One more
@OpinionatedLady (5965)
United States
June 2, 2010 10:20am CST
Well we are a family of five with a very soon to be number 6. We come from an area (rural) where it is normal to have large families and this number is actually the average size house hold. We did not grow up here, we grew up in New Jersey where anything more then two kids is deemed insane apparently. To have more then two there is to be the same as growing another arm and the folks we still know down there have made that quite clear that they too think that way. Now my husband comes from a family of 5 and if everyone had survived we would have been a family of 6 growing up (look at that how you like). It was a different type of area when we where growing up there more rural/suburban compared to it's very urban feel now. How about in your area? Are families larger or smaller? Are big families frowned upon? Also when you answer I am curious to see if you live in an urban, suburban or rural area and to see if this makes a difference in the attitudes.
2 people like this
7 responses
@celticeagle (167211)
• Boise, Idaho
3 Jun 10
I live in a urban area. A large capitol city. I think that larger families usually do better in rural areas. I really do. Look at Eddie Murphy. He has eight kids! I think if you can afford it enjoy it. If you can't QUIT HAVING BABIES!!!! I feel like it is only common sense.
@celticeagle (167211)
• Boise, Idaho
12 Jun 10
That is sad. I just find it hard to believe people aren't able to find jobs. It is hard because I always was able to find work. It just seems so strange.
@OpinionatedLady (5965)
• United States
5 Jun 10
True very true. It is hard for those who had the kids when they could afford it then lost jobs and what not. We are close to that when I got pregnant we could afford it no issue, now that Hubby lost job it's a little tougher, we'll make it but we would not have gotten pregnant had we know this would happen, but who ever knows what life will through at you. But I also know of other families with many kids who where prepared for if one parent lost a job but then both did and in this market it is hard to find a new one that pays what is needed to support a large family. we know a couple that happened to, he was a higher up in a local company that had been in business here for 146 years, they disbanded the entire business about a year ago. Now they have 10 kids and they had savings put aside that supported them through the first 9 months or so but as no jobs are hiring at a price they can live at for an older man with limited skills (he worked up from a entry level job to building manager over 29 years and was about to retire) he has had to take two menial jobs and his wife who also lost her job at another local company she had been at for 18 years, has been making and selling baked goods at some local shops. They are making work but not well. People like this are the ones I feel the worst for.
1 person likes this
@houseki (5)
• Philippines
3 Jun 10
Hi, I'm from the Philippines and I live in an urban area. Around here there are also almost always a large family somewhere. Big families are frowned upon here, especially if the parents or the family are poor. But if the family is rich and can pay for the needs of each family member, then they are not really a big deal to others.
@TheAdvocate (2392)
• Philippines
3 Jun 10
Yes, big families are frowned upon here in the Philippines, except the Church (Roman Catholic) seem to encourage them. The Catholic Church here objects to any government action controlling the increase of population. That is why the poor people are usually the ones with big families.
@AmbiePam (92994)
• United States
2 Jun 10
Well, I'm thinking about my dad's family. He is the 15th of 16 kids. Same mom and dad, and no twins. And he lived way back in the country. Still yet, I know other families he grew up, and they didn't have large families at all. But I do think that people in the country tend to have larger families. Maybe it has to do with different values? I don't mean people's values are right and wrong. I'm thinking more along the line of what kind of importance they place on things in their life. How they grew up possibly...
I am one of two kids. We grew up in a suburban area. I guess you'd call it a suburban area. I didn't know a lot of people with huge families. Although I did go to school with a girl who had 11 brothers and sisters. But they were really the exception.
@OpinionatedLady (5965)
• United States
2 Jun 10
Yes the older generations definitely had bigger families. My Nana was one of 11 who came to the States and there where a few left in Ireland that where older and had their own families already. My husbands Grandfather is one of the oldest of 13, where they live now is considered urban but he grew up into that as he is still in same area that when he was born was rural.
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
2 Jun 10
hi opinionatedlady yes in 'ca specially 'southern Ca large families are frowned at, I have no idea why unless its that its so expensive to try to live here it take two paychecks to rent or pay housepayments and
care for the family that the fewer mouths to feed the better. I was born in South Dakota and large families were quite common as most were farmers and all hands were needed to keep up the farms. but my own family was small, just my parents my younger sister and myself. but that was very uncommon. mymom just could not bear more children.
@OpinionatedLady (5965)
• United States
2 Jun 10
Yes I can see where the cost of living in an urban area would of coarse make a huge difference but if someone can afford it is it still looked down upon?
@TheAdvocate (2392)
• Philippines
2 Jun 10
I live in the capital of a third world country where the norm is large families. We are also a largely Catholic country and our church frowns on artificial contraception. Since 1/3 of the 90M or so population live below the poverty line, the average family is composed of 6 members. So what you consider as big is just the average in the Philippines. These are usually the middle-class families who earn a little over minimum wage. It is normal for those living below the poverty line to have 6 children, with barely a year apart each child.
I remember watching the reality show about the Duggars. Here in the Philippines we have a lot of families with a lot of children, but very rarely with the same mother.
@jennyze (7028)
• Indonesia
3 Jun 10
There was a cameo in Indonesia: more children, more prosperity, means when you have more children, your life will become prosper. Therefore, families from before 1960 had at least three children. Hence, the difficulty to send all children to good schools, thus unemployment problem we are facing, now.
Young generation knew better. Due to high cost in education, not enough time to raise many children since wife also has to work now, so we opted to have one or two children maximum.
@josga2008 (320)
• Canada
2 Jun 10
I've lived in both urban and rural areas. My character hasn't changed much as I live in one or the other. I would say that the only thing I feel differently is the level of stress, being higher in an urban area. Not that stress is always less in rural areas. It depends on what else is happening in your life I suppose.
