Re: My sister in-law and her ever increasing family!

[Guest guest]

> My sister in-law is expecting number 7 and Number 6 is only 7 months

> old! She and her husband are in shock and have known for a few weeks

> they have only told us tonight and so my and my hubby (her brother)

> are also in shock.

>

> The real problem being that they live in a three bedroomed

ex-council

> house and cannot afford holidays or days out at present so how are

> they going to manage wth yet another one!

This sort of housing arrangement is very common in Israel, where

anything larger than a 3 bedroomed apartment (never mind house) is

considered super luxury. An average orthodox family in Jerusalem

would easily have seven children or more, in two bedrooms, and move

all the children from one room into the living room if they have house

guests. They also don't have much money for anything, but consider it

a privilege to have a large family. It's all a matter of what you are

used to I suppose!

Ruthie

[Guest guest]

> My sister in-law is expecting number 7 , 7 is way out of my

comprehension.

>

> There is a family as DS's school in a similar situation, they have

7 children the oldest of whom is 9! They had DD1, DD2 followed by

twins DDs 3 & 4, then DD5, who was then joined by DS1(quite a

shock!), followed by another, DD6. They are very laid back (they

would have to be!), and as they have just the one son they refer to

him and Daddy as being in " testosterone corner " whenever they do " boy

things " together. They are great fun to be with and all get along

very well.

Ruth

[Guest guest]

> > My sister in-law is expecting number 7 , 7 is way out of my

> comprehension.

> >

> > There is a family as DS's school in a similar situation, they

have

> 7 children the oldest of whom is 9! They had DD1, DD2 followed by

> twins DDs 3 & 4, then DD5, who was then joined by DS1(quite a

> shock!), followed by another, DD6. They are very laid back (they

> would have to be!), and as they have just the one son they refer to

> him and Daddy as being in " testosterone corner " whenever they

do " boy

> things " together. They are great fun to be with and all get along

> very well.

>

> Ruth

How lovely.

I'm one of those women who'd always want more children. I'm stuck on

four though, we've run out of money and space. And at 41 I'm feeling

too old, but sad.

Jan

who should be getting dressed, and doing other morning stuff

[Guest guest]

> The real problem being that they live in a three bedroomed

ex-council

> house and cannot afford holidays or days out at present so how are

> they going to manage wth yet another one!<<

A mum from my kids school has 8 kids, 6 girls and 2 boys. They also

live in a 3 bedroom house. They have 3 girls in one room, 3 girls in

another and the 2 boys in the 3rd room. They themselves sleep

downstairs in the front room on a pull down sofa. I guess it is not

ideal but they all seem really happy and laid back and not at all

worried about their lack of space. The older ones help look after the

younger ones, mum doesn't work at all and dad is a fireman. His

shifts mean he is often around to help out. I also have another

friend who has just had her 9th child - she has a 4 bedroom house. I

think they both use a lot of bunk beds.

At least you are very supportive of them and are congratulating them

on their news. One of the worst things when I was expecting my 4th

was people saying " oh no " rather than congratulations.

Lorraine

Mum to 10, Natasha 8, 5, ph 3

[Guest guest]

>>>My sister in-law is expecting number 7 and Number 6 is only 7 months old! She

and her husband are in shock and have known for a few weeks

they have only told us tonight and so my and my hubby (her brother)are also in

shock.

It sounds pretty tough, , but I guess if they already have 6 I'm sure

they'll have enough love for a 7th too! And I guess they will have all the

equipment they need already, in terms of clothes, push chair or sling, etc.

Presumably also the oldest ones are getting old enough to be of some help in

looking after the older ones? It's not always so much more effort to look after

a crowd of children than one I think, as in many ways they amuse each other (I

find that even with my two, sometimes they play for ages without talking to me

at all).

I guess it is the way it used to be in the olden days, anyway. all my

grandparents had between 4 and 10 siblings (whereas my Dad had none and my Mum

only two). Perhaps it's your sister-in-law who is sane, and the rest of us who

are not...

Karina

Mum to Emilia (Oct 98) and Sebastian (Aug 00)

[Guest guest]

> My sister in-law is expecting number 7 , 7 is way out of

my

comprehension.

My BIL (DH’s brother) and his wife have 5 (in a tiny tiny

house) and the oldest is about to turn 9. At one point,

they said they wanted 8.

After 4, they said they wanted to stop. My SIL sent me a

book about natural family planning when I was pregnant with

Calvin because it shocked her when I said that I would

probably use the mini-pill (they’re very Catholic). Then I

heard 2 months later that she was pregnant with #5.

Needless to say, I haven’t paid much attention to the book

she sent...

Phyllis

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

> My sister in-law is expecting number 7 , 7 is way out of

my

comprehension.

My BIL (DH’s brother) and his wife have 5 (in a tiny tiny

house) and the oldest is about to turn 9. At one point,

they said they wanted 8.

After 4, they said they wanted to stop. My SIL sent me a

book about natural family planning when I was pregnant with

Calvin because it shocked her when I said that I would

probably use the mini-pill (they’re very Catholic). Then I

heard 2 months later that she was pregnant with #5.

Needless to say, I haven’t paid much attention to the book

she sent...

Phyllis

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

> I'm one of those women who'd always want more children. I'm stuck on

> four though, we've run out of money and space. And at 41 I'm feeling

> too old, but sad.

Apart from the age (I am a mere 37!) this is *exactly* me. DS4 is 13 months

now, his babyhood is slipping away and I am mourning every minute that passes.

I would soooo love to be pregnant again, to give birth and to cradle another

newborn but, as you say, money and space don't allow it. My £1 a week on the

lottery is my only hope :-(

Lynda

SAHM to (8), (5), Fraser (3), Callum (15/5/00)

Newsletter editor, Mid-Northumberland Branch

Area Rep, Region 7

www.familygarland.co.uk