevo505

11-07-12, 00:19

I could see it be annoying if you pop them out one after each other and have like 4 screaming babies in your ear but if you space the births apart it should be manageable.

I mean it's just more effort the more kids you have. You have to feed them, buy crap for all of them, drive them places, etc. It just sounds like a hassle to me, but I don't even want 1 kid so... :p

leglion

11-07-12, 00:21

I mean it's just more effort the more kids you have. You have to feed them, buy crap for all of them, drive them places, etc. It just sounds like a hassle to me, but I don't even want 1 kid so... :p

If you're rich that takes care of the majority of the stuff on your list if not all.

TombRaiderFan.

11-07-12, 01:32

I mean it's just more effort the more kids you have. You have to feed them, buy crap for all of them, drive them places, etc. It just sounds like a hassle to me, but I don't even want 1 kid so... :p

Give them to the nanny and the butler, duh. :rolleyes:

:p

andromeda_eats

11-07-12, 03:15

I agree. What intelligent, educated, successful woman would waste their life birthing children? Far better things to do.

disapearing-boy

13-07-12, 16:12

I agree. What intelligent, educated, successful woman would waste their life birthing children? Far better things to do.

What makes you think you can't be intelligent and want kids? If you have better things to do, then that's great! Other women can make up for the kids you don't have, then everyone's happy.;)

We're having our first (a boy) in October and I hope to have the second 2~3 years later. I really want a girl, so if the second is also a boy, we might try again.

My Uncle and his wife wanted a boy, and they already had two girls. So they decided to try for a boy..... but ended up with twin girls. So now he has four daughters!!:D

patriots88888

13-07-12, 16:36

tomee

13-07-12, 16:44

/\ I've heard about that. I think the article said the doctors could also find the healthy cells and avoid ones that might potentially carry tendency to disabilites.
---
2-3 children is okay and let's say 6-7 counts as too much, not as long as the income is big enough of course. :D

I have only one brother but there are 5 people in our household becausemy maternal randmother lives with is. 5 people is just the normal to me. :p

As for me, I want to have 2 or 3 children, but not anytime soon after marriage/moving together. First of all I want to live my twenties only with my loved one and secondly I would like to save up money for a comfortable household and for my potential children's education, but with children saving up is not that easy.
/\ This is of course highly idealised but if it's possible I would prefer to go with this plan.

disapearing-boy

13-07-12, 18:08

^ It's probable that in the not so far off future we'll be able to manipulate that in such a way that we don't have to 'keep trying' for the preferred results. And I'm speaking of 'trying' in the natural way, not by test tubes or other laboratory means.

I'm sort of against that idea, or it would need to be strictly regulated. Just because we can do something, doesn't mean we should.

It could lead to people manipulating the cells to create their perfect designer babies, picking everything from their height, intelligence to their eye colour. It seems wrong..... you should take what child you get!

Though removing genetic conditions/diseases would be nice though... idk:/

patriots88888

13-07-12, 19:04

I'm not exactly keen on the idea myself if we should ever get to that point. The thing is though, from what I have observed throughout my years is that science (and the advancements thereof) usually dictate how these things go... for better or for worse.