People often ask my husband and I if we had planned on having a large family. The answer is “no” we actually never even talked about it. Most of my friends and their husbands had discussed in great detail the number of children they were having or planning on having and I honestly have to say we never even thought about it. We just had one, and loved him so much two seemed natural. Then I had a boy and girl and was often told, “perfect, a boy and girl, you can be done!” Then we had the third and she was easier, the fourth, fifth and sixth were not a big deal. Four for us was the magical number, it just gets easier from there, or actually just doesn’t really make a difference. Then we had bookends with the boys and thought we were done. A short time later we found out we were wrong, and along came our 5th girl! Now it all felt complete.
What a joy and blessing Motherhood has been to me. There have been some really, really, very difficult times where just getting dressed that day was an accomplishment. But there have been so many more days that I wished would go on forever. There have been days where I yelled way too much, days where I have had to spank a child so they would realize I was serious, that they were in danger and to never, ever, do that again. Sometimes the days just seems to stream together of doing all the same thing every day over and over.
If I had a magic wand or 3 wishes from a magic lamp, I would wish this time in my life would never end. My kids are all the best ages right now. They are all still at home. I don’t have a baby! Everyone is potty trained, and can talk to me in (almost) complete sentences. Six out of the seven can bathe and shower themselves and 3 of them do their own laundry. For a little while still I don’t have anyone driving, which means I don’t have to worry every time they leave on their own. Christmas was AWESOME! I have littles that lay awake so excited for Santa, and bigger ones who make it fun for them. Weekends and after school are my favorite time. They are all home (well sometimes!) and we play basketball on the driveway and eat Blue Bell standing in the kitchen. I love the way the kids interact with each other. Sometimes it is not nice, and we have to get after them, but when it is good, it is really good.
That doesn’t mean that everything is perfect. My littlest has a double ear infection and my husband and I were both up all night with her. I have one in braces and two that are supposed to get theirs this year. I am worried how I am going to pay for that?! A few are in trouble because their grades are to what we think they should be and so I am sure they hate us right now for taking away privileges. And currently my husband is yelling at a child who he has told to load the dishwasher 4 times already today. But I can honestly say, I have never been so happy, this is the BEST time in my life.
How long will this last? Will I feel this way when they are even a little older? Every age has brought on more challenges, and experiences I never imagined we would have to tackle. Moms of kids older than 16, does it just get better? Am I at the best right now? Or is it ever changing, a different kind of best?
Moms of little kids, hang in there, I was there not that long ago. It gets better and better, then you wish you could start again with all the knowledge you are gaining now! You will love to see the people those kids are becoming, they are pretty cool. I am glad my husband and I never discussed how many kids we were having. I am grateful for my “large” family and the things both little and big that they teach me each day. I pray that things just get better and better because I just can’t imagine it getting better than it is now!
Part comedian, part Dad, part athlete. He will boss around your children while they play ball.
Just as angelic as she looks, this girl could easily raise a Village by herself, and all the children would grow up to be President.
Self proclaimed, she would be a webkinz dog. Because, "they're cute, and puppies are too. And they're sweet and they always get along with other puppies."
This mini-Martha Stewart can handle ANY craft you send her way. She isn't all bows and rainbows, she's got karate kid moves!
Not "Pick-Me-Up" like caffeine, she wants you to pick her up! AND NOW!
Anything that can be destroyed WILL be destroyed!
Practically Perfect in Every Way for now! Nicknamed "The Panda" she is rolly polly and lives by the motto, "the little one, is KING!"
The resident Labradoodle, Miller got his name because Mom won and got to name the baby! Need something chewed up? He'll take care of it. Especially if it's expensive..
I am one of those moms of little ones and although some days are TOUGH (please let the youngest get potty trained SOME DAY) but then there are days like today where my husband and I look at each other and ask why we decided no more kids…. But then a paper airplane nails us in the eye and we know we are just right. 🙂
You have a beautiful family Tiffany! God bless you all…
It was a pleasure reading about your family. They are all so precious. Can’t wait til mine are potty trained, but at least he still loves to get held and kissed by mommy.
I know, everyone being potty trained is the BEST!
Tiffany – I just LOVED this! Having a large family is such a blessing. We feel full at 4, but it’s funny how most ppl still consider that a large family. The biggest reason why Mark quit his job to work on the blog with me was because we felt like these were the best years of our lives, and we didn’t want to miss these years with our kids.
So happy you and Paul can raise your family together – they are such a cute bunch!
I love to read about your family. I’m expecting number 7 now. I did want a larger than average family but never set a number. It’s not what we want but what God knows is right. We Homeschool so I am blessed to get so much more time with ours. And there are moments that most of them are fighting and I think “this isn’t what I wanted” I just imagined a house full of kids loving each other and playing nicely. But at the end of the day it is the best time of my life too.
Oh congratulations! I think about homeschooling everyday.
FYI best parenting choice for our family.
Very well said!!!!
If you think this is good just wait it gets better with grandkids!
Everyone says it does!
I’m a grandmother raising 2 grands and having to be and raise as a mother would. I always wanted to be a wife and mother, I raised 2 boys then a baby girl. After mine were grown I always anticipated my grandchildren but actually this is the hardest thing I’ve ever done is play a parent to my grandchildren and I do at times spoil them as all grandparents do. It’s been 2 1/2 years they are 10 and 4 and I do feel blessed that I can do it.
Mine are getting older, 13 and 17, which makes some things easier but also brings new challenges and worries. But I love seeing the really fine young men they are becoming. Love every day with them. Try to remember that the days may be long, but the years are short. God bless:)
This is the best! Thanks for writing an sharing this with us. I, too, love this time in my life and think everyday how much I love it!
My oldest just moved out today. God did this amazing thing – he made me ready for him to move out. My oldest of 5 was 20 and ready to be on his own. When he was 18 I know I wasn’t ready and Im glad he wasn’t either. Guess we should all take note that its all in HIS time and HIS plan. I don’t know if it get easier but being ALL potty trained sure helps the cause. Im homeschooling and really enjoying the time with the kids, almost sad when I think about it being over. SOOOOOOO not ready for grand kids.
I agree wholeheartedly! It just keeps getting better!! I pray every day that my kids will grow up to be themselves – the person they were supposed to be. Some days really stink, and others make me feel like I am so happy I just can’t contain it all. It is really a bit ironic that I am saying this right now because earlier today I told my kids I was turning in my 2 weeks notice and they would have to do everything themselves. But instead they all pitched in and helped with dinner and my day turned around. Your family is beautiful. Thanks for sharing it with us!
Our oldest is 18 (and we also have a 15 year old and 7 year old twins) and we think it just keeps getting better and better. With the oldest 2, it’s so fun to see them become the young women they are meant to be and for the twins, it’s cool to see them really discover who they are and their personalities.
I loved this post!
I told a young Mom of two who are VERY close in age, that the day you can say “Go get in the car” and they can – what a glorious day! lol My kids are grown adn some have kids of their own, and we hang out together still and laugh so hard we often cry and enjoy each others company. I loved all of the years of them growing up and the constant house full of kids (mine and all of their friends)! Many a morning I have walked to the kitchen to make coffee while stepping over many passed out boys in the living room after an intense night of video game battling! 🙂
It may be tough when they are all tiny, but when the older ones jump in and help the younger ones, it was so satisfying for me! They will forever be close.
You will forever have a household of laughter and love and they will then pass it on to their families – what a gift!
Thank-you so much for sharing this. We all need to stop and take time to savor the moments with our children. It’s forever evolving and a new and different kind of “Best”. My oldest left for college this year. It’s wonderful to see her test her wings and truly be responsible for herself. My middle daughter just turned 17 and is a junior in high school. We are preparing for SATs and exploring colleges. She just got her driver’s license and experiencing a new freedom and I have an errand/kid pick up helper. My baby is about to be 12 on Valentine’s Day. I do baby him since he is the last one, but I feel so confident parenting him, because I’ve done this 12yr old thing twice before. I love being a mom and would definitely do it all over again.
Thank you for sharing this. Could you do more posts about being a large family living in a small family world? We have 3 and want more, yet many of our friends are discouraging us from doing so! Your post is so inspiring. Thank you.
Oh I would really love to! I am so happy to know someone would want to read posts like that! I will make sure to write some!
I recently discovered your website and love it and really enjoyed getting to know more about you and your family. What I want to know is, how do you find the time to do this with such a huge family? I just have 2 toddlers and never have time for anything.
Well said, Tiffany! Being a mother is the most rewarding thing I’ve EVER done. There’s no job more important than this one.
I also have 7. My oldest is 14 and youngest is 9 weeks. I have always wanted a big family and if you would have asked my husband many years ago before we met he wouldnt have. I do also have an older stepson who lives on his own. I have 5 boys and my 2 youngest are girls.
Such a beautiful family Tiffany! I’m still in munchkin land with a 6 and almost 4 year old. Just like you I hear all the time that we have a boy and a girl and should be happy, but I’m just not to that point to feel “done.” I can’t imagine not being pregnant ever again and although it is perfect, I’m not feeling that our family is complete. We’re leaving it up to God, so I guess we’ll see what happens 🙂
God bless you, I will pray for you and your beautiful family.
Couldn’t have said it better myself. An dear friend married off her oldest daughter and, in the process, dug up an old picture of both of our oldest daughters at the age of 2 in pink tights and tap shoes, holding hands and smiling big. My friend, Kari, and I can be seen in a reflection with our car seats and our new infants. The days were busy, our family not yet complete, but our lives were full of possibilities.
We never made a plan for how many children we would have. We felt prompted (sometimes very strongly) when I sweet spirit needed to enlarge our love and family and we opened our hearts and arms.
Our home is always home but also a launching pad. Sometimes I’m not ready for launch even when I know it’s right. Sometimes my empty arms steal neighbors’ fussy babies on Christmas Sundays just so I can hold a warm being and cry into their downy hair. I miss them. But I wouldn’t want them to be held back because I love being a mom so much. But I do.
You have a beautiful family! I have 3 grown boys at the age of 42 and it’s such a blessing to see their adventures and what is next on there list. Sharing all this time with a grandson at age 4 is my littles all over again, and weekends are Nana time (my choice). Blessing to you ?
You inspire me so very much. Your love for being a mother makes me love being a mother. I’ll always owe it to you.
All my Love.