Environmental implications of a large family

[MilkOnTap]

With a husband who is a greenie at heart its hard to avoid ALL topics and subjects coming back to being environmentally based.

One thing we have been pondering lately is whether or not we would have another child after this one. Of course ideally I would LOVE to have 2 or 3 children (finances permitting) :yes:

Hubby however seems to be keen on the notion that the environment is under enough pressure and strain that a larger family would use too many unrenewable resources, so essentially our children, and grandchildren etc would be better off if we kept our family small :rolleyes:

I know this is all a bit different to the normal way of pondering the extension of one's family - I'm just wondering if environmental considerations are things that many people take into account - or if its just my greenie hubby? :o

[stellaj]

It is more the distribution of both the poplulation and the available resources that is the problem IMOP. I am talking more on a world scale I guess.

[xkwzit]

Dear PL
There are plenty of people populating the planet w/o even giving this a second thought (and I'm not talking about 3rd world countries - I mean people in developed nations). Who will raise the next generation of greenies if you guys don't give birth to them?

I know I am not at all objective, but I'd like to think my kids will be a positive for the planet - not a negative. (how's that for mummy-pride?) Besides, think of all the recycling you will do...:D

Cheers

[Shanaynay]

Who will raise the next generation of greenies if you guys don't give birth to them?


Exactly - raising environmentally aware children would have to be better for the planet than raising none at all :thumbsup:

[eternalmaternal]

Ditto to the above responses. We need more environmentally considerate children:yes:

[MilkOnTap]

So I should play that card huh... We need to breed a whole TRIBE of environmentally conscientious kidlets to carry on my husbands 'life-calling' LOL :laughing:

[TwoBlue]

I always said.. What if my "next" child was the one who would make the difference, change the world???... You just never know :)

[Pippi Longstocking]

That is the way I justify my large family - I am raising environmental warriors :yes:
I do see his point though and it is worth pondering. I guess it's a matter of weighing it up. I balance the extra drain as best I can by trying to tread as gently on the Earth as I can. But at the end of the day, that's all bollocky justification for me having a bazillion kids just cos I wanna :o :D

[nut]

My DH used to say all the same stuff about family size and environmental concerns but hey presto once our DS was in his arms he has completely changed his opinion and feels that more babies are definitely required!!!!

I wish you a tribe of green bubbas, Ally!:hugs:

[Celebrity]

I agree with XWIZIT.

We have what todays society define as a large family - 4 Children.

I totally believe that the planet will benefit from their existence. My children have been brought up to recycle.

My 2 year old knows which bin to put his tissues in, and which to put his pop top bottle in.

If my four children pass the message onto to even one person each, how much of the planet will be saved from rubbish and pollution?

[Josh]

Hi pink lady, I am a mum of 9 kids and i have never heard this comment before, its a rational one though, there are certainly pros and cons to all subjects, but i dont think that a large family is environmentally draining :no:,they will be an asset to the economy when they are older.:wave:

[Ffrenchknickers]

I think it is strange....I have heard this comment quite alot lately as we ponder whether or not to have number 4.

[Ffrenchknickers]

oops,not saying your hubby is strange pl!!:o

More saying it is strange that I have heard this comment so many times lately and now you bring it up!:laughing:

[borntobemummy]

apparently, in Australia, we actually need to increase the population to sustain the country, both environmentally and economically into the future...it is grossly underpopulated compared to other nations around the world who are under strain of overpopulation. A good solution would be spreading the populations by bringing more ppl here either through immigration or adoption.

[mumo5]

oh my gosh. I've never thought of the number of kids vs the environment before. But if it's any consolation to your dh... I have 5 children and as much as people admire me struggling down the street trying to keep my kids walking in a semi-orderly fashion.. the admiration on their face when they pick up a piece of litter (that they didn't drop) off the ground and find a bin is priceless. My children always comment when they pick the litter up that "if everyone picks up a piece of rubbish instead of walking past it then there won't be any rubbish to pick up next time you walk down the street! Hey mummy?" and I always say "that's right!" :yes:
I have taught my kids that lesson since they could walk. I believe that it is our right as a human being to look after this planet and it will look after us and my children following in my footsteps. I couldn't be prouder. My children have their own section of our vegie garden that they look after. And not that too many beans make it to our dinner tables (the kids love nibbling while we're picking.. so do I :o ) but with our recycling aswell I hope I am doing my little bit to ensure our children and grandchildren have a happy place to raise their children and grandchildren. :)

[Jodiee]

Hi pink lady, I am a mum of 9 kids and i have never heard this comment before, its a rational one though, there are certainly pros and cons to all subjects, but i dont think that a large family is environmentally draining :no:,they will be an asset to the economy when they are older.:wave:


I agree with this totally, and just want to say, Congrats on your super family, Im so jealous!! Well done!!

[PunkyDiva]

Although I feel guilty about having a large family and wanting more until now it has been because I feel for people trying hard to conceive one child and the children out there already who have never known the warmth and security of a stable home.
I can not help the first other then with thoughts and prayers, but have already done so and hope to once again on a more formal basis, open my home and family to the second.

Embarrassingly, the environment has prob never been a lingering factor. We do our bit to minimise our impact and like others I hope my legacy/contribution will be a new generation of people who respect and care enough to be actively conscious of their own impact too, socially, economically and environmentally. :fingerscrossed:

[MilkOnTap]

oops,not saying your hubby is strange pl!! More saying it is strange that I have heard this comment so many times lately and now you bring it up!

LOL - Yeah yeah, I know what your trying to say LOL... :laughing:


My children always comment when they pick the litter up that "if everyone picks up a piece of rubbish instead of walking past it then there won't be any rubbish to pick up next time you walk down the street! Hey mummy?" and I always say "that's right!"

Your children sound like environmental warriors! What awesome kids... You must be VERY proud of them :yes:

This is something that is still on my mind - though I guess we will see after this bub is born what direction we are headed. The earth is already grossly overpopulated, and the fact that we live under a gov't who are PAYING us (baby bonus) to continue populating just seems absurd. There are hundreds of thousands of people in foreign countries wishing to flee due to dictatorship, famine etc... I just dont understand why migration isn't encouraged more.

Anyway - it seems that my husband and I are a bit of a minority in this way of thinking :o Maybe we are nut-cases after all...

[FourAngelKisses]

I'm just wondering if environmental considerations are things that many people take into account - or if its just my greenie hubby? :o

That was the last thing on my mind. I was thinking of more important things like another little child to love. All the extra hugs, kisses, smiles, laughs, the noise of them all playing happilly together. I have always wanted a large family, so I went and got myself one.

[mumo5]

LOL - Yeah yeah, I know what your trying to say LOL...



Your children sound like environmental warriors! What awesome kids... You must be VERY proud of them

This is something that is still on my mind - though I guess we will see after this bub is born what direction we are headed. The earth is already grossly overpopulated, and the fact that we live under a gov't who are PAYING us (baby bonus) to continue populating just seems absurd. There are hundreds of thousands of people in foreign countries wishing to flee due to dictatorship, famine etc... I just dont understand why migration isn't encouraged more.

Anyway - it seems that my husband and I are a bit of a minority in this way of thinking :o Maybe we are nut-cases after all...

I don't think you or your husband are "nut cases" sweetie. I actually applaud the fat that you are putting some thought into what the perfect family for you and dh will be. Your husband's beliefs are nothing to laugh at as they are a very serious issue in alot of people's minds. And if we aren't careful it will become a reality for alot of other people in the future. And I totally agree with you on the baby bonus aswell.. I'm not saying that it didn't come in handy. :p But I didn't have my baby for the money.. he was a big surprise as we had decided we had finished our family after we had my 4th who was 4 and a half when my 5th came along. I would never give him back to the universe now that I have him but he definately wasn't a planned treasure. I had finished having my baby's when it was still $800 baby bonus. But for first time mums out there that haven't got any baby gear it really can come in handy. :ecomcity: I LOVE TO HEAR THE SOUND OF MY FINGERS ON THE KEYBOARD DON'T I :D
Don't worry... I'll shut up now

[MilkOnTap]

A good solution would be spreading the populations by bringing more ppl here either through immigration or adoption.

Adoption! That is something I hadn't even considered!!! What a beautiful fantastic way to extend our family!!!

I have to sit on this one... Thanks BTBM! :thumbsup: