Three or more children? For three years, the KRFD has been supporting and representing families with many children in Germany.

Guest contribution by: Edna Wollenweber www.kinderreichefamilien.de

When the white phone rings at Elisabeth Müller's in Mönchengladbach, it's usually a father or mother with more than three children calling; because Elisabeth Müller is the chairperson of the Association of Large Families in Germany (KRFD); and in this country, having many children starts with the third child.

"Families use our counseling services because they are in need; they don’t know how to make ends meet with 50 euros for the next two weeks; because they are looking for an affordable larger car, an apartment or even work,“ says Müller. In fact, every second call is about housing – one reason why the KRFD has now founded its own working group with the ambitious goal of improving the housing situation of families with many children.

If one were to eavesdrop on Elisabeth Müller for two days while she was on the phone, it could easily give the impression that families with many children in Germany are primarily: in distress!

The impression is misleading, fortunately. While families with many children are at a higher risk of poverty and more often rely on transfer payments than families with one or two children, 83 percent of families with many children live from their own, mostly dual, employment. Moreover, families with many children prove to be particularly stable: Almost 90 percent of the parents live in a solid, mostly marital, relationship and raise their children together.

Another prejudice that Müller likes to dispel: "Large families are not a minority!" It is true that only one in seven families has more than two children. But every fourth child grows up as part of a large family. "This means there are as many siblings as only children in Germany!

To represent these 1.2 million families with many children to the public, economy, and politics and to actively promote them, ten families joined together three years ago. The association now includes approximately 1,800 member families nationwide, with an average of four children each. Additionally, about 100
Supporting members – grandparents or parents with "only" one or two children. Membership is free in both cases, with a voluntary annual contribution requested.

Our central concern is to optimize the framework conditions for families with many children in Germany," said Müller. Accordingly, the outward-focused activities of the KRFD are diverse. "We talk to politicians, entrepreneurs, and journalists. We are in the newspaper, on speaker platforms, on television, and of course in the Network.“

Having many children or wishing for many is not an exotic lifestyle for the mother of six and a PhD pharmacist; it is simply normal, an enrichment, not a burden. However, the potential of families with many children is often underestimated, and they are frequently overlooked in political decision-making. "Absurd," says Müller, "especially in a society that faces profound changes due to demographic shifts." Therefore, the KRFD, along with leading social scientists and constitutional lawyers, advocates for a fundamental tax and social reform that adequately acknowledges child-rearing as an act of solidarity.

The KRFD offers its members numerous networking opportunities, in addition to consulting services, as well as exclusive access to the discount program.
familie3plus The offerings of familie3plus are developed in collaboration with business partners and continuously expanded. The business partners include, among others, automobile and household appliance manufacturers, travel providers, insurers, as well as service providers in the fields of education and health.

All of this is provided primarily by the active members themselves: An estimated 37,000 hours of voluntary commitment were spent in the twelve state organizations and the federal organization last year.

For the current year, the KRFD has set ambitious goals: In the fall, a family congress will take place in Frankfurt to enhance the media literacy of families with many children. Additionally, social and school counseling services are to be expanded to include marriage and family counseling, as well as a dedicated advisory service for families with a migration background. Expert volunteers have already been found. "The need is there," comments Müller, "even though most families manage well on their own or can support each other with advice and assistance—thanks in no small part to our networking offerings." And as if to confirm this, the white phone rings.