[Fiona59]

Ok, I heard about this on "The View" this morning and it got me thinking. A family in Arkansas is expecting their 16th child. Picture of Mum and children getting some sort of award. Then I remembered seeing the family on one of those Baby Story type shows. They were following the pregnancy and talking about the fun family times (like going to a restaurant on kids eat free night -- the restaurant has since limited the number of kids per adult).

I remember looking after a woman who had just delivered her 10th child. Anybody else see this as a trend or does it just depend on the area?

[cheerfuldoer]

I, too, saw "The View" this morning, and the happy family of 16 children and one on the way.

I think its GREAT as long as the family can afford a large family like that, and they are a happy loving bunch!

If I had married the right man, I would have had seven children myself, but by my third pregnancy, I saw that he wasn't the man I wanted to have a large family by...so I quit.

Some couples want one child, some two...some three or more. It's an individual choice as long as the couple is footing the bill. Now, when the government and our taxes are footing the bill, it is time to stop with the baby making!

[traumaRUs]

I work at a large Catholic hospital and many of our doctors have many (greater than 6) children. However, they have the resources (time and money) to adequately raise these kids. My hubby and I on the other hand, chose to space our kids five years apart and we stopped at two. We could afford more, but did not feel we wanted more kids. Its a personal choice as long as my tax dollars are paying for them - IMHO of course.

[rpbear]

I didn't see this story on The View, but I think 16 children is too many. Not because of all of the reasons that others gave (money, time etc.) but think of what that has done to her body. I think that the risks are too high for the mom. That is so very hard on the body. I assume that she is barely getting done breastfeeding one and she is pregnant again. Just my oppinion!!

[nckdl]

my ob/gyn had 8 children and really didn't want to give me a tubal ligation just in case i wanted more children. I told him just because he is nuts that doesn't me i am!! Of course he laughed because we've known each other a long time. 4 kids is plenty and I had 2 boys and 2 girls. 16 children heaven forbid, I would have to work 7 days a week just to feed them!!!

[RNnL&D]

Originally Posted by Fiona59

Ok, I heard about this on "The View" this morning and it got me thinking. A family in Arkansas is expecting their 16th child. Picture of Mum and children getting some sort of award. Then I remembered seeing the family on one of those Baby Story type shows.

Was this the same family that was on TLC's 14 kids and pregnant again? When they showed them last, it was Christmas time and the 15th was about 6 or 7 months. I imagine they've had time since then to create another.

[cursenurse]

16 children is way too many. i think that couples ought to consider if they have enough money to properly raise lots of children. i just do not understand how regular middle class people justify having huge families that they know they can't afford. i always wonder how the parents of these large families plan to put all of those children through college. it would seem to me that one would have to be a multimillionaire to be able to provide for a really large family. i wonder how many people that have all those children are expecting to be assisted in some way by friends, family, or the government? if they can't raise them w/out expecting others to help pick up the slack, then they shouldn't have alot of kids.

[RNnL&D]

Originally Posted by cursenurse

16 children is way too many. i think that couples ought to consider if they have enough money to properly raise lots of children. i just do not understand how regular middle class people justify having huge families that they know they can't afford.

i wonder how many people that have all those children are expecting to be assisted in some way by friends, family, or the government? if they can't raise them w/out expecting others to help pick up the slack, then they shouldn't have alot of kids.

You make a good point. However, if this is the same family I have heard of, they don't have anyone "picking up the slack". Their philosophy is, if they don't have the money for it, they just don't get it. In fact, this particular family was living debt free. They had agreed to eliminate their debt some 13 years ago, and having been paying for things outright since.

I would never choose to have that many children, but I would not pass judgment on someone who did, especially not knowing their circumstances.

Now, if you're talking about a mother living in government subsidized housing, receiving food stamps and a welfare check for her 14 kids, then I could understand why most people would complain.

[cursenurse]

Originally Posted by RNnL&D

You make a good point. However, if this is the same family I have heard of, they don't have anyone "picking up the slack". Their philosophy is, if they don't have the money for it, they just don't get it. In fact, this particular family was living debt free. They had agreed to eliminate their debt some 13 years ago, and having been paying for things outright since.

I would never choose to have that many children, but I would not pass judgment on someone who did, especially not knowing their circumstances.

Now, if you're talking about a mother living in government subsidized housing, receiving food stamps and a welfare check for her 14 kids, then I could understand why most people would complain.

i did not see the tv show that this family was on so i am speaking in general. when they say that they go w/out what they can't pay cash for, i wonder what they are going w/out. i wonder what the quality of life is for the family. also, aside from the financial repercussions it interests me to know if all of the children get adequate emotional support of both parents. whenever i watch the tv shows that follow large families, everyday seems to be like a military operation. there seems to be such a rigid schedule in order to get things done that i cannot imagine there being enough time in the day to address every child's emotional health. also, my mother came from a large family-five children, and i do know for a fact that the children felt that they had been slighted at times d/t having a large family. i know that this will sound judgmental, but i think that people often procreate excessively w/out seriously considering if this is in the financial, spiritual, and emotional best interests of the family.

[stevierae]

Originally Posted by rpbear

I didn't see this story on The View, but I think 16 children is too many. Not because of all of the reasons that others gave (money, time etc.) but think of what that has done to her body.

No kidding! I wonder about the degree of pelvic relaxation (and resultant stress incontinence) that these women must suffer.