What would you consider a large family?

[Large family?]

Newly arrived in Singapore with 4 kids. Most people I meet seem to consider that a large family. Just curious when others define a family as large?

[Kafka]

What people think of your family disturbs you to the point of posting here to ask strangers for a second opinion?

OK, for me, yes 4 kids is a large family... so what? How will posters' comments affect you?

[Large family]

No it doesn't bother me. I'm just curious, at a loose end for a morning. Nothing life changing

[09876]

Hi. I would already consider people with three kids as a large family. I have only two kids and I think we are not a large family.
Dont worry, some of the posters here are really unfriendly....just ignore them. They need attention....

[NMS1]

In general here people will pass comment if you have three children, any more than that you are definitely regarded as a large family, with the exception of the local Malay families which tend to be bigger.

[jalanperak]

Size is in the eye of the beholder, and "large" is a relative term  

Most of the Singaporean couples I know with children have one or two.

[Kafka]

Nope, I didn't mean to be unfriendly (nor do I need attention btw), just found your question surprizing... That said, the more the merrier and, with 4 kids,  you should post on the thread about the pluses and minuses of having a maid

[large]

4 kids is a lot, but who cares what others think of your family size 

[jalanperak]

Nope, I didn't mean to be unfriendly (nor do I need attention btw), just found your question surprizing... That said, the more the merrier and, with 4 kids,  you should post on the thread about the pluses and minuses of having a maid

And where she sleeps ;-)

[Old Mike]

These days, any family with more than 2 children could be condidered big. But it is nobody's business but yours what your family size is.

[Number]

Bit off topic but it's pretty great being a part of a big family, number 8!!  No so much Tv back then
Things are more expensive now as well, so im only planning for 2, but would not be upset if more show up

[Downsize]

If you are expatriated as a family of 6, you are the MOST likely to be let go in a company downsizing - larger housing allowance, larger child allowance, 4 school fees!!!!   Those smaller families are so much more attractive ...

Isn't Kafka French?   You know, the country where you get all those "extras" from the Government if you have 3+ children?    Not sure where that snark came from ...

We were expatriated to France at the same time as a family with 3 children - despite being a higher grade, they had all the extras from the company and the French Government.   They stayed 2 years - we stayed 4!   Although he was a great employee, he was not worth the amount he and his family cost the company - a GBP 50k employee (it was 16 years ago) was costing well over GBP 170k!

[maybe perhaps]

People may be surprised because over here large generally means expensive - 2 taxis instead of one, 4 sets of school fees (whether you go local or international you still have to pay), bigger house/apartment needed, 6 medical bills...........the list goes on.

Back home for us having 4 kids wouldn't be too expensive, but over here it would be.  Most expats I know here with big families are on the full package.  We simply couldn't afford to live here with more children than we have because we're not on any kind of expat package.

But then again, if they're from Singapore they might just be surprised because a lot of people have smallish families these days and often both parents go back to work.  The gov used to offer tax benefits to citizens who had 3 or more children (not sure if they still do) - but that's how low they felt that the birth rate dropped.

[Bookworm]

The Waltons - I'd consider them to be a large family . G'd night John Boy

[Changing times]

Times have changed.  60 years ago, the average family had 4-5 children.  Catholics had unusually large families, 6-10 /12 children.  Lots of jokes about that eg. "Gosh, you've got enough people to make up a football team plus a referee or even a coach!"

Yes, no doubt, a family with 4 children is considered large now.  I used to think that it was a good family size.  2 boys and 2 girls - each with a companion and an older / younger sibling relationship.  We learned to share, there's no such thing as being spoilt and selfish and of course, we recycled toys and clothes from the older siblings.  I never came home to an empty house nor felt lonely.  Those were the days!