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In recent years there have been a spate of shows on television's TLC , and several other networks.
"Jon and Kate Plus Eight"
"The Duggars - Nineteen and Counting" and several others. Around the same time we were treated to the antics of the Octomom, whose fertility enhanced exploits failed to earn her more than fifteen minutes of fame.
In the world of adoption, there are families with ten, twelve, and fifteen children. There are families that adopt entire groups of children who have severe special needs.
While birth rates have dipped since the baby boom, there are movements among ultra conservative Christians such as the "Quiver Full Movement" , of which the Duggars are members. This movement advocates that all Christians have at least five children. ( In ancient times arrows were kept in a quiver and a quiver held fiver arrows - a Psalm states "blessed is a man with a quiver full of children...")
I also know other people with utra large families who are neither conservative nor Christian.
What are your thoughts about this? Is there a set number that is too much? Or is it all good? Do you think these people are doing this for altruistic reasons or selfish or something else?
I am not religious by any means so when people have a lot of children for god, seems a bit off to me. In the grand scheme of things I really dont care as long as they can provide for the children or dont expect the world cater to them because they have so many kids. I have a former friend that had 6 kids. She will tear up stores and restaurants with her brood and have the attitude "well I've got 6 kids!" My husband grew up in a large family and I find my in-laws to be annoying at family events. Everyone shouts over each other and its a lot of commotion. Also someone is always peeved at someone else. Lots of drama. It wears on my nerves because of my personality. My son though (an only child) loves the liveliness of the family get togethers. I see the benefits of large and small families. I just dont really have an opinion on what others do regarding how many children they have, as long as the kids are provided for.
To each his own -- as long as the parents can afford the kids and care for them, it doesn't matter if they have one or a dozen. Big families can be a lot of fun, adoption isn't all that cheap or easy today. Not everyone is qualified to adopt older children who may have special needs.
Parents wanting and capable of financially supporting a dozen kids are rare enough today and are offset by those who want none or only one.
I used to think I wanted a large number of children. Due to circumstances, I ended up with three. Two are mine biologically.
Now, I have a friend who has six kids. Most are grown, the youngest is 15. She is Catholic and came from a family of eight. When I have been to her house for holiday events, there are all the "kids" there plus some of their kids, wives, husbands, etc... and I have mixed feelings about the whole large family thing now.
On the one hand, her kids are all very close and it is heartwarming to watch. She herself says that she was NOT close to her siblings though, so having a large family is no guarantee of that. But it is really chaotic and loud. I just don't think I could stand it. Maybe it's just a matter of what you are used to..? I grew up with just one brother, who is much older, so I was an only child in practice and got used to lots and lots of quiet time.
As long the kids are wanted and cared for, then I don't see a problem with it. The thing with octomom is that she is/was struggling to care for her kids.
If the parents have the resources and finances, then I say do as you wish. Of course, even with resources and finances, people may have more children than they can care for; in these situations, it is sad for the kids.
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