Public/personal comments about your large family

Kamara - posted on 09/10/2010

I have 6 children, 14, 11,6,4,3,and 10 months and like the rest of you I constantly hear how well behaved my children are at dinner, how full my hands must be, and of course the question if we are done or not. I usually take them as compliments as well, but occassionally I wonder well what do you think they should act like. I figure what we do with 5, 6, 7,.... is no different than what they do with 1, 2 or 3. I would not let one child go crazy and act wild, so why would I let 6???? Nonetheless, it just takes a little more patience and a little more organization, but as they gey older, the benefits truly increase. My 11 yr old daughter loves helping with her younger siblings and my 14 year old son likes to hang out with his 6 year old brother. They are the boys that stick together in a house ran by girls and the four girls love doing girl things. The older kids look forward to going to college and having the smaller ones visit. I really enjoy my big family. In our house everyone has a job and as the kids get older, their help has become an added blessing.

Brenda - posted on 09/08/2010

I am mother of 5 and i get a lot of comments as well... most recently someone we just met at dinner shook his head and said i feel sorry for you.... and he has 4 kids himself .....i try not to let it bother me and try to remember not to make comments myself like that to others .. and yes even family says things too

Erin - posted on 09/08/2010

I have 8 kids, and everywhere we go we get the same compliments (how well behaved they are) as well as the comments (are you done yet? Your hands must be full. and my personal favorite; You must be crazy!) I think if these people thought for a moment about how those comments may hurt a child who hears them, they would be more tactful. I have yet to see a large family out in public having behavior problems, but MANY of the one to three child families dealing with gimme's and tantrums. I believe respect comes more readily to kids in large families.

Sandy - posted on 09/06/2010

I have 7 kids 22,17,16,13,8,6 & 6. The twins have ASD so the behavior thing is tough. I do get the comments and many of them from my own family. I am use to the comments usually meant to be humorous, but sometimes they are not. My situation is different, I am single. Many people wonder how many fathers there are for all the kids!! What kind of queston is that and is it any of their business. Just becasue I am a single mom doesn't mean I am a hoochie. Their father was an ass so took all the kids and left. I bet he doesn't get asked how many moms are there for all of your kids?

Coments out of stupidity are not worth a second thought. I believe I have been blessed with 7 wonderful children and those who make comments didnt get in the extra special person line when GOD was handing out life's plans and they are jealous. (Cuz we all know it takes and extra special person to raise a large family) ;-)

Diane - posted on 09/05/2010

I have 6 children 9,5,4,2 and 7 months. I also get many compliments on how well behaved my children are and at times hear"you have your hands full" my reply to that is " no, but my heart is". I enjoy the challange of being the mom of a large family and my husband does also. I enjoy going out to eat as a family, the expression on there faces is priceless when we file in to our seats, but half way through dinner people have approached us to commend us on how well the children behave.