[NDN]

My question is: how many people do you need before tha family is "large." I have been annoyed in recent months by the Wal-Mart commercials that show a mother (sometimes single, sometimes with a husband) ans 3 children. They make a point to call them a large family. I thought this was average (between 2 and 3 kids, roughly).

What do you all think? How big does a family need to be before it is LARGE?

[lambeausam]

I think it depends on your adult to child ratio. I am a single parent to four boys and consider our family large. However, I would probably view it a little differently if I was married. Maybe the test should be how many loads of laundry are done each week!

Sam

[crick]

I have 4 and don't consider our family to be large. To me large is 6 or more children. Don't ask me why...just my automatic thought.

Course I might change my mind after my kids reach the teen years and eat me out of the house....

[NDN]

Originally Posted by lambeausam

Maybe the test should be how many loads of laundry are done each week!

Sam

Too funny!

Perhaps we shouldn't start counting the loads--or else we might go on strike.

[6boysrus]

I never thought of that really.. I think the average is something like 2.1 children per family.. it may even be lower..

considering we have 6 bio plus dh and I.. I call that BLESSED!

Yvonne

[tlc4kidz]

I had to giggle when I read that. I was talking the other day about "the lady with all those kids", and my son said...."uh, mom, she has four, just like you do." I guess it seems like more when they're someone elses. I'm with Yvonne.....I'm BLESSED!

[kllee4]

We were told by our social worker that our family was large with our four boys. She was trying to explain why our wait may be longer than other families with "small families" that have only one or two children! Go figure!

The laundry over here is ridiculous!!!!!!!!!! It is never ending and if I don't wash at least 2 loads a day, then I am almost buried in it!!!!!! But I do LOVE my family, regardless of its size.........it's never perfectly clean, never quiet and never a dull moment!!!!!!!!

[lostboys]

We have 4 teen FS 3 are 15 years old and one is 17. We are always asked about our large family when we go out. I think it just seems like more because they are so noisy!

[kllee4]

Lostboys,

Wow! Four teenagers?????? How do you do it????? My boys are close in age but I will probably only have 3 as teens and one grown and hopefully on his own. I admire you. I bet your house is VERY interesting!!!!!!!!!

[lostboys]

As you said..it is VERY Interesting! We had 6 but two are off to college. I have raised 6 of my own children 4 of which where teens at the same time. So we have had some experience.

[Shelley]

Well we are considered(by adoption agencies)
a large family with 5 children. We would like to adopt again, but will only be able to adopt from countries that "Accept" large families. I guess it just depends upon your perspective, The one I love is"Boy do you have your hands full" Yes they are full, Full of love and I wouldn't have it any other way. The other is, in regards to adopting again, "Have you lost your mind?" or just a very strange look. To each his/her own, and mine involves my very noisey,messy, large family. (and let's not count loads of laundry or we really will go on strike.) Shelley

[blessedmomee]

I think we officially began receiving the "large family" comments when we had five children. Now with seven(soon to be eight) children, the comments NEVER end! I often tease that we are like a traveling circus! Everywhere we go, people stop, stare, point, ask questions, etc! I think because we have so many very young children, and two(soon to be three)sets of virtual twins, we stand out even more.
Many people comment on how well behaved our children are(thank you, God!), but we also get alot of, "I'm glad it's you and not me!" from strangers! To which I reply, "So am I, and so are they!(referring to my children)"

[Dmommab]

7 children here but 2 are "officially" old enough to take care of themselves (but they still live at home LOL). My automatic thought is more than 4 children is a large family, I don't really know why. We have 2 sets of virtual twins too. Two year olds that are 4 months apart & five year olds that are 1 month apart. We attract attention everywhere we go! LOL I'm not sure if that is good or bad!!!??? I too consider myself extremely blessed!!!

[Indy]

The washer test would be a good judge of LARGE family! We have to assign specific days for each son to wash. Don't even ask what my food bill is! When we eat out...I try to find buffets to eat at!

I have 7 sons with number 8 moving in June 1.

We get the stares when we come in to a public place. Always get the questions/statements: "Are they all yours? Better you than me. How do you afford the food? Trying to start a basketball/football team? I'll bet you don't have to do any yard work."

I wouldn't change a thing in my life...except sound proof walls and my own phone line!

[Nellee]

How large is large? Well, we've got nine great kids, and don't feel like we're quite large enough yet. My favorite comment is "I'd go crazy with that many!" My response is--How do you know you won't go crazy without them???