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Baby number eight is on his way early July and I am nesting to say the least! This is where my planner is laid out, full of my goals and scripted plans for the upcoming month. I am one focused and obsessed mama in particular right now, making sure all my ducks are in a row before the big day.
Such as the meals I want to have prepared and frozen before I take off for the hospital; this will ensure easy and delicious dinners for us when we get home without all the work. All of his clothes washed and folded and waiting for him, bassinet and car seat ready, his and I bag packed, I also have some major cleaning I want done before he arrives, too. My planner harnesses all that I want to accomplish and my my action plan to make it happen. So far, so good!
While large bellied and waddling while out-and-about, strangers will always ask when I’m due. A belly that looks stretched, extended and ready to pop usually mandates such a question. But my favorite is when they ask what number this baby will be. I always have to pick-up their jaws off the floor. I’d have to admit, saying that it’s my eighth baby sounds crazy when it comes out of my mouth; I can hardly believe it myself. People either say I’m incredibly blessed or insanely crazy. I know I’m blessed.
But I’m here to divulge a great misunderstanding about having a large family. Are you ready?
It’s easier the more you have. Way easier than having a couple or even a few kids. Really. It is. And I’ll tell you why…
You have a ton of help.
This is something I did not have when my older ones were small. It was all on me and I remember how hard it was! Now, I have several teens that drive, running kids if I need it, I have built-in babysitters, older ones change younger ones’ diapers and I could go on and on.
I have more time to myself than you might think.
The kids play together, sometimes leaving me alone for hours each day. It’s quite nice. When you have a couple small kids, they tend to look to you all the time for entertainment, not so with a lot of babes. They tend to look at each other for their fun and this is fun to watch and frees up slots of time for me to do other things that need to be done and some time to work on my goals each day.
You learn to let things go.
You aren’t as stressed about everything anymore, and you learn to just let things go. You really can’t be uptight and have a large family. So what if they have their shoes on the wrong feet; if you’re on schedule, you’re good!
On the fence on whether you should have more kids? My advice…the more the merrier!
Agree or disagree? Do you have a large family? If so, do you think it’s easier the more you have?
Agree! 🙂 Pregnant with #5! What blessings!!!
My husband and I have five kids right now….thinking about another later. My youngest is 14 months and the oldest 13. I have had issues with pregnancies so I go back and forth a lot on this but I still have a open mind….I love everything about a newborn.
I totally agree! We have seven, ranging in age from 17 to 2, and my life is much easier than it was when I had only two or three little ones. I have a chauffeur, a baby-sitter, a lawn-care person, a kitchen clean-up crew, and many willing hands to help with the little ones. And everyone ALWAYS has somebody to play with, so I definitely do have more time to myself than when I only had two children.
I LOVE having a large family–it is a tremendous blessing!
I'm pregnant with number 5 and I totally agree with you! This baby has been super active, but I'll be happy to have extra bodies to help chase him/her should they be as active as a toddler as my daughter was. 🙂
Im pregnant with #8 as well and I agree my life is alot easier now than it was a few years ago. I have 6 kids under 8 plus a 14 year old who is a tremendous help. I love being pregnant and and having a little ones around. Sure most days are busy but alot of fun!
I'm the oldest of 7 and currently expecting my 4th (due early October). I can definitely attest to the fact that bigger is not only better, but easier! My own are ages 7,5,2 and already, the older ones are super helpful. My daughter is as excited about this upcoming baby as I am, and can't wait to be my little helper. As the oldest of 7, I was the same way, although I will also say that it's important not to take too much advantage of your oldest helpers, as it may completely turn them against big families. My mom and dad were careful about this, and I still did feel like I had a little too much responsibility. When it came time to thinking about a family of my own, I didn't want any kids. I felt like I'd already been a mom. It took a big act of God to change my heart in that regard. I now thoroughly enjoy being a mom and raising my own kids, in my own parenting style, which is actually quite different from the way my mom raised us. And I can say that there was no big difficult transition for me in becoming a mom. I knew how to run and organize a home and what to do with babies, so being the oldest definitely came in handy. And there is no doubt children are incredible, incredible blessings. Congrats on your recent little one!
I'm pregnant with number 5 and I totally agree with you! This baby has been super active, but I'll be happy to have extra bodies to help chase him/her should they be as active as a toddler as my daughter was. 🙂
I agree with you! I have 6 kids and can attest to this article! I truly believe that Yahweh teaches us through our children a lot and that is why he says children are a blessing. They truly are! I also would add they teach you how to live with less stuff and be more content 🙂
They do teach you that don't they? Children are truly a blessing!!