Charlotte Church: “I want all my babies by 32″
Sharing that she wants six children and boyfriend Gavin Henson wants eight, Charlotte Church told British radio host Jonathan Ross that her second pregnancy was no mistake — she’s on a schedule! The 22-year-old songstress revealed that she wants to birth all her children within the next ten years.
I want all my babies by the time I’m 32 so then I can have everything done. We want to have our babies young and then I’m going to get married and look fabulous for that!
Explaining that she "loved the whole pregnancy process," despite initially thinking it would be "a nightmare," Charlotte said that rugby player Gavin, 26, is her main source of support — and 9-month-old daughter Ruby Megan is a complete "daddy’s girl" because of it.
Gavin helps with everything. Even when I was breastfeeding in the night, he’d get up to be supportive because I was knackered.
Although she realizes people may think she’s young for a serious relationship and a large family, the Charlotte Church Show host said that for her, the situation is perfect.
I’m happy with the simple life. I feel so lucky for everything I have.
Charlotte and Gavin expect their second child in mid-January.
Source: BBC; Photo by BARM/FAME.
Thanks to CBB reader Beth.
- Posted on Jun 24, 08 at 1:00PM
- Permalink
- 83 Comments
June 24th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
I reckon she’ll stop at three children!
June 24th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
I have a very similar plan. I want to be done with kids by 30, except we want four. My first son will be one next month and we’ve been TTC for the past six months.
June 24th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
I love how people say they want 6 or 8 kids when they only have one. Just wait, honey…just wait!! Of course they do have tons of money and help so maybe they will. My poor body couldn’t handle but 3…I’d love 4 otherwise.
June 24th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
My mom had a old saying “why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free” I think charlotte should get that man to marry her before he gets to comfortable with her and she becomes just the girl friend or ” baby’s momma”. But its only my opinion………………
June 24th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
I don’t understand why it is so en vogue to bring multiple children into the world and THEN think about getting married. I am glad she is in a stable relationship and had the finances to do it but I am just shocked at the kids then marriage mindset.
**And yes, I would say this to her face. I would be curious as to her reasoning.
June 24th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Me, too, Allie! My body is done after three kids — otherwise I’d be working on one more!!
June 24th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
i had my first child unplanned and young. If i didnt have him i would have waited until my late 20s to start having kids but being that he will be 5 soon i would like more and would love to also be done by the time im 32 we want btwn 3-5 and that includes adoption. LOL but like allie said, we only have one so who knows what well feel like after we have more. In reality we are taking it one child at a time
June 24th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
I love hearing people that “plan” their stuff LOL! Everyone picks on me because i’m 24 with no plans for kids anytime soon. I’m on a plan and am married to my job, and I dont want to get married or have babies until I hit 30.
June 24th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
I love when people say I want like 6 or 7 kids, because most of the time it’s exgratted and they usually stop at around 3 lol.
June 24th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
IDK, Charlotte may truly want 4 or 5 kids. I know I originally wanted 4 kids when I was having my first. I have 2 and we are doing IVF to get #3. I wish I would have had more sooner rather than later. Just because the majority of people only want one or two kids doesn’t mean there aren’t people out there who really do want a large family and can handle it. We shouldn’t assume because she is young that she won’t be able to do it. Or that she HAS to get married in order for there to be a stable relationship. Look at Brad and Angelina or Goldie and Kurt.
I hope Charlotte has an easy pregnancy and birth again and gets to have as many children as she plans to!
June 24th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
I would never dream of having a child before getting married. But that is a personal choice. If Charlotte and Gavin have found a formula that works for them, I say well done. It is simply too easy to judge – I would rather celebrate and congratulate them on their success and happiness.
June 24th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
I don’t think it’s heathy for your body to have pregnancies back to back. I agree with most, They’ll probably stop at 3.
June 24th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
Hah this is exactly what I said at her age! After I had my first child (at 26) I said “Oh honey, this is so wonderful, I can’t wait to have 5 kids.” Cut to three years and another baby later…and completely content with two!
June 24th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
wow, I used to say I wanted a certain number by at least 26 , I am now 30 and have not had one yet. Life throws curve balls at times. But it looks like she is off to a good start. It would be nice to see her at least engaged or married though to her boyfriend, I know that legality is just a ceremony and piece of paper, but it could mean more legal wise if she is to really have that many children, if you follow what I am saying. Technically they could have a house full of children, and he could just walk away, there is nothing she could do about it. But anyhow, enough of being negative,m but trying not to be- really-.
I wish them a happy and healthy second pregnancy.
June 24th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
I love how judgmental people are. I’ve always wanted a big family myself, I currently have 2, would have 6 if my husband was on board and we still plan to have 3 or 4. I love kids, always have; but I am glad the people who can’t handle them stop, just can’t figure out why they automatically assume others can’t as well.
June 24th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
amanda, that was exactly my point too!
June 24th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
I don’t think people here are saying people can’t or don’t have say 6 kids sometimes. I think what most are saying is that, many people especially when young say oh I love kids and want like 5-6, but fast forward 10yrs later and the majority of those people have about 2-3. That’s not all people of course, there are some that say they want 6 and end up having 6, but a lot of people I know who said stuff like that, got no where near having 6-7 kids. First of all it takes a toll on your body, that’s a lot of kids to give attention too, some women nowadays work so having a career plus 6 kids is hard.
June 24th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
I also don’t understand why you wouldn’t want to get married first, before the six kids. If you don’t want to be married at all, as Brad and Angelina don’t, then fine, I completely accept that, but if you are planning to, then why wait? How can you “value” or believe in marriage, yet not really? Not trying to start a disagreement, because I fully respect different views on this, but it just seems strange. A lot of celebrities make statements like this. If you want to be married, then what are you waiting for?
June 24th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
I don’t think anyone is being “judgmental”, just respectfully giving their opinion.
June 24th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
Lisa, I completely agree with you. I think of couples like Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins, or Brad and Angelina who have stated/made it clear that they are not marriage-minded and their relationships have worked beautifully without it. I totally respect that marriage is not a priority for everyone (I myself am conflicted about it). But I don’t understand Charlotte’s mindset about having 6 kids of out of wedlock, and THEN getting married. That seems extremely backwards and counterintuitive for someone who wants to get married to have all those kids first.
I also think there’s no way Charlotte’s having six kids. Maybe 3.
June 24th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
I also said since H.S. I wanted 6 kids…..I stopped at three, all girls. First one was easy! You can always dream, but reality does start to set in! I probably would have had one more, I’m young enough. I alway thought I have three healthy babies and that’s plenty!
June 24th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
I’m 31 with no plans for kids anytime soon. These comments are stressing me out!
June 24th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
All of the celebrities that are being mentioned-Goldie and Kurt/Angelina and Brad/Susan and Tim-they have all been married before-some more than once. That is why they are not doing it again. Charlotte has never been married. She doesn’t know what she’s missing! I agree-she should be married to him before they bring “all those babies” into their lives.
June 24th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
I always said I wanted all my children by a certain age and I would have but my body would only handle TWO! Life is unpredictable, I wanted to have three but it didn’t turn out that way…I just as happy with the two healthy kids that I have, why test fate.
I’m wondering if she made those statements because of people being judgemental of another pregnancy so soon, like it was an accidental pregnancy. Her babies will be close but like her I wanted to be a young mother and would have had babies 18 months apart if I didn’t miscarry. My kids are only 21 months apart and I would have tried for a third if the doctors didn’t tell me that it wasn’t a good idea after my last pregnancy.
I wish them all the best and hope she has a very uneventful pregnancy.
June 24th, 2008 at 6:01 pm
LOL! I remember when I was a teen and in LOVe with New Kids on the Block. Well they just about all came from large families so I decided I wasnted 9 kids…oh and I had them all named too!
Now I am 31 and a mom of 4. I had 3 close together and them we decided for one more. Its incredibly hard, and anyone who says its not is lying…LOL. The shear logistics of sports and academic programs for 4 children and making it to everything is really hard. Having them close in age presents other challenges…I had 3 in diapers for a year.
I was a preschool teacher for 6 years befopre becoming a mom and I love having All of my kids. But looking back, I said alot of things at 22 that I wouldn’t dare commit to now!LOL
As I posted when she announced her second pregnancy, I am thrilled for her. I hope everything goes well for her!
June 24th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
How come no one mentions marriage in a Brad and Angie post? They’ll have 6 kids soon and they aren’t married…I find it odd that no one is judging on their decision not to wed but commenting on Charlotte…
June 24th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
Oh, and just one thing I forgot to add earlier. I will just sit back and see how fabulous one will look after having 6-8 children in 10 years time…:)
It is really sad to me that she is waiting to get married. THere is something very special about getting married, having that wonderful commitment and having so much love for another person you chose to make a baby with them. It is a powerful and overwhelming thing sometimes.
June 24th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
I dont’ see how a marriage would make Gavin more or less responsible for the care of the children. Legaly all the matters is that he is the father. not if they ever married.
I wish her luck on having the family size that she wants. Yes, having children so close together is very hard on the body. The last report I heard was that it is best to wait 18 months between children. But it is her body and her children.
June 24th, 2008 at 6:22 pm
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion; I happen to believe that it is better to be married before having children – especially if you are a “regular” woman who NEEDS the daily support and financial support/security.
If I take her desire to have 6 children separately, I think that it is a good idea to take advantage of the youthful years of fertility. So many of us females believe that pregnancy will happen when we want it to just because we are female. Countless women can tell you that it doesn’t work out that way. I feel blessed to be in my 30s and to not have had difficulty conceiving. Please think about that, ladies. Being a mother is not your birthright – even though we don’t want to think about it, our fertility has a point where it definitely dips.
June 24th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
Why are people being so rude as too dismiss Charlottle saying she wants to have 6 children? Why are so many of the people here deciding she will stop at 3? I doubt any of you know her well, if she wants to have 6 or 8 or even 12 children that is her choice. It’s been done before and there is no reason why she and her partner couldn’t do it.
June 24th, 2008 at 6:41 pm
Charlotte & Gavin’s decision to get married now, wait until they are done having their children, not get married at all, stop at two children or a dozen children is their decision and we should all respect that and not question it. A whole host of experiences help determine how each of us views marriage and family. Some people can’t imagine never getting married, others realize its not for them or its not going to happen and become single parents without partners, others feel that a piece of paper is just a piece of paper and they, their partner and their children are just fine how they are. Why aren’t all of these choices okay?
For full disclosure – I’m unmarried, my boyfriend of 14 years and I have a 5yo and we have no plans to marry. It would never be easy for either of us to walk away – we’re just as committed to our relationship as married couples are to theirs. I’m astonished how often strangers (or new acquaintances) feel free to question our choices.
June 24th, 2008 at 6:41 pm
I agree with tink and amanda. I believe you can have as many as you want, and even though she is young she can still know what she wants. I have wanted a big family ever since I can remember and that still has not changed.
June 24th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
i cannot believe people are jumping all over her for wanting to have a lot of kids. she can say whatever she wants. it’s great to want kids. what’s the difference if someone was married and unhappy? sheesh.
June 24th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
I’m very glad Charlotte’s plan seems to be off to a good start, but part of growing and maturing is getting used to the unplanned things that life throws at you, and realizing that sometimes those surprises can be just as good! I thought I’d have all my children by 30…started at 22, but after two miscarriages, and the premature death of my son, I didn’t have a baby to hold in my arms till 27, had my next 2 1/2 yrs later and then it took almost 4yrs to conceive the next, had my last baby in March and I just turned 36. Those curveballs made me appreciate many things I wouldn’t have come to know otherwise. Good luck to Charlotte!
June 24th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Dee,
I don’t think anyone in here is saying Charlotte isn’t capable of having six babies. I just think people are innocently skeptical because a lot of them have gone through the experience of wanting to have 5 or 6 kids–then their reality set in. lol.
To be honest, I think Charlotte may have gotten pregnant by accident this time and is just trying to overcompensate.
June 24th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
My point wasn’t that everyone SHOULD get married, especially if they have decided as a couple not to. Brad and Angelina (and several other famous couples) have stated that marriage is not in the plans for them. If a couple is committed to their relationship and children, than the rest of it is their business. I’m not “questioning anyone’s choices.” But Charlotte states she wants to get married, is planning to get married, is INTO the idea of marriage itself….that’s what I meant when I wondered about waiting. And as for commenting about celebrities on this board…Charlotte released a statement, which in my mind is being pretty public, and also this is a website about celebrities and their children…why can’t we *respectfully* comment?
June 24th, 2008 at 8:00 pm
Jennifer: Im sure her response would be “Its no-ones business but mine”.
Honestly- how do people think its ok to question how people live their life? Imagine thinking its ok to go up to someone, and ask them why they didnt get married before having kids? Do you honestly think that is a respectful question?
A PIECE OF PAPER DOESN’T KEEP PEOPLE TOGETHER- LOVE DOES!
That being said, I would like to get married and then have kids, but I would NEVER question anyone else for doing it another way?! Geeez!
June 24th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
good for her! let her have her babies and then a big wedding! they can certainly afford many children. i had never planned on having children. i got married at 26 and now have one daughter and am pregnant with our second girl. i am now on the side of having many – they’re tons of fun!
June 24th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
I think the reason she is waiting is simply that she doesn’t want to be a pregnant bride. Whatever she does — I’m glad she and Gavin are happy and have a beautiful baby girl. Lots of people get married after having children. This is not necessarily shocking? Also, I have to assume that the people who “would never dream of having a baby before marriage” believe so for religious reasons? Obviously they have different beliefs and should be respected for such. I’m always amazed at people who are religious and expect tolerance of such who can’t be tolerant of others?
June 24th, 2008 at 8:07 pm
Charlotte has a plan that suits her now. This may change in time. But nobody can turn round and say she has it wrong and is doing it the wrong way round. It’s her life let her do with it what she chooses.
At the minute i would happily have children with my boyfriend but i have absolutely no plans to marry him. i love him with all my heart but i do not feel that marriage is right for me.
June 24th, 2008 at 8:11 pm
I find it interesting that people are mostly making funny and humorous observations, then others jump all over them for being “judgemental”. Read the comments, see if someone is really trying to be malicious. I haven’t read any rude initial posts – it’s been reactions that are completely out of line.
*Stepping off my soapbox… now
June 24th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
This is just my opinion but in a world we live in today I don’t know why anyone would want to bring that many children into the world. It’s a scary place to live now I don’t want to know what it will be like 50+ years from now!! And I’m not saying people shouldn’t live there lives and do as they please but normal everyday people can’t just pop out that many kids because it’s just too expensive. I know someone that keeps saying she wants 8 (she has about 5 now) but when you talk about college and things like that she says, “I don’t think they’re going to want to go or if they want to go they can find other ways to get money!” Many people put all this into consideration before bringing kids in the world.
Luckily for Charlotte she doesn’t have to worry about that and if she wants to pop out 4-5 kids by the time she’s 30 so be it! It’s her life not ours! But ideally I think people say one thing but in the end don’t really mean it.
June 24th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
I really dislike how peope say have children out of wedlock as if that somehow makes them less than children born into marriage. It doesn’t, because marriage is made up by institutions, it has nothing to do with childbirth.
I think she sees marriage as just a ceremony, and maybe she just wants to have all her children there for it.
June 24th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
iluvallbabies- i think it is really hypocritical to suggest that one should be tolerant of the choices others make for their lives and then criticize marriage in the next breath by calling it just a piece of paper. If you feel it is just a piece of paper than why do you want to get married? Im all for people doing whatever they want but i feel like often when someone is trying to make a point of defend one side they cant do so without saying something rude about the opposing side.
June 24th, 2008 at 8:21 pm
Let me just add this point to:
Celebrities think differently then everyday people. They think “I am going to have 6 kids” because let’s face it they have the capabilities of having others help out with their children. I don’t care what any of them say about NOT having a nanny. The bottom line is if they needed one they can pick up the phone and have one at the drop of a dime! They have the money and the luxary of having things that many of us do not. So yes besides being pregnant and giving birth they could have tons of children and never really have to care for them 24/7 like most do! And Charlotte is young. Most 22 year old girls dream of the big wedding, the picket fences, and the house full of children. And that’s okay! But she hasn’t experienced what it’s like to have two under 14 months just yet!! Give her time and I am sure she’ll be thinking, hmm maybe 6 isn’t so much fun!!
June 24th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
CM my reasons for getting wanting to get married are personnal.
My point is: IN NO WAY would the marriage certificate keep me with my partner, nor does it make me more stable or “above” anyone that isnt married.
I find it extremely out of line to think its ok to ask someone why they didnt get married before having kids? Jennifer actually said she would comfortable going up “face to face” and asking this?!
Questioning others choices and lifestyles is strange to me!
June 24th, 2008 at 9:02 pm
Congratulations to Charlotte & Gavin. I hope they get everything they wish for!!!
I had a plan when I was younger too. My plan was to get married & have 4 babies by the time I was 29. I was married by 21, 1st baby at 22, next by 24, 3rd by 26, & my twins 7 months before I turned 29. My husband was on board with having a large family. We got pregnant 2 months after we got married. Our youngest children are 10 months old & my husband & I are celebrating our 8th anniversary today.
My personal choice was to get married & then have my family, but to each their own.
June 24th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
iluvallbabies- I think if someone equates marriage with a certificate than i totally understand not needing the piece of paper. I know that for me and my husband our marriage isnt just that piece of paper. in defending someones “choice” not to get married i dont see why its necessary to lessen the decision of those that have.
“If you feel it is just a piece of paper than why do you want to get married?” was moe of a rhetorical question, im sorry if it didnt read that way
hilary- i agree and in my other post i started to state how the posts started out light hearted and some how went in the wrong direction
June 24th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
I’m doing what Charlotte wants to do right now except I have age on my side and reality. I’m 32 and am pregnant with my 4th AND 5th child. My other 3 children are 4 and under. When these are born my oldest will JUST have turned 5. I’m here to tell you Charlotte, IT’S HARD! It’s really easy for a husband to be “supportive” with 1. Don’t go by that. I’ll believe her when she says she wants 6 kids ONLY after she’s had 3 or 4. We’ll talk then…not after just 1. And also, GET MARRIED FIRST!!
June 24th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
Ok, I see what you mean CM. I was just meaning to say a marriage certificate does not make people more stable or keep people in the relationship (as we know from divorce rates!).
You can be in loving, solid relationships that last your entire lifetime without getting that certificate. I did not mean to put marriage down/or offend anyone with that comment- apologies if I did.
It just leaves a bitter taste in my mouth when people think they have the right to question others choices….
June 24th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
“I find it interesting that people are mostly making funny and humorous observations, then others jump all over them for being “judgemental”. Read the comments, see if someone is really trying to be malicious. I haven’t read any rude initial posts – it’s been reactions that are completely out of line.”
Welcome to CBB. Just more of the same-people start out stating their thoughts insinuating what should be a perfectly civil discussion, and instead other readers who are too insecure to deal with opinions different from their own jump down their throats.
On-topic, ITA with winter and Jennifer. The old milk/cow analogy was the first thing I thought of, and I find her decision to marry her boyfriend only after she’s given birth to six of his children weird, to say the least. But what are you gonna do?
June 24th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
Lauren, what is “weird” to you is perfectly normal to hundreds of thousands of people across the world who are happy NOT being married.
I am FAR from insecure- BUT when you start thinking its “ok” to walk up to someone and question why they are not married before having children, then its a sad day for all.
Live the life YOU want, dont question others. Can you see my point?
June 24th, 2008 at 10:30 pm
“Lauren, what is “weird” to you is perfectly normal to hundreds of thousands of people across the world who are happy NOT being married.”
Way to totally miss my point, which others have already made. If a couple doesn’t believe in marriage for themselves period, that’s one thing. But committing to having six to eight children with your boyfriend and THEN getting married? Yes, I find that backwards and weird. I know according to some nobody is supposed to have any opinions and accept everything at face value; be sure to let me know when that tactic becomes realistic/productive.
And your philosophy of never questioning others is far from realistic or productive when applied to the real world in numerous scenarios. But that’s a whole other can of worms.
June 24th, 2008 at 10:31 pm
Carrie- I was just thinking the same thing! It seems like just about every other celeb couple who either has kids out of wedlock or talks about doing so gets criticized for it (especially when they have, or talking about having, a lot of kids out of wedlock).
Yet having lots of kids out of wedlock is the one thing that Angie and Brad never get criticized for. Does anybody have any ideas why that might be?
June 24th, 2008 at 10:34 pm
I see your points iluvallbabies and agree.
June 24th, 2008 at 10:46 pm
Gosh Lauren, you obviously dont see my point at all.
Lets agree to disagree.
June 24th, 2008 at 11:11 pm
Along with the posting rule thought of “Would I say this to a person’s face”, I have another that could be added to that list. How about “Is this comment really judgemental and attacking or do I just need to step back for a second.”
Stop with the constant calling almost every other harmless comment an attack or a judgement. We get it, you don’t like the comment, but that doesn’t mean that it’s offensive.
People who post about their past and compare it to the celeb’s story even get accused of being judgemental and attacking when they are just telling a story. What’s wrong with just debating and talking without people crying when the debate doesn’t go their way or people are pretty much agreeing one way?
June 24th, 2008 at 11:29 pm
I do agree with some of the women on here that Charlotte will stop having babies after she have her third one. She and Gavin will realize that babies and children are hard work. They are young and think babies are a lot of fun. Reality will hit them when they least expect it. My younger sister is 23 year old and she had said the same thing. She have two children age 4 and 3. She is also not married. She had told me that it is hard work raising both of them. She also like to have fun and party all the times. My mother said that my younger sister is better off with two children only. I do love my nephew and niece dearly but they are hard work because I had babysit both of them. They are so close in age and they are best friends.
I am in my early thirties and have no children yet. I did get a lot of experiences in babysitting for all of my nephews and nieces since I was 19 year old. I have 3 nephews and 6 nieces. I did the 3 am feedings and the diaper changes. It was hard work for me. I have a couple teenager nephews and nieces who have always asked me for money and clothes all the times now. Sometimes I would get asked how many children I want and I had said “One or two”. I am not into having three or four children. I do agree that I am more career orientated.
June 24th, 2008 at 11:44 pm
I of course want to be married before my first child. Yeah, yeah…I want that pretty girly wedding, I want to get married in the little town I grew up in, I want a country wedding on a warm spring day….and I do want 5 kids, not because I like that ‘fantasy’, but because I truly couldn’t imagine not having that many kids, i’m the youngest of 7 and I truly feel blessed to have been raised in a family like mine. My Mom was always very, very busy…but I feel we we’re raised better than some families with just one or two kids. I don’t like how some people can judge others saying “ohhh trust me, she’ll only want 2 or 3.” — how do you know, do you know her? I know my Mom was a better Mother than most, she was busy, but always managed to make it to every school play, every golf tournament we were in, every swim meet….and she always looked perfectly put together, us kids we’re always immaculate, as was our house…and we didn’t have ANY help, and my Dad worked alot.
My Mom went into her marrige thinking she wanted 2, then had 2 and wanted more, and three and wanted more, and then she had the twins and wanted more and then she had my sister and then still wanted more, and then she had me and was going to have another one but she lost that child and wasn’t able to have anymore kids after that. She’s now a Grandmother of 4 and she and my Dad are considering adoption now.
Don’t judge people…yeah I understand MOST people only have 2 or 3, and perhaps she is one of them…but you never know. My brother and his partner are having there second child together and have no plans to get married, they made a commitment to each other, they are together, they don’t need a piece of paper. It just shows how people differ, because I want to be married one day.
I hate how people act like having a lot of kids is a bad thing. I think it’s a BLESSING! If you are in a situation where you can afford it, and you want it, why not? I personally feel my childhood was better than most, I didn’t suffer any, or go with out anything, I feel I had all the attention and love any child could ever want.
I don’t mean to sound so harsh, or rude….but it just upsets me how some of you have reacted about having more than 3 or 4 kids.
And yes I would be comfortable saying this to her face, and to anyone else on here.
June 24th, 2008 at 11:49 pm
I don’t mind how many kids Charlotte has, that’s her perrogative. However I agree with most of you that Charlotte idea about “having all of her kids by 32, THEN getting married” is crazy and backward, though that’s just imho. Charlotte and Gavin are only in their 20s, but I would hope they’d want to formalize their relationship before they had too many more kids.
June 25th, 2008 at 12:47 am
I can understand her wanting to wait to get married. Most people take 12 months or more to plan a wedding. Perhaps she doesn’t want to be pregnant or breastfeeding while organising it, or to have that kind of break in between her children.
As someone aiming to have 4 children, I really get sick of people telling me that I won’t do it.
I assume from her comment “when i was breastfeeding” that she has weaned Ruby? I know she’s a bit AP, so thought she might be tandem feeding.
June 25th, 2008 at 12:58 am
My husband and I just had our first child in our mid-thirties and it has been a wonderful, life-changing experience. I understand the sentiment of wanting many more — I would like at least 1 more.
But frankly, I think it is selfish in this day and age to have more than two biological children. Mostly for environmental reasons but also because there are so many orphans around the world who need good homes.
June 25th, 2008 at 2:27 am
I’m a few years younger than Charlotte and even I have plans for how I want my life to go. I’d like to have four children by the time I’m in my early to mid-thirties, but only if I’m in a stable relationship [married or not] and am financially stable.
I also know that life doesn’t always turn out quite the way you think it will, and would be completely happy with only two kids.
My boyfriend’s dad always asks me how many kids I want and of course I say four, then he laughs because I’m sure he thinks I’m crazy and naive for wanting “that many” (he as three!). Of course, if I explained myself he would know that I don’t EXPECT to have four. And I’m sure Charlotte is the same way.
I have a question also!
Does your body get “ruined” [horrible way to say it, sorry! can't think of a better word] by having kids one after another, more, less, or the same as having them three or four years apart?
June 25th, 2008 at 6:02 am
I really don’t see what peoples problems are with her not being married. Most people now-a-days don’t care if they get married, I know I don’t.
It doesn’t matter if she isn’t married.. aslong as Charlotte, Gavin and the kids are happy.
Some people need to stop complaining about some as stupid as this and look at other things.
June 25th, 2008 at 7:06 am
Can someone explain to me why it’s problematic for her to have kids and then get married?
And please don’t use the milk/cow analogy – I thought we were past the time of discussing women as if they were “acquisitions”.
June 25th, 2008 at 8:08 am
To Diana – like I had posted earlier, we have 5 children. I see nothing selfish about it. I wanted a big family, yet I don’t have thousands of dollars to adopt & a child and quite honestly, I’ve never had the desire to adopt. Not that there is anything wrong with adoption & yay for people who do, but that was never something that we ever considered.
To Paula – I have heard horror stories from friends that said that their bladders are bad now or whatever, but mine are 7, 5, 3 (all 22 months apart) & the twins are 10 months (32 months from the 3 yr old). Knock on wood that I never had any issues. My doctor only advised me once to wait & that was after I miscarried after my 1st child. She suggested 3 months. 2 months later I got pregnant with my 1st daughter & it was the most perfect pregnancy ever. Maybe I’m just a lucky one.
June 25th, 2008 at 8:33 am
Some people (especially celebrities) express themselves about having kids like getting puppies at a pet store.
I think she’s living too fast and she’s not enjoying THE moment. My guess is by the time she’s 32, she’s gonna realize she hasn’t lived enough and may want to do what she hasn’t been able to do when you’re young.
June 25th, 2008 at 10:40 am
Diana,
I have 4 kids. Having children is one of the most selfLESS things you can do.
We are unable to adopt.
Explain to me how I am selfish??
June 25th, 2008 at 11:53 am
Despite being a promoter of Breastfeeding, she said she weaned to formula at 6 months because “I was glad to have my body back then, but a part of me was sad to finish it,”. Seemed rather odd to me for her to be working to promote breastfeeding while she only breastfed for half the recommended minimum time.
June 25th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
I understand the selfless part, as I have a child.
But each child is a huge resource drain on the planet. Most people I know have at least thought about the impact they are having. This isn’t 1862 — having eight biological children is simply beyond the pale. Just the diapers alone is enough to make my head spin.
Biological children aren’t “free” — you are going to need thousands of dollars a year anyway, much more if you want to send them to college.
June 25th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
how did this turn into a whole arguing thing??
June 25th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
Diana, Would you really go up to a couple or single parent and tell them to their face that they are being selfish if they have more than 2 kids?
June 25th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
On the marriage thing, I think it is generational, people in my generation(late thirties) cannot imagine having children illegitametly, it seems disrespectful to children to say you are not important enough to marry for.
People in the generation of twenty somethings seem to think marriage is stodgy and old fashioned and just a piece of paper. Maybe this generation has grown up with too much divorce and cannot see what the point of marriage is.
The world of marriage is changing, less and less people marry, its becoming the norm. I don’t think the success rate of staying together really has anything to do with marriage or non marriage, more with deep commitment to a relationship. But it is always an interesting debate.
June 25th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
Diana,
Thankfully I will abide by the rules and NOT say what I want to say because it might come off as a bit rude..
So, I sit here not saying anything at all…..
June 25th, 2008 at 10:47 pm
Diana- Since you think Charlotte and Gavin are selfish for wanting more than two biological kids, do you also think Heidi Klum and Seal are selfish (they have three biological kids, and have talked about possibly having a fourth)? How about the Jolie-Pitts (they will soon have three biological kids. And, I might add, it’s not entirely by choice in their case as they are currently expecting twins)? Are they selfish, too?
I suppose you think that my dad’s parents (who had three kids) were selfish as well (they both died several years ago). I don’t know for sure about Hedi and Seal or Angie and Brad, but I do know that one thing my dad’s parents were not was selfish.
June 25th, 2008 at 11:02 pm
I have no issue with not feeling the need to get a piece of paper (married), BUT she’s been very vocal about wanting to be married, but her boyfriend isn’t ready for it. If he’s “not ready”, meaning it’s not that it’s just something he doesn’t care about, but that he’s really not ready, what makes them ready for children?
June 25th, 2008 at 11:26 pm
Diana i find that kind of rude my parents had eight biological children & weve never had a problem we are blessed almost all of us get what we want actually by most peoples standards were spoiled heck i remeber always bothering my mom after my little sister was born “come on mom i want another sister no u should have twin girls to even it out (5 boys 3 girls) & her just laughing & saying “no kelly i think im good” i always bothered her abt it & now my sister is doing it she doesnt find it as funny now & right now the ages are as follows 24 22 15 13 (me almost 14) 12 10 9 & 5 & my oldest brother just got married so they are planning to have a big family as well i know i will it may not always be fun growing up in a big family but there was always someone to talk too if i needed it & i want that for when i have kids when im waaaaay older so i dont think it matters if you have eight kids if you can take care of them properly & it sounds like they can!
June 26th, 2008 at 12:09 am
i think what she means is that she isnt happy with her body right now, and that she would prefer to have her babies, then focus on getting back to health so she can look great for her wedding. i commmend her for just coming out with it and saying she doesnt wanna get married yet, i think thats better than getting married 8.5 months pregnant… the kid will already know its a bastard.
June 26th, 2008 at 12:45 am
Ok, I see everyone is focused on the word “selfish” but not one person has mentioned the environmental impacts. Clearly this subject is too taboo to discuss here.
I’ll stand my ground that having eight children in the 21st century is ridiculous. We aren’t living in Little House on the Prairie anymore. There are 6,704,845,726 people on the planet. By the year 2042, the world’s population will reach 9 billion.
June 26th, 2008 at 1:27 am
Yknow, with all the guff Diana is getting, she could have been really nasty with her comment. It IS possible to debate without taking personal offence to everything written here.
And maybe she would say it to Charlotte (and whoever else’s) face. This new and constant “How dare you, would you say that to their face thing” is getting old. CBB put that down as a guideline and I doubt they’d post the comment if it was truly that horrible.
June 26th, 2008 at 4:00 am
wow, this is an interesting discussion – and for the most part I can see nearly everyone’s point of view.
I’m in a fairly similar position to Charlotte in that my Partner and I are going to wait to get married. Marriage is important to us but when we found out I was pregnant we didn’t want to a) be a pregnant bride and b) have people think it was a shotgun wedding. So we made the decision to postpone.
Because we want our children to be close in age we don’t plan to get married anytime soon. Like Charlotte I want a large family but would like to make it clear that I am not being naive I had a very difficult labour and my son had some health issues, this last year has been very hard but he is worth every second of it and it will not put me off having more.
Our relationship is probably more stable than most of my married friends’ so I don’t see the point in getting married for the sake of it – I’d rather wait untill we can make the most of it and celebrate it properly like it should be celebrated.
I wish Charlotte, Gavin, Ruby and the many children to come the very best. It really doesn’t matter which way round it happens as long as they’re happy.
June 26th, 2008 at 7:38 am
Diana, I do get your point about overpopulation and limited ressources. However, not every part of the world is overpopulated and there is no way to ‘even that out’. I`m now living in Canada, but I am from Germany and there we have the problem that the population is aging and not enbough babies are born. I`m not sure about the situation in North America.
August 2nd, 2008 at 2:15 am
“However, not every part of the world is overpopulated and there is no way to ‘even that out’.”
Yes there is, Anja – it’s called migration. National borders are becoming more permeable, so people can move from one country to another to “even out” any population imbalance. Being in mind that some countries’ populations are still exploding (like China, India and other developing nations), other nations need to slow down to balance out. And slowly, with luck, the human population on this planet will decline to more sustainable levels.
I’m fully with Diana on this one.