Sacrifices....

[V8]

Hey ladies of large families,

I know that being a parent takes a lot of sacrifice, but what do you guys with a larger family feel you have sacrificed for your kids??? Do you think you would do anything differently?

I am thinking along the way of, you wouldn't be able to have a career, you'd sacrifice a lot of 'alone' time, you'd also sacrifice a lot financially and wouldn't necessarily be able to give the children everything or go for holidays when you want.

What has been your experiences?

[mum2my4]

Hi,

I have four children aged 1,2,3 and 5. Even though I am happy my children are close together ideally I would have liked a larger gap between the last two they are 13mths apart.

My children may not have everything they want but they have everything they need. I don't want my children to have everything anyway. I chose to give them each other, Siblings are such a priceless gift they may not always get along but they are with you for life.

I stay at home, I have no career, we don't take holidays unless we stay at someone's house, my kids share everything, it's a lot of hard work, but I wouldn't change it for anything.

I have found the sacrifices to be well worth it.:yes:

[V8]

Thanks for the reply. I agree siblings are great. I grew up as one of 4 and loved it, most of the time. lol. We were pretty lucky my dad owned a business and we never went without and also were able to go to theme parks and things like that. So we were very lucky. I hope to have 4 kids but know that it won't give us as many options and i probably won't be able to have a career, or even a job for that matter as raising children is a full time job!

[mum2my4]

Good luck TTC I hope it all goes well for you

[PunkyDiva]

I don't really feel we have sacrificed anything.
I try hard to beleive that the world is my oyster and that I can maintain a happy, healthy balance for all my family members ie me, DH and children.
We may not be financially rich but we have still been able to do a lot of things such as travel o/s and studying that others told us couldn't be done with so many children in tow.
Very much depends on your outlook and determination.

[V8]

Thanks Punkydiva.

I plan on getting my degree and having a career aswell as having a large family. I think it can be done. I just gotta find the right balance for me and my family. I also want to be able to travel with our children, DS has already been overseas once just after his first birthday, i think it's great to be able to do things like that too.

Thanks for the encouragement!

[spiritedfamily]

I agree...I don't feel I've lost anything, it would be a sacrifice to not have had a large family. I've felt this is my career in life...full-time Mum and we too feel that siblings are apriceless gift to our children. My first ds thanked me yesterday for giving him a baby brother...he is so proud of this new life in our family. Thats topped it for me.

Holidays will come later
Job opportunities will come later

Now is the most precious time...I feel its a calling to have a large family

[CJJHRA]

my kids are my career :D

I dont feel like I have really sacrificed all too much at all to have a large family, maybe only time with DH at the moment, but give it a few years and we will have more time together.

and we have just started in a business, and its GOING to do great! in 2-3 years we will be able to sit back and watch the money come in.

[V8]

Thanks ladies. I hope we will be as blessed as you are with a large family :D

Thanks so much!

[MummyCharmzy]

I don't feel I've sacrificed anything either, except for going to the toilet and showering in peace lol

[Aquamarine]

What a great thread.

I will be keeping an eye on this one.

[eternalmaternal]

My only sacrafice is going to work:thumbsdown: 2 nights a week to afford all that I provide my children. I would be doing that if I had a large or small family as dp doesn't work. My girls have everything they need and more. We do take holidays and they do participate in activities such as ballet, swimming, playgroups etc etc. I am happy to have a large family and would sacrafice my life for them if I had to:yes: .I hope to have 1 or 2 more baby blessings.

[V8]

Hehe @ Charmzy, good response hun! lol

[V8]

My only sacrafice is going to work:thumbsdown: 2 nights a week to afford all that I provide my children. I would be doing that if I had a large or small family as dp doesn't work. My girls have everything they need and more. We do take holidays and they do participate in activities such as ballet, swimming, playgroups etc etc. I am happy to have a large family and would sacrafice my life for them if I had to:yes: .I hope to have 1 or 2 more baby blessings.

Thats beautiful, thanks for sharing! I hope you get to have 1 or 2 more too.

[mumo5]

Hey ladies of large families,

I am thinking along the way of, you wouldn't be able to have a career, you'd sacrifice a lot of 'alone' time, you'd also sacrifice a lot financially and wouldn't necessarily be able to give the children everything or go for holidays when you want.

What has been your experiences?

I wouldn't change things for the world. All I think of is that I can do all the "fun" things when I am older. That way I've had my kids while I could keep up with them and when they are grown up then I can let out a big deep breath while I'm enjoying my holiday. I wouldn't want to put my family off for a job. After all.... the career will always be there.
And I'm not saying that's how it is for every lady out there.. That's just what has worked for me. When I'm 36... My oldest will be 18 and my youngest will be 7ys old. So I can still go out there in the wide world and do something different but still have my kids aswell. :thumbsup: By the way... I personally think holidays are over rated. I've been to new zealand 3 times in 4 years and as much as I loved it over there.. I missed my kids terribly. I can't describe the joy of hugging your kids when you haven't seen them for over a week. I must admit though.. I am a lucky one though. My husband stayed home and worked while my mum looked after my 4 kids.

[kelpat]

I don't regret not having a career, I couldn't decide what I wanted to do anyway.
As for holidays we save up all the rewards off our credit cards and flybuys to get us tickets to the theme parks and we have family scattered all over the place to visit. Last holiday we all piled in the car and first stayed at one relo's for a couple of nights then another the next night looking at the sight as we went . The kids had a ball.
We go camping alot too. And we have movie nights on Fridays , so the kids have microwave popcorn and it's like being at the cinema for them. They love it,. :thumbsup:

[Roopee]

I dont feel i have scraficed anything either. That being said though, some days i would love a break and i know thats not going to happen so i just suck it up and get on with it.
My kids are my life, and, yeah the purse strings are tight but the kids are all so close to each other and great friends-that makes it worth it.