Not much more to say really.. one is a baby, 3 are toddlers and the other 3 are 8yo+
Will reply when I find some time in my hectic life :)
[AMA] I Have 7 Children Ranging from 1 Month to 12 Years Old, 3 of Which Are Toddlers
MrKnowItAll on 28/06/2021 - 21:03
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no.7 was the most natural, born spontaneously in our lounge room.. was barely enough time to process what was happening, let alone get to the hospital haha
i have a mate whos part of 12 siblings lol now i gotta ask same question
You'd think after 7 kids you would realise what was happening…
couplegoals
both on ozb
going by date - i'm guessing hubby introduced?He did! I'm sure he regrets it though :P
Do you ever consider the environmental impact of overpopulation and, if so, how do you justify having so many kids?
This has been addressed on previous comments :)
I don't see anywhere where you address whether you consider these issues. I can only assume you don't given you seem to think having loads of kids is a wonderful achievement.
Thanks to SleeplessAndSavvy, you can stop feeling the pressure to have any yourself.
Then you can sleep well at night, knowing you are doing your part in not over-populating Earth, by having little/no children in a nation, with fertility rate of 1.78 (which means Australia's population does not replicate 1:1 in each generation from its current citizens).
Soooo you're just not going to answer on this point?
…aaaand here comes the high horse. Watch out people. Straighten to yourselves up!
It's kinda pathetic if you think even asking about the environmental aspect of a significant life decision is a "high horse".
Asking someone to JUSTIFY why they have so many kids based on environment? Yeah that screams high horse. HOW DARE THEY!! <insert Greta Thunberg grumpy bum face>
@Cusack: caitsith01's moral high ground trumps all your puny common sense arguments mate ;) We should all commit to max 2 (and best 0!) children to please him and the environment. Otherwise, we should all be named and shamed in Oz, since Australia is a problem in the global overpopulation puzzle the size of the big players on the other continents.
@Greem85: Not to please me, to try to ensure the planet is habitable for us and the rest of life on earth in the future. Including for you and any kids you might have had, and this bloke and his 19 children.
And don't give me the "other countries are worse" argument, it's all the same planet and each kid in Australia is being born into a country with an appalling per capita contribution to climate change.
@caitsith01: Yes, let's not use math and reason when discussing a quantifiable numbers. Sounds like a proper thing to do - unless you have a technical and data analytics background like I do. That makes my teeth hurt, when discussing topics like that based on "one's truth" rather than solid numbers.
Let's see - 7.674 billion people on this planet, with Australian population clocking at a whooping 25.36 million. That makes us an astounding 0.3% population of the world (making each ~7.7 million new human lives +0.1% at current world pop.).
Continent-wise, we are a blip on the world's radar in regard to overpopulation. Nothing we do will matter, unless we will decide to start replicating population at 2x (or more) in each generation, in which case it will still take us ~3 generations to hit being 1% of the world.
Fertility rate of a nation has to be AT least at 2.1, otherwise nations do not replicate in each generation, but rather slowly go extinct. That means each woman in each generation in a nation has to have 2 children, and every 10th has to have 3, otherwise there will be less and less of us.
With the above knowledge in mind, in order for a nation to double its population in each generation, you`d have to double the above numbers. Sounds doable? Not really, unless all nation decides to commit.
Quiz time now: what is Australia's fertility rate at the moment? It is 1.74, meaning that we are not hitting the above numbers, which translates to a prognosis for 2050 of there being less Australians than the current population. With current pandemic situation, it is a rather safe prognosis that immigration is not going to be making up for these numbers for a while, if at all assuming the world will go back to normal at some point in future.
So unless you are eager to live in a society where average age will start steeply climbing and reach EU's levels, with less and less people there to actually work for wellbeing of the country after you retire, it is a necessity to allow people to have as many children as they want, not point your finger at families who like children and are making up for what you probably are not going to do.
@Greem85: Yes, I am familiar with our fertility rate as a nation.
All of that proceeds on the basis that the completely arbitrary divisions between countries are somehow relevant to the overall impact of humans on the planet. The mix of gases in the atmosphere doesn't know or care whether you are Australian or Indian or whatever.
As to your last paragraph, it's actually essential that we do figure out how to operate as a species without depending on infinite population growth for our wellbeing, so yeah, I kinda do want ot live in a version of that society.
Your post really comes down to the usual (wrong) argument of "other people elsewhere are doing bad stuff so nothing we do matters".
@caitsith01: You do realize, that even if we`ll grow to a slightly higher % of the global population, the volume of gases we emit of people into the atmosphere will still be proportional that %, right?
I disagree with your line of thinking, because we seem to believe that setting an example will make other nations follow. The reality is that the most numerous nations on this planet, which are responsible for beefy multiples of 10s of %s in the share I mentioned above, will not even acknowledge our stand. Instead, they will carry on with what works for them, because that is the nature of a successful nation - it keeps at what works for them, not minding the surroundings.
If you will look at The World Bank's website, GDP and population data for Australia shows a sudden uptake in GDP value right around 2002, at the same time when population growth rate increased. Sure, correlation does not mean causation, but it points at an underlaying mechanism in place, which by common sense could mean "more people working for a country = better wealth of the nation".
All in all, I do believe that our contribution is, and will be negligible on the global scale. Having a moral high ground over other nations will only translate to recession, and these nations gaining an edge towards us.
@Cusack: Yeah, justify. Meaning that having lots of children has some obvious negative effects on the environment, and I'm trying to understand how someone can convince him/herself that those negative effects are justified.
Frankly it seems extremely selfish to me and I fundamentally cannot understand how anyone with any interest at all in the current environmental crisis could think they should have that many kids.
I am going to guess that OP probably doesn't think about the environment at all, or if he does thinks that it's all a bit of a joke and climate change and mass extinctions aren't a major problem.
@caitsith01: Ah so you haven't really done anything yourself. This isn't really abt climate change is it. It's just a topic you chose to whine abt and berate people on…. Coz it makes you feel important.
Don't argue with these people. They are all triggered parents. They will not know what climate change is even when the sea levels rise and flood their houses. They think solar panels and musk will save the planet.
Can I ask what you yourself have done to help fix climate change?
My issue is not specifically preventing climate change. We went past that threshold long time ago. My issue is that the previous generation, my generation and future generations will have to bear the brunt of climate change.
If I know the building I am on has severe structural issues and is going to collapse soon, I am not going to be bringing more people into the building.
@dudebargain: Imagine your partner really wanted kids. And having to say NO because of …..climate change. Holy cow!
@Cusack: Imagine thinking about the dire future the next generation will be subjected to and deciding against having children. Too extreme, am I right? Lol
Great logic. "They have children, they are beneath us, and we shan
t discuss the matters with them". Go ahead, and shout some more into your echo chamber then, youll definitely get all the praise from doing that you expect.This is a public AMA. I have not asked any unreasonable questions. Stop virtue signaling on what questions can be asked on a Ask Me Anything post.
what do you feel is a minimum you need to provide for each kid?
Minimum what? Time? Money? Affection? Sanity?! It differs for each child as some need more than others. I think as long as you're available when they need you, and you're willing to stop everything you're doing to be there and support their wants/needs, then no one misses out.
How many nappies you go thru and do you have a second bin?.
We go through a packet of 50 a week between the 2/3 year old. They're toilet training though so they're using less each week.
1 year old goes through around 6-8 nappies a day
Baby goes through about 6-8 also.
We got a second bin about 2 weeks ago :)
You really stuck it to the environment hey.
How do you remember all their names?
i reckon they have enough time between each kid to memorize haha but lets hear
We go through the list of names and they usually correct us if we get it wrong!
Well luckily Arya didn't get it wrong!
We have two kids at this stage and may think about having more further down the track. We like kids too but I don't think we will have more than 4.
I think it's great to have a big family and I have met a couple of big family and my impression is that they usually have a good relationship together.
I am curious how both of your family react when they found you were expecting your first child? Were they supportive? How did both of you manage studying while you are raising the kids?
I found it difficult enough to manage some day to day tasks and it's hard to imagine how people study while having kids.
I can't imagine how my life would be like if I was a teenage parent but I feel that people should prioritise having kids nowadays as some people want to have kids too late and find it hard to conceive.
Also, after having experience as young parents, would you suggest your kids to have kids earlier? Would you accept/help if they have kids as teenagers?
From my family's experience 3 is a magic number, allowing kids to always team up against the odd one when they fight ;)
Hi and apologies if this has been asked.
Will you have more kids in the future? If so, how do you know how many kids is enough for you both?
We have 3 kids, 13yr 5yr and 2 yr old. We're always asking each other if we want more before I get closer to geriatric age.Why on earth you waited so long for the fourth baby when you were on a roll
No questions but geez you're keen.
Thank you for having children to keep the economy growing!
Just means we need to import less Indians. Unless OP is Indian…
Are you aware of climate change and how its effects will play out over the next 50 years?
You are carrying wood into a burning house.
Are you aware of virtue signallers who feel better abt themselves by telling people they're wrong, even though deep down they're not really concerned abt the topic?
Are you usually not accepting of facts? And use flashy terms like virtue signalling to avoid facts?
100% agree with facts. But you just HAD to accuse someone of making it worse by having extra kids?? Are you really, truly concerned abt it? I mean really that concerned?
@Cusack: I was not accusing them of making it worse. I was asking if they have thought of their children how climate change will effect their lives.
Because unless op is a multi millionaire and can shield their 7 children to some degree from the effects? I am going guess they are not. Because a millionaire will not be posting in a bargain website bragging about their number of kids.
Also why are parents so on the edge when asked about climate change? Because you subconsciously know what is coming in a few decades? But also could not help and be selfish anyway? Or do you think that shiny new 13.5kw solar panel on your roof is going to save the planet? Or is that musk is going to save the planet? And how can anyone think otherwise?
Anything else in life can be questioned. But god forbid, a parent is questioned on their decision to have children. Specially given what we know of climate change.
@dudebargain: Ah my apologies, I misread your analogy. I didn't realize you were asking why parents are deciding to have kids in the first place when the world is imploding.
Hello greens voter.
He reads more like a red really.
Probably more an northern beaches (sydney) latte sipping, mansion owning, virtue signalling blue.
Are you guys Catholic by any chance? Seems to be a common theme with Catholic couples and having many children due to contraception being taboo and what not :P
Edit: Never mind, just saw a few posts asking the same thing (and OP's response)!
What are your tips and advice for new parents?
Only 6 to go !
More assets for the government
I hope the people making judgmental comments about how its environmentally irresponsible to have children are also fully prepared not to access Medicare or the government aged pension in the future, as it's working-aged taxpayers that fund these schemes
All were natural. Although I did beg for a c-section during a few labours lol