Fourteen children

My DH comes from a large family, both of his parents were one of twelve. Their parents managed to feed and clothe them, had to, the alternative was the means tested parish welfare.
I never wanted more than two, just wanted to replace DH and I when we shuffle off. I was lucky that I got one of each.

I agree about the planet's finite resources of course Allie, and if every family had 14 children then all sorts of systems would be in a pickle. I wasn't looking at this from a global perspective though. It just makes a nice change to hear about a couple who love having children and work to support themselves and their family.

......'selfish means putting your own interests above the well-being or best interests of others.'

Just tie this up with the overpopulation! We have finite resources, and should not take up more than a fair share!

Let's just hope their business doesn't go bust and they have to start drawing benefits!

Being selfish means putting your own interests above the well-being or best interests of others. I cant see how anyone else's well-being or best interests are compromised by this family.

No family is wholly self-sufficient. Even those without children.

They look like a lovely, loving, well balanced family. Mum is well organised and efficient and seems to feed them all at a very economical cost within their means (plenty of stale bread recipes?) and they certainly have a big enough house. But I'm very glad I don't live next door!

I'm with nellie and Flickety on this one. The family is not wholly self-sufficient.

But they are consuming benefits, presumably they are getting child benefit for all those under 18 and not working.

On a personal level, it is good to see such a large happy functioning family. My father was one of 11 and my MiL one of 13 and as a child I remember big family gatherings with all my aunts, uncles and their spouses and having so many cousins and family whereever I went in the country. Something my children have missed out on because DH is an only child and neither of my sisters had children, they have got the last remnants of the bigger family, but mainly at funerals.

On a wider scale however I think with the rapid growth of world population and the pressures it is clearly putting on the environment makes having such a large family is a very selfish act.

And, as they own the bakery, they presumably provide employment locally.

Their taxes when they all start work will go toward funding health and education.

Its not just state benefits though! Its stuff like Education & Health etc. Unless they are all have private education and Health Care.
Oh I am in a grump today!

With you on this one elegran.

"With sinking" should read "without sinking" and I should preview before posting.

But if they are self-supporting they are not consuming benefits, and if the children are growing up responsible adults in a loving family with a good attitude to work they will be making a fourteen-fold contribution to national resources in their turn, when all the careerists who sneer at anyone who raises children are in need of carers and people to make wealth to pay for their pensions. See this rant - Jemima Lewis

The national average birthrate is low enough to absorb a few large families with the country sinking below the waves with over-population.

Not to mention the mental and emotional toll.....

There are lots of people childless by choice and I guess a few families having lots is not so bad, especially as these people seem to be responsible citizens.

Personally I would not want 14 children if only because 3 took enough of a physical toll on me: varicose veins, piles, bad back, prolapse.......etc.

In terms of taking up more than ones fair share of our national resources, health & education etc, it sounds just plain greedy to me.

Some sort of addiction?

It does seem a bit strange though. Why would anyone want so many children? I read that the mother is already wanting another baby. What on earth is that all about?

These guys were on TV a while back - lovely family - hard-working and the children were all well-cared-for.

That wasn't meant as a criticism of your post Riverwalk but the Daily Mail is supposed to be a newspaper and this is not news. That's all.

No absent it's not news, just a potentially interesting topic for grans to comment on

At least they are self-supporting, as the Mum says:
'We have always wanted to support ourselves, I like being kept busy, I wouldn't like not to work - neither of us would even though it can be quite difficult juggling work and home.'

Good luck to them, not something I would be able to cope with though

It's not exactly news though, is it?