Any Large familys

Not me...and unfortunately DH doesn't want a family quite that large

BUT...You go girl! I was brought up in a family of 9 and it was great.

I am eldest of 10 and have 3 so far.... I'd love all the tips I can get though, we've been thinking 6 but some days it's just soooo hard

I bow down to you ladies! I have trouble keeping up with 1!

Good on you.
I think 2 is enough for me though, in fact it's too much some days

WOW..... that's awesome!! I only have the 2, I would like atleast one more, but DH isn't keen. I don't think I could handle 10 though!! Well Done! And esp cool that you foster as well!!

Hi jojo43, I simply can't begin to imagine how busy and fulfilling your life must be. I wanted 4 kids and thought that to be a large family (an I guess it is in todays society) but now that I'm near the end of my 3rd pregnancy my mind has changed to think that'll be all for me thanks. Haha, can't believe I'm concerned about how to cope with 3, lol. A lady who left our playcentre last year is due to come back, she has 8 of her own boys. I'll mention your quest to find other mums of large familys, good luck with it.

Jojo, you're sooo lucky 10x over.

I would love to have that many kids. DH is the last of 8 (all biological) and I am one of 6 (4 biological & 2 foster) plus my mum and dad did temporary foster care as well.

We're still on #1 but we're talking about having #'s 2 & 3 in close succession (soon I hope) and then we'll see what happens.

What ages are your kids?

My MIL had her first 6 close together (within 11 years) then waited 8 years before #7 and another 6 years before #8 so by the time DH was a toddler most of his siblings had left home and his oldest sister was married. Our first niece (MILs oldest grandchild) was born on DH's 3rd birthday and our oldest nephew is only a year younger than her. From the stories MIL tells it does seem having 6 close in age was easier than when she only had 2 at home with a bigger age gap.

My family is very close in age. There is only 6 years between #1 & #5 then 6 years between #5 and our youngest sister (who is a foster sibling).

Like in your house we all had chores to help mum & dad out: we helped with the washing, did the dishes, helped cook meals, house cleaning etc. We were all expected to look after our own bedrooms and pitch in when it came to tidying the family areas. I remember Saturday morning used to be cleaning day and each family member (except the youngest) was allocated a room to clean. We had a decent sized 5 bedroom family home yet it only took less than an hour to clean it completely with 2 adults and 5 kids pitching in (it takes me longer to do my little 3 bedroom home).

I loved growing up in a big family. We didn't have huge overseas holidays but we did take big family holidays within NZ for a couple of weeks every winter and every summer. I'm proud to say I've probably seen more of NZs South Island than most NZers.

We went without a TV for 6 years from when I was 8-14 (my brother broke it) and we didn't miss it, we were never bored.

Mum and Dad went without the extra luxuries that DH & I currently take for granted (like wine) but it was definitely worth it for them. We may not have had expensive things but we all have priceless memories and wonderful love and support that you can only get from close family.

Mum & Dad are still young (58 & 60) and now they can enjoy the extra luxuries but what they love most is having their children and grandchildren around. They have 6 grown up kids, 7 grandkids and they are sooo happy whenever we get together. They'd love it if we all moved in with them (not kidding, #5 & her 2 kids already live with them and mum & dad want DH and I to build a house next door - they've even given us the land). I think they might be a wee bit crazy

"they don't really count "... LOL Maya.

Kudos to you jojo!! I am having enough bother with 1 but I am from a big family, I have 5 sisters and 2 brothers. I loved being in a big family! You don't need heaps of new clothes etc. to have a good upbringing, I was always in hand-me-downs (being the youngest of 6 girls!) Plus with heaps of kids you get more help with the chores Washing would be a bugger to keep up with though!! Hehe.

Do you cook stir-fries? They are really easy to do in bulk, with fresh or frozen veg, and you can make (or buy) heaps of different flavours of sauces to give it variety. And you can stretch it further by using a lot of rice as a base *which is yummy to eat with the sauce*.

I love crock pots