tribe for large families/mamas of many kids? - Page 2

[Kidzaplenty]

Welcome to the tribe, all you new faces!

Europeanmom, I like your questions. So here are my answers:

What are the two greatest pleasures of having many kids?
1) Coming home to a house full of laughter.
2) Knowing that there will always be someone there, no matter what. Hey, family is family!

I just had to add: holding that new life in your arms and watching it grow, and being able to do this over and over again!

And what do you think are the two greatest challenges?
1) Keeping track of all their varried likes and dislikes.
2) Laundry!

[7kiddosmom]

Wanted to join here. We are a family that has 7 children and our 8th is due in Feb.

2 best things:

1. there is always a playmate
2. We don't need giant birthday parties, we ARE the party!

2 challenges:

1. LAUNDRY and DISHES
2. Negative comments from people

[AngelBee]

Expecting #4

We are quiverfull and open to having as many kids as God has in store for us.

I am definantly sick of the negative comments. I do not understand how people are even comfortable saying such things. Most of it is so hurtful.

I look forward to getting to know you all

[hlivengo]

We have 10 so far, so I'm in. We drive a GMC Safari, so we don't all fit at the same time. I usually get my sister, a neighbor or my mom to bring kids somewhere if we need to all be there. We have a 2 yr old daughter with spina bifida, so I also need room for her wheelchair stander-so I lose 2 seats that way, because the back of the van doesn't even open. We desperately need a bigger vehicle, but as you might guess, we have NO money, and no way to get one.

We've got an even split with boys/girls.

[queenofhercastle]

I'm definitely in!

I'm expecting #5 in January. I have 2 boys, 3 and 5½ and 8½ yr old twin girls. And I love big families!

[kiwimumtomykidz]

This is cool

2 Positive things
* Always someone around to talk too
* Always some action

2 Negative things
* All the LAUNDRY!!
* The MESS!!

With two kids I could keep on top of the housework -- now it's on top of me

I found it hard to narrow it down to only two positives ....

Some other positives were:
* Always a play mate
* Lots of laughter
* Plenty of helpers (not always willing ones though )

* lots of ideas for games because others have different ideas (a positive from my 9yo daughter )

[hawkfeather]

I am at five now! 3 girls 2 boys.

I am pretty proud of the fact that i odn't own a vehicle.. although I dirve my mum's van more than i wish. Up until expecting baby 5 i had no vehicle and i really preffered it. My mum has a mini van we use- seats 7 which is exactly us!

My family doesn't share theri reactions to me, but i can kind of hear it echoing ya know? I remember theri reaction to a distant cousin with five, and it was all negative. people will off handidly say are you DONE???, and i stopped getting congratulations inplace of OMG about 2 babies ago.

In fact i think people's reaction prevents me from havign an evenlarger family! i get asked how many fathers my children have, if they were planned?. things that re no one's buisness at all.

I am not Catholic, not a school marm..I just love my babies!!!!

[hawkfeather]

2 best things..
my kids have learned so beautifully how to work with others.
They have friends- always.

worst things..
sheer volume.
perhaps not enough alone time??

[Kidzaplenty]

Originally Posted by hawkfeather

i get asked how many fathers my children have, if they were planned?. things that re no one's buisness at all.

I get that all the time. "Are they ALL yours!?!"..."yes, all mine."..."All from the same father?"..."Yes, all from my HUSBAND"..."Well, that's an accomplishment!"

[shell024]

just a lurking wannabe here! : :

[7kiddosmom]

Originally Posted by Kidzaplenty

I get that all the time. "Are they ALL yours!?!"..."yes, all mine."..."All from the same father?"..."Yes, all from my HUSBAND"..."Well, that's an accomplishment!"

I get this ALL the time. Like I would really haul 7 kids that weren't mine all to the grocery store just for a gallon of milk.

I always get asked how old I am too. I will be 32 tomorrow. I don't think I look terribly young, but I know I have a very girly voice so maybe that is it.

Oh, we drive a suburban. When dh is with us we are one seat short. When the new baby arrives I don't know what we are going to do. I don't want to get something new, we paid cash for the 'burban and it is so nice not to have a car payment. I have heard that there is an optional 4th row seat for them, but haven't checked into as of yet.

Hope everyone has a GREAT, JOYFUL day!

Kasey

[queenofhercastle]

OMG!

I can't believe the question people have the nerve to ask? I get asked all the time if they're all mine but no one's ever asked me if they all have the same father. Now that's just crossing the line! Of course, it could be because they all look just alike.

[7kiddosmom]

My children all look alike and they look nothing like me. Maybe that is why I get asked if they are mine.

Here are some pictures of the kids w/ dh.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y12...m/S4020846.jpg

And my boy boys (my oldest ds used to call him and his baby brother that and it has stuck)

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y12...m/S4020841.jpg

[queenofhercastle]

Wow! That is one big, beautiful family! And a very proud papa! He must have a blast with those kids.

[7kiddosmom]

Thank you. He (as well as I) have a BLAST with the kids. We have several pictures with all the kids sitting on his back. It is fun to look at those pictures through the years as we add children.

[Kidzaplenty]

You do have a beautiful family! And they do look alike. I like that, when the children all look alike.

My children also all look alike. It is like an aged picture, from toddlerhood to teenager! It is amazing how alike they look and that we STILL get the question about Daddy! :

[Kidzaplenty]

I forgot. Here is a new picture of all my children taken at the fair last week.

Holly Children at KY ST Fair

[kiwimumtomykidz]

People can be so rude! We've often been asked if we know what causes it ... should see them blush when we say, "YES, and we LOVE it!"

Here is a pic of me and the girls taken a few weeks ago!
http://www.xanga.com/kiwimumtomykidz...ater-play.html

[Nursingnaturalmom]

I'm in!!!

This is a great thread!!
We have 4 girls, 8.5,4,2.5 and 3 weeks today!!
I've always wanted a big family, but the last couple of days, I don't feel like the best mommy equipped for a big family. I"m sleep deprived and short of patience. : I'm hoping as my sleep increases, so will my patience LOL Anyone else go through that sleep deprivaton/no patience with a new born??

As far as family:
My DH's family hasn't said anything.
My Mom, who was/is a single mom and only had me, asked me with number 4 "Is this the last one?"
On a different occassion she said "Don't you DARE think about a 5th. YOU don't have room for 5" :

We aren't quiverful, per se, but my DH WILL NOT do anything permanent to prevent a pregnancy. When asked "So, what if we have 10 kids, and he said, then we end up with 10 kids. We are just taking it one baby at a time

Chandi

[kriskriskris]

Originally Posted by shell024

just a lurking wannabe here! : :

Me Too!!!