"Yes, They're All Mine"

Having a larger-than-average-size family presents many challenges. When going places, getting everyone dressed and ready takes extra time, and transporting everyone takes a bigger vehicle.

Sometimes a large family creates logistical problems when figuring out where to put everyone and which children should share a room.

Parents of more than one child experience things that parents of one child don’t usually encounter, like figuring out “who started it” or trying to be fair when assigning chores. Taking vacations or just going out to dinner with several children presents more challenges than it does for smaller families.

Of course, over time, seasoned parents of many learn to relax a little when it comes to their kids. So, they aren’t wearing matching clothes? No big deal. In the family photograph, everyone isn’t smiling at the same time?

Parents of large families are usually happy if everyone is just looking in the general vicinityof the camera. When their kids are crying, they don’t freak out. After several kids, you learn when you really need to be concerned. “Do you have any bones sticking out? No? You’re fine, go play!”

And, of course, there are the endless “Are they all yours?” questions and the people who think that it’s their responsibility to teach you all about reproduction. “How many kids do you have? Do you know what causes that?”

Although a large family means more loads of laundry, higher grocery bills, and more toys left on the floor, a large family also means more hugs and kisses, livelier conversation, and lots of helpers.

Children in a big family learn to get along with each other, to problem-solve, and to be responsible for themselves. Children with multiple siblings always have someone around to play with or to ask for help.

Despite the extra craziness, I wouldn’t trade my family for anything!

Well, maybe I’d trade it for a good night’s sleep...Nah, I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

This story is excerpted from Because I Said So by Dawn Meehan (Guideposts 20009) with permission.

Read more about Dawn and her brood in Spring Break? and The Reason I Haven't Quit Yet.

Plus, you can find all of Dawn's GUIDEPOSTS video blogs here and read more about her family in her personal blog, becauseisaidso.com!