Lettuce under the pillow.
By Kandase
@Kandae11 (57233)
July 1, 2018 6:17pm CST
Sixteen children or more, whether you wanted to have them or not!. Those married ladies of old didn't have it easy - and weren't given much choice - especially when religious beliefs deemed the use of contraceptive methods sinful. It was either abstinence or one pregnancy after another.
In the historical novel "To Defy a King" by Elizabeth Chadwick - there is a chapter where a few married ladies discussed methods they had tried in order to protect themselves from the constant child bearing . One such method was the placing of lettuce under the pillow - with the expected result that the husband would be less amorous. However, the lady who made the suggestion admitted that she had tried it and it was unsuccessful.
Isn't it great to be living in the 21st century ? My grandmother had nine children , my mother four - and I would have settled for four at the most if my marriage had lasted. Would you want to have sixteen children ? What would be your ideal number?
32 people like this
33 responses
@thislittlepennyearns (68159)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
2 Jul 18
My mother had one. My maternal grandmother had three and her mother had 14.
4 people like this
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
2 Jul 18
My ideal number of kids is none - I like my peace and quiet too much
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2 people like this
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
2 Jul 18
@Kandae11 That's when I'd be happy to meet them, when they turn 20
2 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
2 Jul 18
My grandmother had four, my mother three (with atleast two abortions and a miscarriage).
My great grandparents on all sides had many children.
I had one marriage and zero children.
I'm not married now, and by the time I next enter a relationship (if i ever do), I don't know that I'll have children.
I'd rather have several dogs, a few cats and a good relationship.
2 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
2 Jul 18
@Kandae11 I think the majority of us grow up wanting children because that is what we are conditioned to want. Then when we don't, or can't, have them we feel as if we are somehow a failure.
1 person likes this
@Kandae11 (57233)
•
2 Jul 18
@ScribbledAdNauseum No one should feel that way. If it is a case where one can't have children , and want them - there is always adoption. If one can have children, but would prefer not to have them - then it is best not to. It is awful for a child to grow up feeling unloved .
@kobesbuddy (78833)
• East Tawas, Michigan
2 Jul 18
My one grandma had seven children and my aunt&uncle had 14 kids!(all single births)
3 people like this
@kobesbuddy (78833)
• East Tawas, Michigan
2 Jul 18
@Kandae11 I went through child birth twice and thought that was a big deal! LOL
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
2 Jul 18
Oh dear. I'm so happy I don't live back then.
Mostly because 0 is the ideal number of children for me. Nothing against kids, but I have had to be a caretaker for my dad since I was a kid. I don't want to do it again. I've already dealt with issues parents do - only I've had to do it since I was very young and now even.
That and I just don't feel I would be a good mom to them.
It seems sort of self centered of the men. To put their wives through that over and over and over and over again just for a few moments of selfish pleasure.
2 people like this
@responsiveme (22923)
• India
3 Jul 18
@Kandae11 there is the PS Buck novel ..Pavilion of Women which deals with this
2 people like this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
3 Jul 18
@Kandae11 Ha ha, yes I do wonder if there were some relief on the case of some wives
1 person likes this
@1hopefulman (45111)
• Canada
2 Jul 18
16 would be a lot! I only have two and I am happy with that.
2 people like this
@1hopefulman (45111)
• Canada
3 Jul 18
@Kandae11 I would need a big house and a big yard. That would not be a family but a small village. 
2 people like this
@allknowing (153544)
• India
2 Jul 18
In the good old days for men producing children was the only entertainment And for women it was a sin to refuse.
And for women it was a sin to refuse.2 people like this
@allknowing (153544)
• India
2 Jul 18
@Kandae11 We were a brood of nine and from what we could see our parents were very happy with each other.
2 people like this
@Kandae11 (57233)
•
2 Jul 18
@allknowing My mother's husband was chosen for her - and I don't think they were very happy.
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
2 Jul 18
I would have had 6 had I been able. I did have 5 pregnancies, 3 live babies, 1 stillborn and 1 miscarriage and after 3 c-sections, the doctor said no more. I was very sad, I always wanted a large family. I am one of 7 and my mother is one of 10.
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
2 Jul 18
@Kandae11 My daughter has 5 and it is wonderful so I would have loved to have had those extras.
2 people like this
@YrNemo (20254)
•
2 Jul 18
In my impractical and naive days, (pre-marriage), I had thought of having 4 as the max (or was it minimum? 
). Glad that I have much less than that. Religious or not, I think it is insane to not having some sort of contraceptive ways. (Guess I am not religious then? 
)
). Glad that I have much less than that. Religious or not, I think it is insane to not having some sort of contraceptive ways. (Guess I am not religious then? )2 people like this
@Jessabuma (31696)
• Baguio, Philippines
2 Jul 18
I would love to have 2 or 3 .. hehehe!!!
16 is too much for me..
2 people like this
@marguicha (230334)
• Chile
2 Jul 18
My ideal number was and is 2. I would have ended insane with more children.
2 people like this
