So...you gonna have any more?

[TheRealJuliane]

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!!! :extrahappy::dancing::clapping::bounce:

Don’t think about how old you will be! I have heard that 60 is the “new 40!” LOL

Yes, 4 is considered a VERY large family these days! And 5 or 6 is scandalous! Just one child is considered sensible and 2 is pretty much all anyone is “supposed” to have.

What sad pass we have come to.

But still congratulations on YOUR new little blessing!!

 

[TheRealJuliane]

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?

This brings tears to my eyes, and I’m afraid I would have to be restrained if I were you and some thoughtless soul said such a thing to me.

:knight2::stretcher:

 

[MrsFlapjack]

I always tell people who ask us this,“We take what God gives us.”

I can definitely understand your nervousness though about the age issue. How old is too old to have another child? My husband is 10 years older than me, so I may still be fertile when he is in his 50’s. We were not Catholic when we got married and so we figured 2 maybe 3 kids would be it. Now here we are expecting our 6th. My grandmother told me not to worry about it, her father was 18 years older than her mom and she’s not warped because of it. That was back in the 1920’s though, and I think it was more common for older men to marry younger women and still have kids.

 

[LegoGE1947]

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.

Sad to say the latest thing in the abortion industry is selective abortions where if you were expecting a boy and are getting a girl you are encouraged to abort it and try again. Talk about a “WAR ON WOMEN”!

 

[Moore11]

I sympathize.
My entire side of the family is downright HOSTILE to anyone having more than 2 kids. We are expecting our fourth in December. I got the “are you done yet” comments after our second. My mom shakes her head at four and scoffs at the idea that we are open to a big family. It is creating a gap between all members of my family and myself.
We aer the only Catholics, we home-school, I am a stay at home dad and we have 4 (gasp) kids. So I guess I am asking for it from my family. But it is sad that I always thought they would support me but the dont. The people that get my families support are the convicted drug stealer and my “model” (playboy mansion, victoria’s secret) sister.

 

[Moore11]

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.

What do you mean pay for?

 

[Dorothy]

I sympathize.
My entire side of the family is downright HOSTILE to anyone having more than 2 kids. We are expecting our fourth in December. I got the “are you done yet” comments after our second. My mom shakes her head at four and scoffs at the idea that we are open to a big family. It is creating a gap between all members of my family and myself.
We aer the only Catholics, we home-school, I am a stay at home dad and we have 4 (gasp) kids. So I guess I am asking for it from my family. But it is sad that I always thought they would support me but the dont. The people that get my families support are the convicted drug stealer and my “model” (playboy mansion, victoria’s secret) sister.

They need your prayers…you are the blessed one who by the grace of God has his priorities straight! Stay in His peace.

 

[MrsFlapjack]

I sympathize.
My entire side of the family is downright HOSTILE to anyone having more than 2 kids. We are expecting our fourth in December. I got the “are you done yet” comments after our second. My mom shakes her head at four and scoffs at the idea that we are open to a big family. It is creating a gap between all members of my family and myself.
We aer the only Catholics, we home-school, I am a stay at home dad and we have 4 (gasp) kids. So I guess I am asking for it from my family. But it is sad that I always thought they would support me but the dont. The people that get my families support are the convicted drug stealer and my “model” (playboy mansion, victoria’s secret) sister.

It’s definitely harder when you are converts and have no Catholic family members. Everybody has fallen into the contraception trap in this country, and believe you shouldn’t have kids until you have 50 gazillion dollars in the bank. I’m proud to be a part of the only Church that has not caved on ABC.

 

[LegoGE1947]

What do you mean pay for?

Here is a short blog I found titled the Cost of Bringing up Baby parentguidenews.com/Catalog/Baby/TheCostofBringingUpBaby

Financial preparation for new parents

By David Rustad, APR, FLMI

Having a baby is priceless. Paying for your little bundle’s arrival and upbringing— well, that can be breathtaking!

From breast pumps to bumper pads, car seats and cribs to diapers and daycare, the expenses for new parents mount quickly. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, raising a child costs an average of nearly $11,000 the first year and more than $220,000 for the first 18 years. Most parents can tack on thousands more if they help their son or daughter with college costs.

 

[MrsFlapjack]

Here is a short blog I found titled the Cost of Bringing up Baby parentguidenews.com/Catalog/Baby/TheCostofBringingUpBaby

Financial preparation for new parents

By David Rustad, APR, FLMI

Having a baby is priceless. Paying for your little bundle’s arrival and upbringing— well, that can be breathtaking!

From breast pumps to bumper pads, car seats and cribs to diapers and daycare, the expenses for new parents mount quickly. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, raising a child costs an average of nearly $11,000 the first year and more than $220,000 for the first 18 years. Most parents can tack on thousands more if they help their son or daughter with college costs.

I remember seeing that statistic, I think it was released about a year ago. And when saw it, I laughed! Sure, it will cost you that much…if you buy your kids clothes at the Gap. If you buy brand new expensive furniture and get them all the latest electronics. Give me a break. You would be amazed at how little I have spent on my kids. They wear hand me down clothes, on occasions, I might have to run to the second hand store for some clothes. I have had TONS of furniture given to me! As a matter of fact, a friend of ours at church just dropped off two chairs and a couple of desks a few hours ago. The only real expense that is hard to avoid is food. I plan out my menu’s every two weeks and make a shopping list, but still, I usually end up spending between 400-500$ a month for our family of 7.

Don’t let crazy statistics like that scare you from having kids.

 

[monicatholic]

We have 10 kids. None of them, not even the first, not even adjusted to 1980 prices-- none of them cost eleven thousand their first year.

We have 10 kids, age 5 through 31. I couldnt ever afford a single one of them ( despite the fact none of them cost me a grand per month) but so far five of them have reached adulthood. Nobody starved. Nobody froze. No child labor. There are a few degrees in there, one discerning the priesthood, 2 happily married.

In the beginning i breastfed and never knew what a breast pump was. I used cloth diapers and ( true) i washed them in the bathtub on w washboard. My babies wore clothes from hand-ons, second hand stores and church basement sales.

Im still poor and im still raising kids.

A choice between dollars or kids? I choose the kids.

 

[Dorothy]

I remember seeing that statistic, I think it was released about a year ago. And when saw it, I laughed! Sure, it will cost you that much…if you buy your kids clothes at the Gap. If you buy brand new expensive furniture and get them all the latest electronics. Give me a break. You would be amazed at how little I have spent on my kids. They wear hand me down clothes, on occasions, I might have to run to the second hand store for some clothes. I have had TONS of furniture given to me! As a matter of fact, a friend of ours at church just dropped off two chairs and a couple of desks a few hours ago. The only real expense that is hard to avoid is food. I plan out my menu’s every two weeks and make a shopping list, but still, I usually end up spending between 400-500$ a month for our family of 7.

Don’t let crazy statistics like that scare you from having kids.

I totally agree with you. He used the most expensive scenario possible.

There are many ways to save a great deal of money if one is smart!

 

[LegoGE1947]

I remember seeing that statistic, I think it was released about a year ago. And when saw it, I laughed! Sure, it will cost you that much…if you buy your kids clothes at the Gap. If you buy brand new expensive furniture and get them all the latest electronics. Give me a break. You would be amazed at how little I have spent on my kids. They wear hand me down clothes, on occasions, I might have to run to the second hand store for some clothes. I have had TONS of furniture given to me! As a matter of fact, a friend of ours at church just dropped off two chairs and a couple of desks a few hours ago. The only real expense that is hard to avoid is food. I plan out my menu’s every two weeks and make a shopping list, but still, I usually end up spending between 400-500$ a month for our family of 7.

Don’t let crazy statistics like that scare you from having kids.

I am sorry, I did not consider that. I thought this was a ball-park figure for bringing a child up from birth to young adulthood so I thought I’d share it. Kudos to anyone who can do it and not break the bank. My wife and I have raised and homeschooled 3 children, know what it is to have hand-me-down clothes and furniture, etc. One thing we didn’t go the hand-me-down route is shoes. Even then though we bought them from a discount store rather than buying the latest shoes endorsed by some big sports celebrity.

 

[cmscms]

Congratulations on your child.

When people ask if you will have more, I am assuming they are saying it in a negative tone (sometimes they might mean what a beautiful baby hopefully there will be more). So if they are being cruel, I would simply say ‘please keep your nose out of my bedroom’

CM

 

[Moore11]

Here is a short blog I found titled the Cost of Bringing up Baby parentguidenews.com/Catalog/Baby/TheCostofBringingUpBaby

Financial preparation for new parents

By David Rustad, APR, FLMI

Having a baby is priceless. Paying for your little bundle’s arrival and upbringing— well, that can be breathtaking!

From breast pumps to bumper pads, car seats and cribs to diapers and daycare, the expenses for new parents mount quickly. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, raising a child costs an average of nearly $11,000 the first year and more than $220,000 for the first 18 years. Most parents can tack on thousands more if they help their son or daughter with college costs.

:crying::crying::

Both icons because that article was hilarious and also a sad piece of propaganda by the anti child crowd.

 

[Viki63]

Congratulations to you and your wife, Armor of Light!
I will be 71 when my youngest graduates from high school in a few years. Probably still working. God will provide.

I think you should seriously consider, when asked that question, holding out your hand and saying, “I’m charging everyone a dollar who asks that.”
Just as appropriate, and who knows, you might make some money.

 

[lifeisbeautiful]

We have 10 kids. None of them, not even the first, not even adjusted to 1980 prices-- none of them cost eleven thousand their first year.

We have 10 kids, age 5 through 31. I couldnt ever afford a single one of them ( despite the fact none of them cost me a grand per month) but so far five of them have reached adulthood. Nobody starved. Nobody froze. No child labor. There are a few degrees in there, one discerning the priesthood, 2 happily married.

In the beginning i breastfed and never knew what a breast pump was. I used cloth diapers and ( true) i washed them in the bathtub on w washboard. My babies wore clothes from hand-ons, second hand stores and church basement sales.

Im still poor and im still raising kids.

A choice between dollars or kids? I choose the kids.

:clapping: :bowdown2: (lol, couldn’t quite figure out which smiley to use)

 

[LegoGE1947]

:crying::crying::

Both icons because that article was hilarious and also a sad piece of propaganda by the anti child crowd.

Anti-child and anti-family propaganda seem to be the order of the day in the secular world. What is sad is how many “church” people seem to buy into it.

 

[Gordon_Sims]

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 just had our fifth (not counting the baby we lost) and we’ve been getting the questions, comments and dirty looks since our second. Yes, we know what causes that. No, nothing’s broke so neither of us has anything to fix. No, we’d never call any of our children a mistake and, yes, we actually planned this. We had several people treat us terribly after our miscarriage and throw fits when we said we were going to try again. I have family members who still haven’t acknowledged the existence of our fourth (let alone our fifth) and when we bumped into one of my cousins the other day (first time I’d seen her since our fifth was born), instead of a “hi” I got one of the nastiest looks I’ve received in years. We’ve found that by cutting a lot of these people out of our lives, we don’t get nearly as many of these questions.

 

[EasterJoy]

We have 10 kids. None of them, not even the first, not even adjusted to 1980 prices-- none of them cost eleven thousand their first year.

We have 10 kids, age 5 through 31. I couldnt ever afford a single one of them ( despite the fact none of them cost me a grand per month) but so far five of them have reached adulthood. Nobody starved. Nobody froze. No child labor. There are a few degrees in there, one discerning the priesthood, 2 happily married.

In the beginning i breastfed and never knew what a breast pump was. I used cloth diapers and ( true) i washed them in the bathtub on w washboard. My babies wore clothes from hand-ons, second hand stores and church basement sales.

Im still poor and im still raising kids.

A choice between dollars or kids? I choose the kids.

Ten children to give you a laugh a day for several decades,
to give you a reason to care what comes out of your mouth
when you drop something on your foot,
to give you grandchildren to adore,
to take care of you in your old age,
to live the faith and pray for you when you are long gone,
to be jewels in your crown for eternity:
Priceless