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BLB_Oregon
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Excellent post…although mentioning that wonderful mother of 26 is a little like mentioning Lance Armstrong to a beginning cyclist. Mr. Armstrong didn’t start in the French Alps. That dear lady did add them one or two at a time, learning gradually what God was calling her to do.Large Family Logistics is an excellent web site that gives the “inside scoop” on managing life with many small children.
If you’re very interested in learning the tricks of the trade, I’d also suggest signing up for the MOMYS e-mail list. The messages – from experienced “Mothers Of Many Young Siblings” – are both educational and inspiring.
After reading about these families, “3 under 4” starts to just seem like the beginning. Here are some of the women whose web sites I’ve come across, whose lives really amaze me:
Want to know how these women manage? They’re pretty clear about it:
- A mother of 26 children, most of them adopted, with moderate to severe special needs (many in wheelchairs).
- A mother of 12 children, ages 10 and under, including two adopted sets of siblings, most of whom have behavior problems related to having been born with drug dependencies. And she cooks healthy food from scratch, homeschools, and sews beautiful dresses to sell on eBay. (Talk about humbling. I only have two children, and some days, I can hardly manage to *get *dressed, let alone *sew *a dress.
)
“I can do all things in Him who strengtheneth me.” (Phil 4:13)
True, God may not be calling us to imitate the details of their lives… but reading their stories is a reminder that we need not fear to be open to all that He *is *calling us to. Even if “I can’t imagine being able to do that!”, that’s no reason for me to be closed to the possibility that maybe, with His help, I can.
Now, if only I could find my socks…
Also, the temperament combination that goes on between you and your children has a lot to do with whether you want to take them with you. If you can make it work, I say do it. It is good for children to go out and about and learn how to behave around strangers and things belonging to others.
Be ready, though, for a child who is great in a store to go through a stage when they need to be left at home. It happens. In a way, a child is a new person every day. If something stops working that used to work, don’t take it personally. You can’t stay sane as a parent if you’re going to be comparing what your kids do with what other families do or yesterday’s kid with today’s. You do your best and go from there. It doesn’t work to raise kids by doing what seems easiest at the time, but when it comes to taking on battles, you are in a position to pick and choose.
My mom, who had eight, by the way, marvels at the what the women who do today who “only” have four. Kids have so many more activities than they ever did in the past. She didn’t have to make the choice between sports that take too much time and no sports at all, and for that she is thankful. There are quite a few big families now who are in the situation of being their own coaches and activity managers, because the organized groups have expectations that don’t fit the realities of large families.
Let’s hope that the penduluum is swinging back on that score, though.
so I was wondering if I could get more advice from parents of 3 under three 
…i guess i didn’t think about it, i just did what i had to do. it was hard though, toting a baby carrier and trying to be patient with a 5 year old on crutches, and distracting a 3 year old from grabbing things off of the shelf.
The boys now get “helper jobs” when we are in the store if they aren’t in a cart & they really like “helping” (I use quotations because sometimes it’s not that helpful 
around 15 to be exact, including one of those digital ones hehe) can be. I’m still nervous since we are still in the early part of pregnancy (and getting ready to go on a veryyyy loong roadtrip) but we are excited!!!