Family of 8 in 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom apartment

[Anonymous]

Op, mind your own business.

[Anonymous]

The successful comedian Jim Gaffigan and his wife famously lived in a two bedroom NYC apartment with their 5 kids until very recently. I don't worry about them. They're loaded, privileged and winning at life.

They're also Catholic and used to sharing bedrooms. It wasn't until the last generation that stopping at 2 kids prompted the unwritten rule that kids require their own pottery barn decorated bedroom.

[Anonymous]

The successful comedian Jim Gaffigan and his wife famously lived in a two bedroom NYC apartment with their 5 kids until very recently. I don't worry about them. They're loaded, privileged and winning at life.

They're also Catholic and used to sharing bedrooms. It wasn't until the last generation that stopping at 2 kids prompted the unwritten rule that kids require their own pottery barn decorated bedroom.

[Anonymous]

They may be looking to move but I would imagine it's not easy when you have 6 kids to take care of including an infant. There's not much inventory out there and they may be waiting to find their forever home. Could take a while.

[Anonymous]

It is totally normal for kids to share rooms. The only situation where it is not allowed is foster kids and adoption.

[Anonymous]

My 85 year old father was raised in Boston with 5 siblings and one bathroom. There wasn't even heat in the whole house, there was ice in the bathroom sink in the morning. He and all his siblings went on to become successful professionals. My husband's grandmother was the daughter of a slave and raise with 7 siblings in a one room house. She was a business owner, healthy and live into her nineties by herself.

So many Americans believe in distance and separation from the time their babies are born. You have your own bedroom as a baby, move to college when you are 18, move across the country when you are 21. Most people in the world do not try to create space between their family members.

[Anonymous]

I was the youngest of 6 kids, so 8 people sharing 1 bathroom. I shared a room with three siblings. Bunk bed and one big dresser. We were all girls, but I bet a couple of boys would’ve us out.

[Anonymous]

It's so sad how you're passing judgement on this family. If they're kind and well-educated, what's the problem? There are plenty of entitled boors living in large houses...

And please remember that many people in WEALTHY nations share rooms in small apartments, be it in Europe or Japan or Korea.

8 in a 1 bedroom is not un-common in other RICH countries. It's at one extreme of the norm, certainly, but not eyebrow-raising like here. My friend lived like this as a child, with her 6 brothers and sisters. She is a well-adjusted adult working at the World Bank. My SIL put her 4 kids two to a room when her house had several guest bedrooms, because many people believe there are benefits to having kids share. We lived for years all 4 of us in a ONE bedroom apartment in the US.

A little tolerance on a Sunday morning would be nice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe they all get a ton of financial aid?

Would not be surprised if they got some financial aid. My parents lived next door to a family of 10 kids who attended a well-regarded private school and received some financial aid because even though the husband had a well-paid job their family size was just so large.

If the kids seem happy and healthy then whatever. I’m sure this is something that was fairly commonplace in the past and might still be in other cultures.

[Anonymous]

We have 1 child and live in a huge 4400 house.
It’s really stupid. We don’t need this much space.
I think your friends sound crowded, but happy. As long as the kids feel secure and loved, it’s all that matters..

[Anonymous]

I think Americans are weird for thinking children should not share rooms. Why in the world would you feel guilty about that?

I see this every day on Tiny Homes on HGTV. Families of 5+ living in less than 1,000 sq. ft.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op, mind your own business.

+1 There is an appalling amount of judgement in OP's post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD has a friend with 5 other siblings. They’re very close and the friend is incredibly sweet and mature. We do play dates mostly at our house because the friend mentioned her apartment was small and that she shared a room with her siblings. I assumed she shared a room with a few of the other girls. Turns out it’s a 900 square foot apartment. The 5 oldest (4 girls aged 11-5 and one boy 3) share a bedroom while the parents and infant share another. I do not know how this works. I’ve always felt guilty for making my girls share a room, can’t kmafine 5 kids of mixed genders in a room. Also, ONE bathroom for EIGHT people. What happens when a stomach bug hits the house!

The oddest part is I don’t think it’s a financial thing. They live in a luxary apartment that’s easily twice our mortgage. I know both parents work in downtown and have high paying jobs. Why would they do this? The 4 school aged children all attend private school with DD. I can’t imagine doing this unless forced.

If their luxury apartment is 900 sqft and twitch your mortgage you probably live as far out as Chantilly or Rockville and that's your answer. Some people can't stand a commute or the inconvenience of the burbs.

Lol, living in Chantilly is far different than living in Rockville.

[Anonymous]

First world issues..

In most 3rd world countries there is one bedroom where the entire family sleeps, one "hall", one kitchen and one bathroom. Most of them grow up into normal adults and appreciate what they have.

Get real!

[Anonymous]

One bathroom for that many people is obscene.