I just gotta take a minute and vent!!!!!

[t2simon]

I just had to reply.

First, congratulations! I wish you a happy, peaceful pregnancy.

I have been on all sides of this situation! I come from a family of 5 natural, 1 adopted child. Am the mother of my angel christine, born still 2/12/98, and my earth angel Aaron/Buzz Lightyear, born 8/19/99. We decided to stop with Aaron, as I will be 40 next year (although, if the Lord blessed me with making my BC pill not work, I wouldn't mind too much ) and after Christine, this pregnancy was so stressful (but thankfully uneventful) that we thought it best. Of course, everyone makes comments on how could we do that to him, won't he be lonely, all kids must have a sibling, etc. Honestly, I give you all the credit in the world - I'm lucky I have the patience for the one I have!

I have also gotten all the insensitive comments about my angel daughter. You know, "at least you didn't know her yet", It would have been so much harder if she was born alive and died later, etc. She wasn't alive before? How much harder could it be???? When you ask my parents how many grandchildren they have, they always say six. Excuse me, what about Christine? Was she not your grandchild too. If you ask how many children they have, however, they will say six, even though my dear sister (the adopted one) passed away when she was 24.

Anyway, the best way I have found to handle these type of comments is to tell them how insensitive they are. My philosophy is they will never know how much their comments hurt us if we don't tell them. Maybe, if we educate them a little, they will won't hurt someone else with their insensitive comment.

Sorry, this turned into my own little vent, didn't it?

Again, CONGRATULATIONS! I can't wait to hear of your little ones arrival!!!

 

[emmagata]

Originally posted by CindyKansas
My Aunt, who is 4 years older than myself, has 12 children. The oldest is 24 the youngest is 4. The oldest had her first child last June and is currently expecting twins. My uncle is an instructor at Kansas State University and she Home Schools. I think she's crazy, but hey, it's her life and I figure she can do what she wants.

Yikes!!!!

That figures out to being pregnant for 9 years out of last 20!!!

 

[crazymomof4]

When I handed my best friend the + pregnancy test of my 4th baby I was crying and said, "I'm afraid people will think I'm a nymphomaniac rabbit, totally out of control!" Well, not only did pregnancy #4 turn out to be the 1st girl but it taught me several lessons.
~Big families are fun! There's lots of laughter and always someone to do something with. No one is bored or lonely.
~Contrary to what people think, your love doesn't have to stretch over a big family....it GROWS to accomadate. And that's what really matters, that kids are loved.
~Over the past 2 years I've realized that there are not as many dissapproving people out there as you might think. For every 1 person who views your large family as a negative there are 2 out there who are in awe of you. Recently I've had a lot of positive comments about my ablilities as a mom and my children in general. For example, a friend's husband told an expectant friend of ours, "If you need any advice just ask [my name], she has a wealth of knowledge" (He wasn't being sarcastic!) I use these comments as encouragement to help me laugh off the rude comments.
~In general, children of large families become responsible at an earlier age. Out of necessity they learn to do things to help out around the house. They learn tolerance and understanding of younger siblings.

We are not planning any more children but if I got pregnant again I would be happy this time and not worry so much about what others think or say. Different strokes for different folks but no matter how you look at it children are blessings and I feel very, very, very, very, blessed.......and so should you!!

Funny story: Just today my friend (a mom of 2) and I split up in the mall. She took her two and 3 of mine. As I walked away I heard a man say to her, "Holy Cow, how many ya got here?" I chuckled and kept walking thinking that now she has a taste of what it's like to be me.

 

[house_of_princesses]

Congrats, Kristi! And Blessings! I'd like to welcome you to visit our church. We have 4 DD's and that's a small family for our church! And they still love us there!

CindyKansas, is it the 4 DD's or the Home educating that makes me crazy?! I figure why not surround ourselves with people who take us the way we are. Don't need the extra flak.