Retired Minimalists with 5 young kids (had a baby this week) currently living in Oz

[Ultralight]

Actually I am from New Zealand. What are talking about in regards to freedom? I am unsure of your meaning.

I thought New Zealand was part of Australia.

[catherine]

Yeah, free healthcare and affordable education sounds all fine and dandy but you Australians don't have freedom! We Americans got you beat big league when it comes to that!

haha.. Funny--big league funny, UL. But cheap healthcare? And free for kids? And you Aussie's are still on the map? Amazing! (sorry for the sarcasm, Cossack.. it's not directed at you!!)

[TooSweetForMe]

Hi David and welcome to the forums.

5 kids.... wow...... I think I would have gone nutty if I had 5 kids. I have always admired the big families, though. They seem to pull together for each other in a crisis.

[Cossack]

Hi David and welcome to the forums.

5 kids.... wow...... I think I would have gone nutty if I had 5 kids. I have always admired the big families, though. They seem to pull together for each other in a crisis.

I never would I thought that I would have had 5 kids. But now I can't imagine life without them.

[TooSweetForMe]

I never would I thought that I would have had 5 kids. But now I can't imagine life without them.

That is another thing I have heard. By chance, did you have a large family growing up? It was just my mom, my sister, and me until we were both grown. My ex and I wanted 2 or 3, but when I had my 2nd c-section (pre-eclampsia both times) we decided 2 was enough (boy 1st, girl 2nd) and I had my tubes tied when I had my 2nd.

[Cossack]

That is another thing I have heard. By chance, did you have a large family growing up? It was just my mom, my sister, and me until we were both grown. My ex and I wanted 2 or 3, but when I had my 2nd c-section (pre-eclampsia both times) we decided 2 was enough (boy 1st, girl 2nd) and I had my tubes tied when I had my 2nd.

I am one of 3. My wife has a brother. So, we were not from large families. My wife used to have friends call her by name and say she had a million kids. That was when we only had 3!

[TooSweetForMe]

I am one of 3. My wife has a brother. So, we were not from large families. My wife used to have friends call her by name and say she had a million kids. That was when we only had 3!

My ex was 1 of 3 also, through 2 different marriages. His sister and brother were at least 15 years older than him, and he had a nephew that was 5 years younger than him.

[catherine]

I never would I thought that I would have had 5 kids. But now I can't imagine life without them.

I don't have 5, but I do have 4, which is also considered big these days, but was actually pretty normal in the 50s & 60s. I remember someone stopping me in the supermarket shortly after we moved in and saying "Aren't you the woman with ALL THE KIDS??" Gee, it was only 4!! And in order to avoid paying child care for my two babies (Irish twins), I took in kids as a family day care provider.

I also wouldn't trade it for anything. We are extremely close, and they are all extremely close with each other. I am truly blessed--and I'm sure you feel the same way!

[Cossack]

I don't have 5, but I do have 4, which is also considered big these days, but was actually pretty normal in the 50s & 60s. I remember someone stopping me in the supermarket shortly after we moved in and saying "Aren't you the woman with ALL THE KIDS??" Gee, it was only 4!! And in order to avoid paying child care for my two babies (Irish twins), I took in kids as a family day care provider.

I also wouldn't trade it for anything. We are extremely close, and they are all extremely close with each other. I am truly blessed--and I'm sure you feel the same way!

Both of my parents came from large families. That was common in their generation. Here in Australia we don't get as man comments about our large family like we did in NZ.

[danna]

Welcome from Canada...