Large Family Living
I would hardly call myself an expert.
However, in my country (Canada) we are WAY above the national average of 1.1.
(I didn't even realize that it had gotten so low?!)
So I guess I am currently the mother of a LARGE family.
Not mega like some of my friends (you have to have at least 7).
Or one of my Facebook acquaintances that just announced number 15...
Congrats again, by the way :)
Nope, we're not large like that.
However, once you got more than say 3 or 4,
there comes a different 'feel' about your family.
A new dynamic of sorts.
It lends itself to all sorts of new living patterns
& social 'norms'.
So, today I am beginning a series on
large family living.
From my own perspective,
I'll be sharing the beauty, the imperfections, the day to day routines,
and a bit of everything in between!
No matter how many you currently have in your home,
my hope is that you'll follow along, & be open to what may be a new perspective.
Another goal of mine, is that you'll also see large families differently.
More positively in fact.
Unfortunately the media has sometimes portrayed us in a VERY negative light.
& trust me, we have already heard it all.
You really don`t need to 'enlighten' us every time we bump into you in the grocery store...
"You know how this happens right."
"Our planet is already overpopulated enough"
"Time for a new hobby!"
"My, your hands are full."
Cue the look of judgment & disgust.
And occasionally,
usually once we've given up interacting with strangers out in public,
we get this sweet ole ladies that looks up at us,
with a glean & twinkle in her eyes...
"I had ten myself. Wouldn't change it for the world."
But that's few & far between these days.
And that's where you the backlash comes from; where us larger families feel compelled to speak out:
Let me share a few tidbits about our own larger family:
I am an educated person. I have both a university degree (graduated & tied for the award of my program), and a college diploma. I actually love to study interesting topics in my 'spare time'.
I DO know how this happens. I won't comment other than to say, that our interpretation of a pregnancy may be different than yours. I.e. all babies are life that should be protected
I live a busy life. Yes, that's true.
However, my single & smaller family friends also keep pretty busy themselves.
I don't feel that what we are EACH doing is any less important than the other
(who are we to judge the calling on one another's lives??)
Large family living is actually much better than what you think.
Yes, it is challenging.
And there are unique struggles that are very real.
But all of us larger family parents would agree: we are having a lot of fun!
Join us next week for the next post.
***Also, if you're a large family blogger & would like to guest post in this series (or send me links that I can share throughout my posts-must have NO swearing or nudity), then please email me using the contact form on the side of the blog. Thanks in advance.
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