Is having too many kids irresponsible at some point?

[Andarvi]

For me, the answer is a clear cut absolutely. I got thinking about this after turning on TLC just now and seeing a show about a man and wife and their 13 kids, with one on the way, and the intention of having 4-5 more. The father is the only employed one obviously and works as a technician for a satellite company. They have a one bathroom house and the ages of the children range from 18 to 1.

Its just a big what the fuck. I mean, even if the kids aren't wearing worn out clothes and malnourished I think there is a limit where a mother and father can give each individual child the attention that they need while growing up. They want 18-19 kids! How the hell do you even come close to being able to pay attention to them? At some point the kids start getting to ages where they can watch each other. My mom was one of 5 and from her stories even she didn't get the attention and support she should have (granted my aunt is one of 7 and would say the opposite. Both are french canadians ie. procreate luck friggin rabbits.)


For me personally I would say three is my limit and I would prefer 2, namely because I want to be able to provide a lifestyle for them that anything in the excess of 3 would become very difficult.

What do you guys think?

[Remyo]

4-5 MAX if they can provide for them, sweet spot is 2-3 for me.

inb4fhuqwad

[Tyche]

2...

[Saphirea]

As the token outspoken Catholic of the board, I'll take as many as God grants me. However; knowing how much I make money wise as well as my fiance, we're shooting between 3-5 obviously if we have more then great but our goal is pretty much 5 and having them spaced out.

I don't see a huge problem with it unless it comes to quality of life for the kids. I just don't see how after 12 kids having the ability to spend alone one on one time with them. Granted what do I know maybe they're happy hunky dory.

[SephYuyX]

I agree with the 2~3 rule, any more than 4 is pushing it really.
Id be fine with 2, as long as I have 1 girl and 1 boy, if I go 0/3 on boys.. I dunno what id do :/

[Soa]

I had always wanted 2-3 kids while I was growing up.

I just had my first child 9 days ago and frankly I don't think I want another. They are a shit ton of work to take care of, and expensive, I don't think I can do it all again. My wife feels the same way right now but we'll see when she recovers. Knowing her she'll want one more.

To answer the OP's question yes I think there is a point where too many is a bad thing. Any more than 5 and I don't see how they can get the attention they need from their parents.

[gandorf]

People who have 10+kids need to be slapped across the face. If I have kids one day only 2-4 anymore and I would probably go insane and they would each have to be at least 1-2yrs apart.

[Kerberoz]

Prefer 1, max 2. Raising the population is just irresponsible and selfish, and I really don't see how you could give enough attention and resources to more than 2 kids. The vagina is not a clown car.

[Fistandantilus]

I agree that having a ton of kids is just stupid. My family has 3 and it seems like all of us get more than enough attention, I could see maybe 4 or 5 total being fine, at least in my family I don't think I'd have felt too neglected if I had a few more siblings but anything over 5 I think would become unbearable. For myself well I'll take as many as god gives me, which is going to be between 2 and 4 because I don't think I could care for more than that properly and I don't want more replicas of myself because if they cause half as much trouble as kids as I did my wife/girlfriend will end up killing me for not properly warning her.

[Correction]

where's the 'Vagina: not a clown car' motivational poster when you need it?

[Jefe]

2 for sure, mayb3 oh...

[Demosthenes11]

Blanket statements are blanket

I'll have either 3 or 4

[SephYuyX]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duggar_family
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...ily_2007-1.jpg

[gandorf]

I want to run them over with a bus.

[EdgeMoragan]

Everyone should be having ONE kid @_@ jeeze.

I understand wanting two if you feel the world is a bit dangerous to put all you've got into one, and anything could happen. I'd just prefer to provide and prepare for one child very immaculately than to spread the providing, out more and more with each additional child.

And no, I wouldn't spoil the one. <,<

[Kyo]

I think there should be a limit at 4-5, me personaly I dont want kids at all, babysitting my sisters 8 month old is fine good enough.

[gandorf]

Having more then just one might help your chances of having a successful kid. That way if one is a fuck up you got a second one to lean on.

[octopus]

Well, they can probably field their own football team in their family...

[Boyiee]

Depends on the parents, quality of life available for the kids, environment etc.

I work in a place with a huge Hasidic Jewish population. I think some of the aspects of the population are 2nd to only jerusalem, like one school and stuff. Anyway, it's very common, i mean, VERY, for people to have 5-10 kids easy. In fact, it's rare to see anyone with less than 5 unless they are really really young parents. The kids all are raised well and are well taken care of, the families are able to provide for the kids and they have a very large healthy community to grow up in. In cases like this, I don't see a problem with having alot of kids. Would I? No. I think 1-2 is plenty for me.

To me it really depends on different factors, sure in some cases it's wtf, why, and are you kidding me? And in other cases there really isn't a problem with it.

[Beckwin]

personally, I'm leaning to having one and adopting after that, if it were to ever happen (I'm not really dead set on having kids). But anything past 3 is really pushing it, generally speaking.