So...you gonna have any more?

[Armor_of_Light]

Our daughter was born last week! Healthy 9lb / 9oz 22 inch tall kid. Cute.

Anyhoo…since she is my 4th child, and I’m no longer a young man (when she graduates from high school, I’ll be 64!! ) a lot of people have asked me this question. Nobody asked after #3, so I did not see it coming. Is 4 considered that out of line these days?

Really, I’m just fishing for well wishes here, and venting a little. Should I charge people a dollar for asking me?

 

[monicatholic]

AofL, hearty congratulations and many blessings!!"!

When my first was born, I was a teenager. By the time I was in my mid 20s, we were having our fourth baby. By the time I was having my 8th baby, i was in my late 30s. Our last? I was 43 and she has Down syndrome.

So… I’ve never been in that " sweet spot" i.e., late 20s having a second or third child. Seems like ONLY THEN can folks avoid back-handed congratulations. Instead for us, every child seemed to invite his/ her own overused phraseology : are you done yet? You know what causes that? Did you plan this one? (And the most unintentionally vicious was reserved for my daughter with Ds) did you know? … ?

Did we know? That God was gifting us with a miracle?

Did we know???

Enjoy your family! They are gifts from God Himself to you!!!

Thank God his window for joyful life isnt narrow and ungenerous like the world’s. Revel in his blessings in joy and peace.

Btw: What a great sized baby!!! Whats your baby’s name?

 

[jilly4ski]

Our daughter was born last week! Healthy 9lb / 9oz 22 inch tall kid. Cute.

Anyhoo…since she is my 4th child, and I’m no longer a young man (when she graduates from high school, I’ll be 64!! ) a lot of people have asked me this question. Nobody asked after #3, so I did not see it coming. Is 4 considered that out of line these days?

Really, I’m just fishing for well wishes here, and venting a little. Should I charge people a dollar for asking me?

Congrats on the sweet baby girl!!!

Lol, I got this after 2 (and we are young). But we had 2 boys and I think people were curious if we would try to have a girl. I don’t think 4 is usually considered outrageous in this society yet, but over 4 definitely, and I think if you plan on anything more than 2, people give you the look like you are crazy or wow I could never do that. Which isn’t necessarily bad or a negative judgment, they just don’t know what to think or are curious, in how such a thing even works.

 

[Armor_of_Light]

Hey thanks Monica!

Her name is Adelaide Mary after St. Adelaide of Italy and my mom. And Mary of course!

I just say “we’ll take what God gives us”.

God bless you and your big family!

“Did you know?”…Yeesh.

 

[twk001]

MANY warm congrats to your family on the new addition! i think these days, so many people are used to the 1 or 2 child model family that larger families are sort of viewed differently by many. not me, though, we have friends with 5+.

we would LOVE to have more, but at a young age i am in menopause-essentially- and our 2nd was adopted last year. we know that because of dh’s age (43) it’s not likely that expectant moms would pick us if we wanted to adopt again, so we are keeping our hearts open in case God directs us towards international adoption. but…we DO feel very blessed because in our first year of marriage i was told that because of severe infertility AND structural issues we wouldn’t conceive at all. we had one bio child and one adopted.

i think it’s wonderful and a God given blessing that your family is able to grow, and you are right to welcome each one as a special gift from God!

my Dh will also be just on the brink of retirement when our DS graduates high school, but we don’t even care. he is such a joy! honestly, these days, with so many second marriages, single moms marrying later on, and career-minded women, it’s not unusual for many couples to START having babies in their late 30s and early 40s!

 

[mab23]

Congrats AofL

My mom had 4 kids too

 

[Sillara]

We had three, and we said, “We’re done.”

Then we became Catholic.

Now we have six. When I was pregnant with #5, my mother said if she were in my shoes she’d shoot herself.

I think it’s wonderful about your fourth baby! Congratulations on your blessing!

 

[Armor_of_Light]

We had three, and we said, “We’re done.” Then we became Catholic. Now we have six. When I was pregnant with #5, my mother said if she were in my shoes she’d shoot herself. I think it’s wonderful about your fourth baby! Congratulations on your blessing!

Holy cow!! Where do you put all those kids in Tokyo?
We are currently crammed into a 2 bedroom condo and it is tough.

 

[Dorothy]

Holy cow!! Where do you put all those kids in Tokyo?
We are currently crammed into a 2 bedroom condo and it is tough.

Somehow, the family manages to survive!

When I got married we moved into a five room house – it was not new. In the first fifteen years of our marriage we had eight children, four boys and four girls. After our sixth we had a 12 x 24 foot extension built on our property. My husband put in some sheetrock and two rooms were made out of it,so now we had four bedrooms altogether.

Now I am a widow living alone and my children are all on their own. We are a close knit family and get together with one another for a family reunion once every five years, and other smaller, mini reunions where a family or two can stay at my small home and my daughter’s home who is nearby. We also use the telephone, and e-mail a lot also- videos and pictures of the growing families… I have 12 grandchildren now, many friends at church, and my two sisters and their husbands followed me here and they live in the next town. How great is family!!!

It is WONDERFUL to have a large family. I’m not saying it is easy, but life has challenges, and God’s grace is always available when we receive it! Every one of them is a special gift from God, with unique talents.

 

[Armor_of_Light]

Somehow, the family manages to survive! When I got married we moved into a five room house – it was not new. In the first fifteen years of our marriage we had eight children, four boys and four girls. After our sixth we had a 12 x 24 foot extension built on our property. My husband put in some sheetrock and two rooms were made out of it,so now we had four bedrooms altogether. Now I am a widow living alone and my children are all on their own. We are a close knit family and get together with one another for a family reunion once every five years, and other smaller, mini reunions where a family or two can stay at my small home and my daughter’s home who is nearby. We also use the telephone, and e-mail a lot also- videos and pictures of the growing families… I have 12 grandchildren now, many friends at church, and my two sisters and their husbands followed me here and they live in the next town. How great is family!!! It is WONDERFUL to have a large family. I’m not saying it is easy, but life has challenges, and God’s grace is always available when we receive it! Every one of them is a special gift from God, with unique talents.

God bless you.

My 2 boys (from previous marriage…teenagers) couldn’t care less it seems. Pray for them.

 

[LegoGE1947]

Congrats on the sweet baby girl!!!

Lol, I got this after 2 (and we are young). But we had 2 boys and I think people were curious if we would try to have a girl. I don’t think 4 is usually considered outrageous in this society yet, but over 4 definitely, and I think if you plan on anything more than 2, people give you the look like you are crazy or wow I could never do that. Which isn’t necessarily bad or a negative judgment, they just don’t know what to think or are curious, in how such a thing even works.

Look at the Duggars with 19 children!

 

[Sillara]

Holy cow!! Where do you put all those kids in Tokyo?
We are currently crammed into a 2 bedroom condo and it is tough.

We moved to the suburbs. Actually, we did just buy a house two years ago. It is, I have no doubt, far too small by American standards, but we love it. It is bigger than the rental where we lived before, and we live on a quiet street.

My children would far rather have their siblings than more room in the house!

 

[Dorothy]

God bless you.

My 2 boys (from previous marriage…teenagers) couldn’t care less it seems. Pray for them.

I promise to say a prayer for them. I’m sure you do as well, and keep loving them with the Lord’s love.

 

[MomaMary8]

Our daughter was born last week! Healthy 9lb / 9oz 22 inch tall kid. Cute.

Anyhoo…since she is my 4th child, and I’m no longer a young man (when she graduates from high school, I’ll be 64!! ) a lot of people have asked me this question. Nobody asked after #3, so I did not see it coming. Is 4 considered that out of line these days?

Really, I’m just fishing for well wishes here, and venting a little. Should I charge people a dollar for asking me?

Aweee! CONGRATULATIONS! :extrahappy:

My answer to that questions used to be “we think he/she will be a middle child!” It gets a good laugh and let’s them know we took their question with good natured humor. It doesn’t work as well for us now as I’m over 40 and have 10 kids already…but we still get the question. I guess they can see our “openness” to life if they are asking us about more. Good job Dad! Now go pamper your beautiful wife. .

 

[Dakota_Roberts]

Our daughter was born last week! Healthy 9lb / 9oz 22 inch tall kid. Cute.

Anyhoo…since she is my 4th child, and I’m no longer a young man (when she graduates from high school, I’ll be 64!! ) a lot of people have asked me this question. Nobody asked after #3, so I did not see it coming. Is 4 considered that out of line these days?

Really, I’m just fishing for well wishes here, and venting a little. Should I charge people a dollar for asking me?

Have as many kids as you want and can pay for, but you may want to ask yourself if you want to be retired when the next child graduates.

 

[EasterJoy]

I used to tell people, “You know, no kid wants to be told ‘you weren’t wanted’ because their parents announced before they were conceived that they weren’t having any more, and for us to tell people ‘yes, we’re trying’ is just Too Much Information. That’s why we’ve decided everyone would be better off if that information remained classified. No comment, period.”

Of course, since this is an incredibly nosy and inappropriate question, the classic Miss Manners response is to put a look on your face as if you’d just been casually asked to disrobe completely, and say, “I beg your pardon?” Repeat as many times as needed…because it is no one’s business to presume to ask. If the questioners stammer that they’re facing a similar decision and wanted to know what you’re thinking about your own decision, you could tell them you’d be happy to be their sounding board for what they think–because what you and your wife have decided for yourselves really isn’t something that should pressure them one way or another–and then suggest that you look at the question as I initially suggested you might.

 

[Dorothy]

Have as many kids as you want and can pay for, but you may want to ask yourself if you want to be retired when the next child graduates.

My husband and I were retired when the last three children graduated. It was wonderful! It is not any less of a joy.

 

[etmom]

Have as many kids as you want and can pay for, but you may want to ask yourself if you want to be retired when the next child graduates.

That’s no problem Our kids range from 25 years old down to 2. We will be working forever, (I think), but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Which beautiful, unique gift would we not have, in order to retire?

People said incredibly inappropriate things when my now two year old was born. Even people at our parish. What ever happened to saying “congratulations!” upon news of a birth or pregnancy and keeping your other comments to yourself??? I don’t really want to hear how you would never have another child at our age or stage of life.

 

[RedSoxWife]

Our daughter was born last week! Healthy 9lb / 9oz 22 inch tall kid. Cute.

Anyhoo…since she is my 4th child, and I’m no longer a young man (when she graduates from high school, I’ll be 64!! ) a lot of people have asked me this question. Nobody asked after #3, so I did not see it coming. Is 4 considered that out of line these days?

Really, I’m just fishing for well wishes here, and venting a little. Should I charge people a dollar for asking me?

Congratulations!

We started getting apologies instead of congratulations when people found out we were having a third… and comments like: “So is your husband getting snipped now? Or are you going to keep trying if this one isn’t a boy?” in the checkout line at the super market.

 

[Dorothy]

Congratulations!

We started getting apologies instead of congratulations when people found out we were having a third… and comments like: “So is your husband getting snipped now? Or are you going to keep trying if this one isn’t a boy?” in the checkout line at the super market.

That is so sad. I am sure there are many good responses for those comments that will stop the nay-sayers in their tracks! Glory to God!