Mark Wahlberg On a Fifth Child: 'The More the Merrier'

Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic

When it comes to family planning, Mark Wahlberg‘s approach is simple.

“I’m the youngest of nine,” the Lovely Bones star points out during a Friday appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, “So the more the merrier.”

Of course wife Rhea Durham — who delivered the couple’s fourth child, daughter Grace Margaret, earlier this week — has a well-earned say-so in the matter, and for now she is standing pat.

“My wife has always wanted four, two boys and two girls, so miraculously she got everything she wanted … She’s saying she’s done.”

That’s not to say a change of heart couldn’t occur, however. Although Rhea has been “hinting” that their family — which includes Ella, 6, Michael, 3 ½, and Brendan, 16 months — is complete, Mark isn’t so easily convinced. “She loves being a mother, so she may end up wanting one more,” he muses before adding,

“We’ll see what happens.”

Just what could motivate the model, 31, to contemplate a fifth pregnancy? The rest and relaxation afforded by the maternity ward! “She likes hanging out at the hospital,” Mark jokes. “It was the first time we had a couple of days of peace and quiet, even though she had to go through the pain of giving birth.”

Likening the experience to a hotel stay, Mark, 38, pointed out that mom and dad even had their own televisions for viewing. “She didn’t really want to go home,” he said.

Source: The Ellen DeGeneres Show

Comments

I love this family! I think 5 would be wonderful…I always wanted five! Either way, they’re a great family!

- Maddy on January 15th, 2010

I felt like that too- I didn’t want to go home from the hospital! I was comfortable, my food was brought to me, people came to visit, but didn’t stay long…..my husband brought me clean clothes everyday…!

- lipsy on January 15th, 2010

I think two and two would also be great. We have a daughter and son and are pregnant again, and I’m secretly hoping for boy/girl twins this time around since they run in my family.

I’m not so sure about another pregnancy just to get a couple of days off in the hospital (two days vs. 18+ years) but I know he’s just joking.

- Angela on January 15th, 2010

I’ve always said I want either one child or 5! No in between. She’s only 31 so she’s got sometime just in case she changes her mind.

- electra on January 15th, 2010

mark is due here in my town in ct in about 2 weeks to start filming his new movie with christian bale, russel crowe, and hugh jackman……..my friends and i are all hoping for a glimpse of at least one of ‘em!!!!!!!!!! )

i find rhea to be so gorgeous…..i hope they are blessed with as many children as God allows.

- french gigi on January 15th, 2010

I didn’t want to leave the hospital either! It’s so relaxing, you can sleep, have meals brought to you, quiet. Wonderful. I think they should quit with two of each, it really is the perfect family. But I wouldn’t be surprised if they have one more in a few years.

- Amy on January 15th, 2010

Electra – I always said I wanted either 1 or 3, but never 2, haha. Incidentally, we’re going with 1

- mrsh on January 15th, 2010

Has anyone got any idea what little michael’s middle name is as we are all aware of mark’s other children, ie: Ella Rae, Brendan Joseph and Grace Margaret.

- Amy on January 15th, 2010

Cedars Sinai Medical Center has an awesome maternity ward. They have deluxe suites that are about $3000 a night so when Mark said ‘hotel room’, it’s the truth. There are photos online of the rooms. It’s amazing how people live.
Anyway, they will definitely have one more in two, two and a half years. It will be a boy. They might as well go for a sixth one while they’re at it, LOL. Three girls and three boys would be perfect.

- Alicia on January 15th, 2010

they are so awesome

- cassie on January 15th, 2010

I think they should have another kid. I don’t know why but I never liked the idea of an even number of kids.LOL. Only odd numbers.They should have either 1,3,5,7, etc. Since they can’t go back to 3 they should have another to make it 5

- shacoria on January 15th, 2010

By the way, Mark said on Ellen that Rhea wanted to start ‘juicing’. Does anyone know what that is?

- Alicia on January 15th, 2010

To answer Alicia’s question, I imagine Rhea plans to juice fresh vegetables and fruits. I did this after I gave birth and it really helped with my recovery. I felt really healthy, the weight slid right off, and I wasn’t run down even though I wasn’t getting much sleep.

- Stella Bella on January 15th, 2010

My mom liked the idea of staying in the hospital so much she asked to stay even though she could have been discharged on Christmas Eve. She brought me home Christmas morning instead, and said it was a welcome vacation

- Xan on January 15th, 2010

Shacoria–we have 3 (so far), but I’ve always liked the idea of an even number! Funny how everyone feels so differently about that!

- Shelby on January 15th, 2010

@Amy I’m almost certain that Michael’s middle name is Robert.

- shacoria on January 15th, 2010

Why not adopt, Mark? There are lots of children, including babies, who need homes.

- SAR on January 15th, 2010

Love it. That’s how I feel about delivering our 3rd child. I will not be in a ruch to leave the hospital because I know now what happens when you get home! I had a friend pay extra to stay another night, and now I finally get it.

- Reader on January 16th, 2010

Alicia you are right, i just saw the room pictures of Cedars Sinai…wow, with a room like that i would love to stay a month on that hospital! Here in Milan you have to share the room with another woman (or maybe 2), share the bathroom….is not comfortable, and the food is awful! so after 2 days i was so ready to return home!
(Well, if you want to have a better room, just for yourself and your husband, and better food, then you have to pay 500 euros a day…but the other way is free, so i guess is better to be a little uncomfortable for 2/3 days and save 1,500 euros!)

- sil on January 16th, 2010

Where does it say Rhea gave birth at Cedars Sinai?

- CelebBabyLover on January 16th, 2010

I haven’t seen the rooms at Cedars Sinai, but like a hotel? LOL that’s funny.

If anyone has a link to Mark’s appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show please please share.

I can see Rhea and Mark expanding their family They have beautiful children My personal outlook on it is that children are blessings. I wish Mark, Rhea, Ella, Michael, Brendan and Grace the best of luck! And of course the comment I have to make on everyone of Mark’s posts …. I absolutely love this family!

Amy – Michael’s middle name is Robert (so I’ve read, I think his brother dished out this information). I think the reason that CBB doesn’t include it is the fact that it was never confirmed to them like the other children’s middle name.

french gigi – Good luck running into one of them How big is the town that u live in, if you live in a small town that ups your chances of this happening

- Bancie1031 on January 16th, 2010

I always loved the number of 3 children, always thought it’s a nice in between of a big family but not out of control as far as kids are concerned. I think it’s nice they have 2 and 2 though, I think that’s better than 5 kids. But everyone is different, everyone has an ideal number perfect for their family, some think 1, others 2, some think 6.

- luciana on January 16th, 2010

his wife is stunning OMG!

- mel on January 16th, 2010

I have a feeling they will end up with 6 children.

- Chris on January 16th, 2010

Wow I want to give birth to my second in a hospital like some of the commenters. I had a c-section with my first and had to stay 4 days and was miserable. It was a teaching hospital and I was being bothered all the time even several times at night. I never got any sleep at the hospital and b/c I was so hormonal and sleep deprived I was begging my husband to break me out of there.

- Shaya on January 16th, 2010

Four would be busy enough IMO/personally – of course they can afford help & she has time on her side. Time will tell! Two kids ideal for us. Had 2nd/last a mth after turning 36 (didn’t want to be much older to be honest, say late 30′s or so, diff if a celebrity and can afford it and the help!). Had son at 32, few mths off 33 years. Age/financial stretch is an issue, but mostly always pictured two kids. Both have a younger sister each, which may have influenced it too. Also keen on even numbers for some reason. Different strokes for different folks.

I like their girls’ names, but not keen on sons’ names, esp Brendan, but perhaps just me, LOL, as have noticed many commentators liking all their kids’ names. Congrats on arrival of baby Grace!

- Sam and Freya's mum on January 16th, 2010

The more the merrier indeed! Normally I’m against having excessively large families – I’ve known people from very large families who have all sorts of self-esteem and emotional development issues and whatnot due to not having individual attention. But if you’re rich and can afford to get off work for months at a time like Mark and Rhea can, then why not? Just as I’m sure there’s no lack of individual attention in the Jolie-Pitt families. Millionaire actors are lucky to be able to have many children.

- Nausicaa on January 16th, 2010

Well, I have four like the Wahlberg’s (two and two of each gender) and it’s perfect for us! I was laughing at his wife loving the hospital as I was, too. They brought my meals to me. On a tray. And took it away when I was done. And helped me out of bed. I could sleep. It was quiet! HEAVEN!

- momof4 on January 17th, 2010

@Shacoria It’s funny how everyone is different, I’ve only ever wanted even numbers so that each child could have a playmate (its how I see it). so it’s either 2,4 or 6

- Sophie on January 17th, 2010

I come from a family with 6 kids- 3 boys and 3 girls. The 3 boys came first and then my sisters and I. I have always loved coming from a big family!

- Kristi on January 18th, 2010

SAR – Wh do they need to adopt??? Just becasue, sadly, there are children out there without families, that doesn’t mean you can’t have your own children. I want 4 kids. I love the idea of a large family.

- Cat on January 18th, 2010

I’ve always wanted six kids, then changed my mind to four…two boys and two girls. Sadly hubby only wants one more. I have to convince him to make it three…right after I give birth to this one….lol

Love Mark and his family….so down to earth and such a long way from Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch…lol

- Brownsugar1313 on January 19th, 2010

SAR – why do they need to adopt? If they want to have biological children, then so be it. Nothing says that because there are kids out there who need loving homes that everyone has to stop having biological children and adopt. I think it’s their business whether or not they choose to continue to have bio children or they adopt. While adoption is a wonderful gift for both the child and the family involved, it isn’t for everyone.

They are a beautiful family. I hope they come to a decision that they’re both happy with. I have to say that 5 kids scares me! LOL

- Nicole on March 4th, 2010