A Day in the Life of a Large Family
Sep 14 '00
As a child growing up, I had 2 younger sisters who share a bond with each other. They were born one year apart to the day. With being the oldest (4 years older), I always felt left out(I seen now how wrong I was). They share everything...their birthdays, room, toys, clothes, etc.. I decided young that I was only going to have one child. So it never felt left out.(Boy, how funny we look at things as a child and our childhood decisions and dreams are)
I became older, married and had my firstborn. My childhood decisions went right out the window. I adored being a mom. I loved looking onto my newborn daughter's sky blue eyes, kissing her chubby little cheeks, smelling that wonder baby smell that only a newborn has. I treasured every aspect of being a mom...the shared giggles, bath bubble beards, chasing butterflies, and night feedings. Yes, night feedings! Being awoke by a hungry child, going to her and when she sees you, she stops fussing and greets you with that big toothless smile. Seeing and feeling the love being shared between you and her.
I was hooked!!! We decided it would be nice to have one boy and one girl. My husband thought that was a nice well rounded number for us. I didn't, I dreamed of more like two and two. We talked about the "right" age spans. I still had that little nagging voice saying, "just be sure to enjoy each one seperately". It was decided 4 years apart. The oldest would be in pre-school when the baby came, so each would have their individual mommy time.
So here we are, into our twentith year of raising 5 adoring children. People, including our families think we are nuts. If I had a dollar for each time I have heard..."in this day and age one is enough", "HOW MANY?!?!", "are you crazy", or "Don't you know what causes THAT yet?"...I would be both blessed with children and RICH! (BTW, My answer to that last question is "It is caused by having a love for children.")
LARGE FAMILIES
The most often question people ask us is "how do you manage 5 children, a 14 room house, and jobs". Easily is my answer. You learn to live by planning, pitching in when it comes to chores, and having set schedules. You work, live, play and sleep as a team with a team effort.
Day to day living is done by planning. Before the start of a new day, each child has to bring their school clothes downstairs. So, at bedtime you will see 5 individual piles on the sofa consisting of clothes, shoes, bookbags, and playthings they want to take to school for the following day. After each child is tucked into bed, and the "Walton's" is done (our family joke), I check to make sure homework is indeed in their bookbags and put their lunch money in the front pocket. Now it is "MY TIME"...lol..yes I do insist on that, that's when I am here writing epinions.
DAY TO DAY LIVING
6AM~~~RINNNG RINNNG...GRRRRRRRRR and a SIGHHHHH....rolling out of bed, I take a quick shower and the awaken hubby to start his day. While he is getting his shower, I start the coffee and get out bowls, spoons, cereal, glasses of O.J., and make toast.
6:30AM~~~I awaken the two oldest so they can get their shower(thank heavens we have 2 bathrooms), kiss hubby goodbye, and I start getting ready for work.
7AM~~~I get the middle and youngest son up. The older two are eating breakfast as I help the 8 year old bathe and start a load of laundry and picking up. The 20 yo leaves for work and the 16 year old feeds the cats and dogs and take the trash out.
7:30AM~~~As the middle two are eating breakfast, I am nursing the baby, bathing her and getting her dressed for the day. The 16 yo is rotating the laundry, and picking up the bathroom. The 12yo's job is to rinse the bowls and clean up from breakfast. The 8 year old goes up stairs to turn off lights, radios, and close all the doors.
8AM~~~Light picking up from the mornings activities and off to drop the children off to school.
9AM to 3PM~~~WHISTLING...Off to work I go with a newborn in tow...LOL!! Yes, I take my 5 week old to work with me, I have a gem of a boss. I love my job, my boss must atleast like me to allow me to take her with me. If I couldn't, I wouldn't be working.
3PM~~~Picking the boys up from school, snack time for them and laundry for me.
3:30PM~~~Homework time!!! Everyone, including myself, is at the kitchen table doing homework or reading.
4PM~~~TV time for the boys or whatever they want to do. blessed laundry again ,nursing the baby and starting supper for me.
5:30PM~~~20yo and hubby arrive home from work and relax time for them. 16yo sweeps carpets and entertains baby, 12 yo put laundry away and feeds animals again, and 8 year old sets the table. I am finishing up supper and washing pre-meal dishes.
6PM~~~SUPPER TIME COME AND GET IT...LOL...daily information exchange time.
6:30PM~~~Clearing the table time for all. 16yo washes, 8 yo rinses, 12 yo dries and 20yo puts the dishes away. Dad is breaking up the squabbles and playing with the baby, I am sweeping the downstairs carpets and doing light dusting.
7PM~~~FAMILY TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
9PM~~~Bedtime ritual starts for school age children. Picking up their rooms, brushing teeth, and becoming dehydrated camels with a kidney infection...lol. My job is overseer.
9:30PM~~~BEDTIME!!!!!!!!!!Clothes are brought downstairs, kisses and hugs are gave and boys are tucked in. 20yo picks up her room and talking on the phone. Mom and Dad time.
10PM~~~20yo off to bed, hubby in bed, baby nursed and in bed, boys are checked on and covered up, cats are in kennel and it is MOM TIME!!!
1AM~~~NITE NITE NET FRIENDS
MY PERSONAL OPINION AND ADVICE
Large families are simple with planning and team work. Everyone participates in the daily family living, yet have their own individual time to seek their own interests. We have children in band, choir, 4-H, baseball, cub scouts, etc plus 3 working adults. We share all the responsibilities and all the pleasures of being a large family.
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maddi
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Member: Maddison_chaos
Location: Small town, Ohio
Reviews written: 78
Trusted by: 78 members
About Me:
Smalltown USA girl, loves to travel, comfortable in cowboy boots, loves Lobster and J.ROGET!
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