9 kids + 1 on the way, another couple who think

[trt]

they deserve a bigger house. Surely they should stop breeding?

http://www.express.co...ncil-house-in-country

[NOX]

Well that told all of us that have large families then didn't it. Shoot me now.

[starone]

I wonder how the Chinese enforced their law? It is a very large country and there are places that are very isolated. Perhaps we could do what they did. Although the same thing would happen wouldn't it - everyone would start shouting about Human Rights.

[sherrardk]

Whilst I think ten children is excessive, I do take offence at '... Three children is enough ... uneducated folly'.

[Old_Geezer]

China is an oligarchy and imposes more or less what it wants to on the masses. They can thus impose some laws that would not be acceptable in a western democracy. In a democracy one has to rely more on encouragement and persuasion to get folk to act responsibly. Thus the suggestions of taxing, and the criticism of child benefit for later children.

[Sir Alec]

Well, NOX, my Dad is one of 9. He never wanted kids as he said there was always a screaming baby in the house. None of his family has had more than 3. I think that speaks volumes.
My Mum (one of 5), desperately wanted kids but could only have 2 as she needed caesarians. However, I'm quite sure that she would never have had more than 3. It's just common sense. You have the ones that you can afford and therefore give them a better life.

[NOX]

I take great offence at the whole thing since niether my wife nor I have ever claimed benefits, and frankly I don't feel that as a tax payer ( ha, first time I've ever said that) anyone has the right to critisise my choice of size of family. Me and my now grown up children (who also pay taxes) have to pay for care for all you ( responsible?) people who have decided to never have children and thus have no-one to care for you in your dotage;-)

[Old_Geezer]

There's the problem, apparently an excess of folk looking for (carer ?) jobs to get off of welfare.

[sherrardk]

I have five children, all with my husband and all planned (did not plan for twins though). We were, unfortunely, on benefits for a short time and it was really horrible. This is no longer the case. Our children are loved and well cared for and I would fully challenge any one who said any different. I have been stared at whilst people have counted by children and asked by the doctor (whilst taking one of the little ones for an appointment) if I had heard of the morning after pill. I truly find some of the viewpoints disgusting. (Although I strangely think ten children + being on benefits super duper wrong.)

[craft1948]

That works both ways nox...................people who have never had children have paid tax, part of which has paid towards your childrens' education.

[welshlibranr]

NOX, our kids do not care for us in our dotage generally!.......they slap us in a care home!........they don't have time for us, they need to go to work!......

[annie0000]

I am the youngest of 7 , all supported by my working parents - we have 2 cos that's what we could afford to raise.

Sher, there is a big difference between unfortunately finding yourself having to claim benefits to support your family who were conceived and born into a working household to routinely knowing that you will never have enough income to support your kids but continuing to have more.

[NOX]

Wrong I'm afraid Craft- we home educated all of our kids, besides the point of my post was to illustrate how silly and futile it is to critisise other people's life choices, it wasn't a serious post in the sense that I meant it.
I think having children and the number of those is the business of the individual so long as they can afford it and not the state or other people who seem to think it's okay to be frankly pretty rude about people with large families.

[annie0000]

I think you know which category you belong to :o)

[craft1948]

We could afford one, so we had one. At the time you didn't get child benefit for the first child...........

[sherrardk]

Annie0000 - thanks for that (you put it so much better than I did - I was I danger of getting too cross to make any sense). x

[annie0000]

np - my mum used to get the same grief and this was back in the days when bigger families were more common. My dad lost his job for a short period of time and it killed them to have to claim but in general they both worked and we had to be the best turned out and behaved kids in the neighbourhood as she wouldn't have anything said about the fact that there was a horde of us!

[annie0000]

People had more pride back then.

[sherrardk]

Mine have to look immaculate, shoes polished, uniform perfect, homework done, forms filled in, hair ace (I am rubbish at girls hair and girl has hair down to her bum). I don't want them to be part of 'that family'.

[annie0000]

lol sher - I think that's really why i only have two - I don't need the pressure!! That and the fact that I would have been locked up if I had any more. You always stop when you get a noisy one :o)

Oh, just realised that as I am the youngest, it must be me.........

[ummmm]

My Dad is one of 13. Whoever said there's not enough love to go round is wrong. Considering all 13 adored their parents...as did all us grand kids...and there's loads of us....they got it right!

This isn't about the size of a family. It's about benefits.