Reply to The Ultimate Status Symbol? A big Family

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I don't know any intelligent rich with that many kids. Can you be dumb and rich? Absolutely. Trashy rich[/quote]

Why does it have to be a flex or trashy and ignorant?  Why can't it simply be a choice?  I'm one of six children.  My extended family is also large and I have maybe 30 cousins just on my mom's side.

My parents weren't dumb or trashy.  They prized education above all else, and my dad had a PhD.  While we weren't wealthy, my parents sacrificed to give us every advantage and opportunity they could.  We were well-traveled, each of us had a car when we turned 16, most of us attended private schools, and all of us attended private colleges.

Throughout my life, I've seen people react to the size of our family.  My mother said that people used to tell her "you do know about birth control, right?"  As if she were stupid and "trashy."  And yet many, many people from smaller families gravitated to us wanting to be part of what they saw as a noisy and fun household.  We welcomed so many into our family holidays, and still do.  My siblings are the best thing that my parents did for me, because I have a built-in lifelong support system.  And research on aging says that's as important as any other health factor in aging.

Because my husband and I started late and had fertility issues, we only have two children.  I regret it, but my children are close with all their cousins and have grown up with the benefits of enormous family gatherings, even though we're all scattered throughout the country.  As they've contemplated their college and career choices, there's always someone in the extended family that they could call for networking or mentorship.

There are probably valid criticisms to make about the environmental impact of a large family.  But it's been interesting to read these last few years about collapsing populations and what that means for supporting an aging population.  My mom is getting the last laugh after enduring decades of snide, judgmental remarks.   [/quote]

Are you a boomer?[/quote]

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