I have a very unique family. I am the oldes of 7 kids. I am 37. My next brother in 33 and he is my biological whole brother. parents split and he went to live with mom, i went with dad. so at my dad's it is like i am an only child. my brother is not close to my dad at all and they haven't seen each other in years, much less speak. so then mom gets remarried, and at the tender age of 18 i get a new baby brother, and 18 months later a new set of twins, one brother and one sister. now they are 21 and the twins are 18. then dad got remarried, and his significantly younger wife ( who is just a year older than me) wanted a baby, she didn't have any kids at all. so now I have a 7mos old sister. I can go halfway on the fence with this one. For my dad, i was the only kid for him for so long. and lets face it, when he gets old i will be the one taking care of his business, because the baby won't be old enough. when she is 20, he will be 77 and I will be 57. and i wish for the life of me that i had someone to help for when he and my step-mom get older. now for my mom's side the twins graduate high school in may. but i get the distinct impression we will all be taking care of mom. but again I will be the leader since i am the oldest and a daughter. i love the comraderie with all my siblings. (well except the baby, but she is cute though). it was just me and my oldest brother for so long, and then me by myself that i lean towards big families. because when you are old and gray or deceased, then your children will have each other to lean on and get through the rest of their lives. i am the oldest but the age gaps are so far apart it is hard to relate. i have 3 kids of my own, and a sister just out of high school and a sister just starting diapers. i wish we were closer in age and i think we would be closer as friends.
i know some families that have 8-10 kids. if that is helpful. they are happy. busy, but happy.
you will know what is in your heart.
good luck,
L.