When you have a large family, you hear the same comments and questions over and over again.
Your grocery bill must be huge!
How many loads of laundry do you do each week?
I can’t imagine how you do it!
I get it.
It’s unusual, especially in this day and age, to have lots of kids.
And people are curious.
So let me tell you what it’s like.
It’s not like what the Duggars show you on tv.
I wouldn’t say it’s like John and Kate Plus 8, either.
With seven children in one house, five of them under the age of ten, it’s more like this:
1. Someone is always crying.
Always.
But you soon learn the difference between fake crying and real crying.
Between I’m pissed crying and I’m hurt crying.
And before too long you can determine whether you need to call the paramedics or put in your earplugs from two rooms away.
2. Someone is always in your way.
You know when you are walking with your two-year-old and she is directly in front of you and walking at .2 miles per hour and all you want to do is get in front of her so you can walk at a regular pace but you can’t get around her?
Yeah. That. But pretty much all the time. In every room of the house.
3. Something is always lost.
Always.
A shoe. A book. A pair of goggles. A remote. A phone. A Kindle. A DS. A sippy cup. A blankie. A homework paper.
You are constantly searching for something.
4. The sink is never empty. And neither is the dishwasher. And neither is the toilet.
If you aren’t looking for something that is lost, you are either loading or unloading the dishwasher.
Or plunging.
5. A matching pair of socks does not exist.
You just go the the box of socks in the laundry room and hope to find two that are actually yours.
6. From November to April, someone is almost always sick.
As soon as one kids gets rid of it, another one catches it.
And the cold relay goes non-stop until the temperature is consistently above 60 degrees.
7. There is no need for play dates.
You can play two-on-two basketball, kickball, Marco Polo, hide and seek, tag, badminton, and volleyball.
You can make movies and play Spades and Twister and put on a play without inviting anyone over.
Ever.
8. Something gets broken pretty much every day.
A plate. A glass. A picture frame. A window. A phone. A nose. A promise. A heart.
9. There is a lot of rushing.
You know that scene in the beginning of Home Alone where they all oversleep and then they are running around like maniacs to get to the airport on time?
That.
But like every time you need to leave the house. For school. Practice. The grocery store.
Anything.
10. There is a lot of noise.
And yes, the crying and whining and arguing can be annoying.
But there is also a lot of other stuff.
Sometimes the noise is welcomed.
You know when your kid is laughing? Like a real belly laugh and you could just listen to that forever?
When you have a lot of kids, there is a lot of that noise.
And that doesn’t suck. At all.
And there is a lot of cooperating.
There is a lot of sharing.
There is a lot of supporting.
There are a lot more hugs and a lot more I love yous and a lot more kisses and a lot more hands to hold and a lot more children to watch sleeping peacefully
And that makes it all totally awesome.
I love this. We “only” have four, but that is considered big these days. Then people find out we homeschool and I feel like I need to explain that we don’t live off the grid and arm ourselves as part of a militia. But, I guess it’s just more fun to leave people guessing. I agree though, lots of love and hugs and laughter. And rushing. Seriously, will i ever get used to it taking us this long to get out the freaking door!
I’m so glad you posted this! We have six but only four at home. However this still sums up my house every single day.. The only difference is some of the crying and whining come through a phone call from a dorm..you hit the nail on the head!
This is awesome. I don’t get the “big family” questions, but I get the “Oh my god, you homeschool” questions all the time!
Awesome!! A lot to be thankful for because a lot of lonely people would like to have the love and hugs…AND the noise to make their lives a little more joyful. Be grateful…despite the chaos!! Cheers for a Merry Holiday Season!!
This post is so funny!!! It is completely on the mark! We had five kids in 4 1/2 years and this is so true. We are a little way down the road from you (our youngest is 9 and the oldest is off to college), but it is still loud. There is still a non-ending supply of laundry and dishes – and all the hugs are wonderful. Thanks!
Love it! So well put, I have 8, and this is the first time I’ve been to this blog, I will be back, thank you!
Thanks, Amber. Welcome to the blog 🙂
Totally with u. We have 8. 32 yrs of marriage 3 birth children, 5 adopted from doing 16 yrs of foster care. I have been asked all those questions. But my favorite is by far dont u know where kids come from and how to stop it. I just laugh because my younger children thought kids came from the phone. DCS would call for a baby and we would go get it. I wouldnt trade all my kids and grankids for anything. Love my big family!!!
I get that same question all the time! lol. we have 5 boys so I guess people just get surprised to see that many boys in one family. So funny that your kids thought babies came from the phone calls, lol. Love it.
The kids come from the phone! Love it ! Bless you for supporting and loving all those children.
Ohhhhhhhh the memories! I have 6 and the youngest is 25. You described my life perfectly. I now have 8 grandchildren, 2 of whom live here and 5 live nearby. All 8 and under. On any given day you’ll find the 7 locals wreaking havoc in my house.. Wouldn’t change a thing.
I’m hoping I live to see grandchildren 😉
This made me laugh. Really laugh. I am now expectiy my 10th child. My oldest is almost 22 and is multiple disabled. He is one of the four total that I have that are disabled. My second oldest is out of the home on a mission and will be back in July next year. I don’t get many questions from strangers any more at the store and such because with two wheelchairs we only all go out on planed activities that work for our family. Life is so fun with lota of love in the home.
Wow! I bet. I can’t imagine them being adults yet. Trying to enjoy suck all the fun out of these ages before they are all gone.
Hilarious! I have a two-year-old who parks her toys exactly behind me as I try to cook so if I turn around to grab something I end up stumbling all over myself. I’ve learned to not carry knives around while cooking.
I only have 2 little ones but I’m planning to surpass your number some day! Can’t wait for that craziness…
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Mom to a large family is like a hero to me. My two kids sometimes drive me crazy. But I admire those who have 3 or more children, the siblings can have a lot of fun together. Here is a list of holiday movies, hope your family can find some time to watch them together. Happy holidays. http://blog.aboutread.com/recommended-kids-family-movie-holiday/
I have 5 kids 12,9,7,4 and 3. While reading this it’s like movie scenes flashing back in my mind. I feel you and I just realized how did I manage to do it? OMG i’m a Supermom! Cheers to us!
Totally accurate…loved it!! I have 7 too…11 and under ????
I was invited for a barbecue to a friend’s home. She and her husband have 7 children. They are great parents and during our visit we were not disturbed, interrupted or distracted. Another friend, her husband and 2 children were also invited. The kids played nearby and were a delight to watch. AT one point, the four year old of the visitors sat on a chair and took the bowl of munchies and began to snack. The six year old of the family came nearby and saw this and looked at him saying “you are not the only one here!” There was no response. So her repeated his statement not impressed that the bowl of munchies was in the lap of the 4 year old, claiming it as his own. For me there was an immediate difference in the way these two were raised.