Strollerderby

As long as they can take good care of the children, who cares?  

It's none of my business, but it does bother me a little. How can all those children get enough attention? I realize the older kids have to help out, so is that really fair to them?

I got a lot of grief (and a book clearly explaining my direct route to Hell) from a Catholic friend when I told her I was getting a tubal ligation after my second child was born. At least we are in a place where we are able these choices, regardless of what others believe.

I love big families; I don't think it's anyone's business how many kids one has; and I think that many people who have large families are brave because they are often looked upon with disdain: "More than two? Are you crazy? Oh, wait, you must be Catholic." I'm also a conservative (Orthodox) Christian.

That said, the whole "quiverful" thing makes me uneasy. Quiverfull-ers base their family size (an issue of some importance, methinks) on some poetry in the Bible? There are A LOT of things in the Bible, including, "don't wear clothing of mixed fibers."  Any given passage in the Bible can "prove" any given assertion. This kind of craziness is a natural result of Protestant belief, in which any given person is just as able as the next to "correctly" interpret what is in the Good Book.

Singer, your tone may be flippant, and there've been a number of times when I've disagreed with your point of view, but you're dead-on with calling this movement out for what it is: silliness, with serious consequences.

I am the oldest of seven and honestly believe I am a better person for it. Being part of a big family really requires you to practice unselfishness, sharing, and openness. Plus, since the youngest child is 15 years younger than me, I have mad babysitting skills. Personally I plan to have two or three of my own, and then adopt from the foster system. I don't necessarily think it's immoral to have that many children, but I do think that people who feel they can handle such a big family should really take in foster children--there are so many who need loving parents. Also consider that usually these families (and I grew up in a community of Duggar-like families) raise their children to be responsible, considerate, generous, and hardworking, so they will almost certainly make the world a better place.

It bothers me.  The world is overpopulated, and our population in North America uses FAR more of its fair share of resources as it is.  People having 18 kids strikes me as terribly irresponsible, especially if their main reason for doing so is a line out of the bible.  I believe that God gave us brains so we can think these things through on our own.

Knitty -- no proof, but I'd be willing to guess that a lot of families having 5 or more kids may not use a whole lot more energy and resources than a lot of families with two. I'm guessing that with a large family, priorities might be a little more in order, as money is more likely to be tight. Hand-me-downs (clothes & toys) and home entertainment might be the usual, rather than new clothes and toys and buying many things "just because we can." Sure, a van uses more gas than a Prius, but there are plenty of two-kid families that drive SUV's because they "need" to. I think that the "more kids = more consumption" argument is terribly misplaced.

"I think that the "more kids = more consumption" argument is terribly misplaced."

I agree with this when it applies to other countries, such as India, but not this one.  Regardless of how frugal their parents are while raising them, all of those kids are going to grow up and live high-consumption American lifestyles, and they're probably all going to have children of their own... who will grow up to live high-consumption American lifestyles.

I'm also bothered by these families attaining celebrity status for doing nothing more than having baby after baby after baby.

Well, Knitty, I'll be sure to tell my dad and his 8 brothers and sisters (who own a jewelry store, farm, work carpentery, work as a nurse, work in tool-&-die and generally live simply) that they are all horrible consumers and wastes of space because there're just too damn many of them.

Meanwhile I'll tell all the parents in my Chicago neighborhood with the 5,200 sq ft houses and 3 cars for their 1 or 2 children that they're really doing their part for the environment by having so few children.

Really?!?

I agree with you on the celebrity status comment, however.

What I was trying to say by listing a few of my relatives' professions, which I didn't make clear (bad writing!), is that they all have modest jobs and live within their means. Sure, they consume more gasoline than someone in a poorer country, but they are not living extravagant lifestyles. Limiting family size doesn't get to the root of the problem of American consumption. The problem is disposable everything, low standards on car mileage, not turning off lights, materialism.

And to be quite honest, I'm inclined to think that sacrificing for one's many siblings is more likely to inspire one to live a life of sacrifice (humanitarian work, living "less-is-more") than coming from a one or two child household where kids are used to geting what they want because there's enough money. Just my opinion. I have no empirical evidence.

"Well, Knitty, I'll be sure to tell my dad and his 8 brothers and sisters (who own a jewelry store, farm, work carpentery, work as a nurse, work in tool-&-die and generally live simply) that they are all horrible consumers and wastes of space because there're just too damn many of them."

That would be a truly horrible thing to tell them.  Can we lower the tone just a little?  I'm simply pointing out the fact that the more people we have on the planet, the more people we have consuming limited resources, and that this is especially true in high consumption cultures like ours.  These are facts.  What you do with them is your own business; I would never presume to tell anyone how many children they should have or what size of house should be allocated to them.

I grew up an only child, and boy was i spoiled.  the only thing i wanted was siblings, i was very lonely.  I did however get everything i wanted and never learned to do anything for myself, shamefully.  I think that since these people can afford their children they should be able to have them without constant critiscism.  Also did you know that our population is not multiplying at a rate that it should, they are saying we are actually looking at a population shortage.  I also dont find anything wrong with growing up with responsibilities.  People who dont grow up with responsibilities or limits have trouble going out on their own and surviving.  These people are doing their children a favor.