Posted on 10/09/2006 4:55:02 PM PDT by Mrs. Don-o
NEW YORK — Laura Bennett isn't bound by convention. Professionally, at age 42, she's pursuing a midcareer switch into big-time fashion design. At home, she's a mother of five — with No. 6 due next month.
"It was nothing that we planned ahead of time," Bennett says. "It's more that we were enjoying all the kids. "We have a happy home. Why not have as many children as we can?"
It's barely a blip on the nation's demographic radar — 11 percent of U.S. births in 2004 were to women who already had three children, up from 10 percent in 1995. But there seems to be a growing openness to having more than two children, in some case more than four. The reasons are diverse — from religious to, as Bennett reasons, "Why not?"
...Dr. Jeff Brown, a pediatrician affiliated with Greenwich Hospital in Connecticut's wealthy southwestern suburbs, has noticed a clear trend in recent years. "I don't hear people say, 'We'll have two and then we're done,' where I used to hear that before," he said. "People are much more open to three-children families than they were 10 years ago."
...The Census Department says it has no national data specifying which demographic sectors are having more kids these days. But a leading expert on family size, Duke University sociologist Philip Morgan, says it makes sense that some well-off couples are opting for more children as concern about global overcrowding eases because of lowering birth rates overall. "The population explosion — fears about that are over," he said. "People used to think that having more than two kids was not only expensive but immoral. Now, people say if you can afford three kids, four kids, that's great."
(Excerpt) Read more at seattletimes.nwsource.com ...
Kids Pride and Joy Ping
Well, my oldest daughter has 5 kids, my 2nd son has 5 kids, and my 3rd son has 4.
My other married kids are slackers, only 1 and 2 kids.
This is wonderful. People should have larger families, it helps the kids be sociable and interdependent. Plus it helps parents with stuff around the house and children are such a delight!
Of course they're not being snide. They're worried that conservatives are going to outbred liberals, so they're trying to encourage liberals to have more children. *tinfoil hat on*.
Alouette, I'd love to be a spy at one of your family reunions!
We have 2 children if a few more come along it's a bonus for us!
I've noticed the trend. We have a couple friends with 8 kids, a couple with 7, several with 6, and many with 4.
All conservative families, many are homeschoolers.
This is good news. Demographic trends should concern us. One thing I don't want to leave to the next American generation is a low birth rate.
C2K (father of three)
You trendsetter, you!
Abortion is another example of things backfiring on liberals. They can't stand to see large families because they are going to be outvoted.
What the article doesn't say is that when midle and upper class professionals decide to have more than one or two children it is a sign that the economy is doing well. People in that demographic group tend to have planned pregnancies that they know they can afford ( as much as anyone can ever afford to have children).
less Muslim kids...
= healthier world.
Is this the Laura from Project Runway? I'll have to check her last name.
Four here - wish I could have had more, I wanted 6, but haven't been able to get pregnant and carry to term after the last one. At almost 48, I'm afraid I'm done.
My nephew and his wife have eight children,and plan on having two more.They are a great family!
bookmark
Yes that's her.
A young couple friends of ours the husband jokes he wants his own baseball team. I say hooray! I only had 2 kids, always wanted more.
I wonder if this is the same lady I've seen on Project runway? If she is, omg, she designs BEAUTIFUL clothing...very stylish! The rest of those in that group competition design garbage!
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