Parenting Corner!

[QuasarAffiliates]

I think 19 is a bit too much... I would love to be a fly on the wall to see how they manage through the day... not to mention the financial aspect of it all. I dont want to paint a super mom picture here but we are built for this so we find ways to cope with whatever life brings our way.

@Rene, I used to think exactly like you..didnt think I had it in me but, its only because mentally I was not ready. You cant rush these things and you will know when and if you are ready. One thing I can promise you though is... You will definitely succeed. Kids dont come with instructions so we all begin in the same boat but its worth the ride irrelevant if its rough or calm seas.

[Maria F]

WHY? That is my question. By the time the 19th is old enough to know who you are you will be dead! I think that's very irresponsible but that is my opinion.
.

I have seen other cases where couples feel the need to have more and more children. I think there are several factors that can make a couple do this:

• Their culture ( certain countries are well known for having multiple kids)
• Religion like Catholics, Mormons, etc
• How supportive the husband is. If your husband is not 100% backing you up monetarily, then I see it very difficult for a woman to keep having kids.
• Economy ( many times governments help family with multiple kids)
• Ignorance and total disregard for the wellbeing of the kids. In many cases you see family with lots of kids where the poor kids are so neglected by their parents and their parents just keep having more and more.

[QuasarAffiliates]

Yes correct. Plus in my country back in the day, it was common to have large families. My father in law (who is 70yrs old) is one of 13 siblings so its not such a long time ago. Of course nowadays we have gone from large families to 1 if any which is sad in many ways. Today's life style tends to dictate far more than I would it to and I wonder if we brought this on ourselves.

[Renee]

The planet is over populated. Imagine if every person on the planet had 19 children. The human race would become extinct very quickly IMO.

Some time ago the population in Australia started going backwards because people were not having as many kids or they started having kids much later in life which would have meant there were old people and very young people and nothing in between to keep the economy going. So the government started giving out a "baby bonus". As you can imagine, the people who were having kids for the bonus were not the ones the country probably needed. It was the "westies" who were already on welfare and probably smoking weed every day. They got the money and spent it on a plasma tv. There is quite a joke about it here. Anyway they have stopped doing that now.

That woman with 19 kids has spent probably half or more of her life pregnant and existing primarily to look after other people. I can't imagine she has had much of a life of her own. That wouldn't be a satisfactory life for me. Then again, I'm very ambitious and as I said earlier, I don't have the maternal gene so maybe I am the one who is short sighted.

I don't know that I will ever have children. By the time I do get that maternal gene kicking in I feel that I will probably be too old. I wouldn't want to risk having a child knowing that I may never get that feeling. I don't think that would be very fair to the kid.

Don't get me wrong, I love playing with young kids around 4-5 years old but I'm also very happy to give them back

This discussion about the woman with 19 kids made me think of this video. I thought it was very well made and it's very true.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/HB3xM93rXbY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[p.arena]

As you can imagine, the people who were having kids for the bonus were not the ones the country probably needed. It was the "westies" who were already on welfare and probably smoking weed every day. They got the money and spent it on a plasma tv.

Agree totally, Renee.

When I was in uni I used to work at the local Coles supermarket on weekends and you'd see ferals with 4 or 5 kids. They'd be swearing at them in the store and sounded like total druggos. Felt sorry for the kids, it wasn't their fault.. what hope do they have being raised in that type of environment?

Personally I think people should have the right to have as many kids as they want, but it should be up to the individual to pay for themselves. If you want 8 kids that's cool but you'd better work hard for yourself to provide for them. Between the baby bonus and other fortnightly payments it is the taxpayers that end up paying.

Increasing the birthrate by throwing money at people does not solve the underlying problems of an ageing population if the next generation is brought up with a mindset that they do not need to contribute anything to society.

[QuasarAffiliates]

Hi Renee,

This a decision only you can make and you are very much entitled to it. No such thing as short sighted, everyone is the right to freedom of choice and if you think this is what you want then people should support your wishes.

I agree re the video, it was excellent and almost made me cry. We tend to forget and take things for granted in life so these videos sort of put you in your place at times.

Regards,
Rebecca

The planet is over populated. Imagine if every person on the planet had 19 children. The human race would become extinct very quickly IMO.

Some time ago the population in Australia started going backwards because people were not having as many kids or they started having kids much later in life which would have meant there were old people and very young people and nothing in between to keep the economy going. So the government started giving out a "baby bonus". As you can imagine, the people who were having kids for the bonus were not the ones the country probably needed. It was the "westies" who were already on welfare and probably smoking weed every day. They got the money and spent it on a plasma tv. There is quite a joke about it here. Anyway they have stopped doing that now.

That woman with 19 kids has spent probably half or more of her life pregnant and existing primarily to look after other people. I can't imagine she has had much of a life of her own. That wouldn't be a satisfactory life for me. Then again, I'm very ambitious and as I said earlier, I don't have the maternal gene so maybe I am the one who is short sighted.

I don't know that I will ever have children. By the time I do get that maternal gene kicking in I feel that I will probably be too old. I wouldn't want to risk having a child knowing that I may never get that feeling. I don't think that would be very fair to the kid.

Don't get me wrong, I love playing with young kids around 4-5 years old but I'm also very happy to give them back

This discussion about the woman with 19 kids made me think of this video. I thought it was very well made and it's very true.

<iframe src="//www.youtube.com/embed/HB3xM93rXbY" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe>

[QuasarAffiliates]

Yes Totally agree.

Poor kids...they dont even get a chance at a better life. What sort of standards and education will they have if their parents are not even able to set a good example.

Regards,
Rebecca

[QuasarAffiliates]

Can anyone recommend a good mosquito repellant (for kids and adults) which is odorless?

Thanks,
Rebecca

[Maria F]

Can anyone recommend a good mosquito repellant (for kids and adults) which is odorless?

Thanks,
Rebecca

To apply it to the skin or to plug it to the wall?

[QuasarAffiliates]

Can anyone recommend a good mosquito repellant (for kids and adults) which is odorless?

Thanks,
Rebecca

[QuasarAffiliates]

Hi Maria,

To apply to the skin. Summer season has begun so with it comes mosquitoes and my daughter gets bitten pretty badly at times. it is still not warm enough to turn on the a/c so we currently leave a window ajar (with insect screens) but they still manage to get through and leave their mark.

I have tried Jungle repellant which seemed fine last night but i dont think it is strong enough for outdoors.

Thanks,
Rebecca

To apply it to the skin or to plug it to the wall?

[-Shay-]

Hi Maria,

To apply to the skin. Summer season has begun so with it comes mosquitoes and my daughter gets bitten pretty badly at times. it is still not warm enough to turn on the a/c so we currently leave a window ajar (with insect screens) but they still manage to get through and leave their mark.

I have tried Jungle repellant which seemed fine last night but i dont think it is strong enough for outdoors.

Thanks,
Rebecca

If it is just a single window you leave open, try placing a fan that blows right across the window. The mosquitoes will not want to fly across the wind stream and as a result, they should stay out of your home.

[Maria F]

If it is just a single window you leave open, try placing a fan that blows right across the window. The mosquitoes will not want to fly across the wind stream and as a result, they should stay out of your home.

Shay, you are so right! I was going to suggest the fan, this works every time for me. I also use aroxol mat, you plug a small machine to the wall and insert the tablet ( making sure to keep a window open).

Poor things, she must be really suffering with the bites

All the best!

[Renee]

Agree totally, Renee.

When I was in uni I used to work at the local Coles supermarket on weekends and you'd see ferals with 4 or 5 kids. They'd be swearing at them in the store and sounded like total druggos. Felt sorry for the kids, it wasn't their fault.. what hope do they have being raised in that type of environment?

Personally I think people should have the right to have as many kids as they want, but it should be up to the individual to pay for themselves. If you want 8 kids that's cool but you'd better work hard for yourself to provide for them. Between the baby bonus and other fortnightly payments it is the taxpayers that end up paying.

Increasing the birthrate by throwing money at people does not solve the underlying problems of an ageing population if the next generation is brought up with a mindset that they do not need to contribute anything to society.

Yep exactly.

The last point is a biggie. It drives me nuts when I see young kids who think everything should be served to them on a silver platter and that their parents should be paying their way in life. When i was 15 I had a job and since then I have never asked my parents for a cent. If my friends were going to the movies or somewhere and I didnt have the money, I didnt go.

Anyway rant over

Hi Renee,

This a decision only you can make and you are very much entitled to it. No such thing as short sighted, everyone is the right to freedom of choice and if you think this is what you want then people should support your wishes.

I agree re the video, it was excellent and almost made me cry. We tend to forget and take things for granted in life so these videos sort of put you in your place at times.

Regards,
Rebecca

Yeah the video made me a bit teary too. Also made me realise that I should give my mum more credit. She used to tell me that she wanted to kill herself because my sister and I were devil children. My poor mother! Although I suppose that's what happens when you have 2 kids who are almost the same age!

[p.arena]

Yep exactly.

The last point is a biggie. It drives me nuts when I see young kids who think everything should be served to them on a silver platter and that their parents should be paying their way in life. When i was 15 I had a job and since then I have never asked my parents for a cent. If my friends were going to the movies or somewhere and I didnt have the money, I didnt go.

Anyway rant over

Yeah, I'm the same Renee. I used to work 3 jobs and was working 7 days a week and evenings too. I think I need to be careful not to spoil my little dude I don't want him to end up with that type of mentality where everything gets handed to him easily so he values hard work.

Finding it very hard not to spoil him though

[Renee]

Finding it very hard not to spoil him though

Well, he IS very cute.

You could always spoil him now when he doesn't know any better and get it out of the way!

[QuasarAffiliates]

Ohhhhh he is adorable! Go ahead and spoil him rotten. When he begins to understand, then you can start to hold back. My daughter is 2 and I make it a point to make sure she understands some basics about values. Right now its all about our magic words (Please and thank you) and caring for her toys.

Such a beautiful smile!

Regards
Rebecca

[p.arena]

Thanks Rebecca!

yeah we do spoil him heaps already plus because he's the only grandchild for my parents plus my wife's parents side, I think he's going to be very popular at xmas time haha

Good idea, positive teaching like that and encouraging kids when they do the right thing is the way to go

[QuasarAffiliates]

Oh yes tell me about it... grand parents doing their job, but then again I guess its Ok especially when they are rewarded for achievements or good behavior. They do tend to get expensive....lol

My only disapointment, is that I cannot spend more time with my kid. But then again, I am not the only one facing this.

Regards,
Rebecca

[AcePlayer]

I found going from 1 kid to 2 harder than going from 2 to 3 kids. The 3rd just seems to slot in to the lifestyle you currently lead - the kid has no choice.

The only real difference is a little less sleep, you need a bigger car and holidays cost more.

Funny you should say that. I just traded in my Camry for a Highlander over the weekend! Needed that third row of seats lol