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Bookswithtea
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| Posted: June 27 2006 at 5:26pm | IP Logged
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I used to think 4 was the beginning of large. Now I think 'large' is one more than what I have! 
Seriously though, I'm wondering what its like to have 7 or more children in the house? What are your days like? How do you homeschool when you are down with the flu or pregnancy induced nausea? How do you meet the needs of your teens and your babies and everyone in between each day? How many children per room is too many, or what is the point where age span between children makes sharing a bedroom truly impractical? What is a day like in your home? Is it very different from when you had 5 (which is what I have, right now  ).
I'd be grateful for those who have the time to share.
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Blessings,
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mothering ds'93 dd'97 dd'99 dd'02 ds'05 ds'07 and  due 9/10
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kingvozzo
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| Posted: June 27 2006 at 7:57pm | IP Logged
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Bookswithtea wrote:
| Now I think 'large' is one more than what I have! |
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I had this thought earlier today, when I was thinking about the other thread!
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Noreen
Wife to Ed
Mom to 4 great kids and 10 sweet ones in Our Lady's arms
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Bookswithtea
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| Posted: June 28 2006 at 8:42am | IP Logged
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LOL. I came to check my email this morning to see if anyone had the time to share. It occurs to me now that those with 7 and more probably don't have time to answer such open ended questions!
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Blessings,
~Books
mothering ds'93 dd'97 dd'99 dd'02 ds'05 ds'07 and due 9/10
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alicegunther
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| Posted: June 28 2006 at 8:45am | IP Logged
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Bookswithtea wrote:
| Seriously though, I'm wondering what its like to have 7 or more children in the house? What are your days like? |
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Our seventh child turned two weeks old yesterday, and, so far, having seven has been an extremely easy adjustment and really no different from six. Of course, it is summer, so that really helps!
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Love, Alice
mother of seven!
    
Cottage Blessings
Brew yourself a cup of tea, and come for a visit!
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Bridget
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It is easier having 7 than it was having 5, but I guess that is more of an age thing. My 3 older children 13,11 and 9 are real helpers. They are also great companions. My 13 year old is almost like having another adult in the house.
Our kids bedrooms are crowded, they are not very big rooms, but they like being together and they only sleep in there anyway. The big boys have a room in the basement that locks so they can leave their lego creations and LOTR minitures set up.
When mom is down the big kids pick up the slack and the standards are lowered. Who cares. You'll pull it all together again later, thats life. Schooling from the couch is one of the easier 'couch jobs' to do, surely the most fun.
I believe you can meet the needs of everyone. God designed your family so He will provide what it needs. Whether it's mom, or a special needs evaluation or a new washer. Our job is to do our best, stay in prayer and respond to each child/ situation one at a time.
I am working very hard on order and self discipline in our home. But I really don't mind the piles of laundry, legos, soccer balls, noise and endless sippy cups. The children are all so beautiful. It is all so much fun. One day they and the work and mess will all be gone and I will be wishing it back.
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Bridget, happily married to Kevin, mom to 8 on earth and a small army in heaven
Our Magnum Opus
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Martha
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| Posted: June 28 2006 at 11:02am | IP Logged
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How do you homeschool when you are down with the flu or pregnancy induced nausea?
A: You either take a break or you grade later (mine have clipboards with their assignments fo rthe week on them) or you administrate from the "throne" (a.k.a sofa, recliner, or bed) ect.. where there is a will there is a way.
How do you meet the needs of your teens and your babies and everyone in between each day?
A; You don't. No one ever does though. I really don't think that's as much a large fmaily issue as society likes to think. Everyone's needs are met in my family BECAUSE we are a large family. If mama/dad can't do it, there's always a sibling somewhere who can help. No one in this house ever feels stranded.
How many children per room is too many
A: Depends on the parents comfort zone. My dh is not happy that we have 3 boys in each of 2 rooms. I'm fine with it.
what is the point where age span between children makes sharing a bedroom truly impractical?
A: I have no idea. Again, I think that's up to the parent's comfort zone.
What is a day like in your home? Is it very different from when you had 5 (which is what I have, right now ).
A: I didn't hs until right after the birth of our 5th and was still in RCIA back then. So EVERYTHING is different for us now! lol As far as logistics though, it easier now than then. I'm getting better with experience! I think/hope anyhow.
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Martha
mama to 7 boys & 4 girls
Yes, they're all ours!
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Erin
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Bookswithtea wrote:
| Seriously though, I'm wondering what its like to have 7 or more children in the house? What are your days like? |
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Well,
Having a larger family doesn't happen overnight (thankfully, unless you have multiples  ) so you get to ease into things, 'grow with the job' so to speak.
My days are certainly busier than they used to be. Although to be truthful I am more organised with 6/7 than I was with 3. I was soo disorganised with three, I would go to bed with dirty dishes and the folding was never done etc. I am far happier and live is less chaos these days. Although the washing is a constant job to keep on top of.
Bookswithtea wrote:
| How do you homeschool when you are down with the flu or pregnancy induced nausea? |
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Flu days we don't school. Nausea days we read only. (Fortunatly I don't have many of them) My children have only just become more independent learners recently. Yes, we're rather late at that
Bookswithtea wrote:
| How do you meet the needs of your teens and your babies and everyone in between each day? |
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To be really truthful, I'm not too sure that I always do, but I pray over time in the bigger picture everyone's needs get met. Remember also with siblings it doesn't always fall on your shoulders like it did when you only had one or two. Siblings entertain each other, you don't always have to be the one to play jigsaws or push the swing. Siblings will often give a hug or a word of encouragement, the 'load is shared'.
Bookswithtea wrote:
| How many children per room is too many, or what is the point where age span between children makes sharing a bedroom truly impractical? |
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Well prior to extensions we had 4 in together mixed genders. They were very excited to finally have their own rooms, but after awhile the novlety wore off and they moved back in with some siblings and told me that it was more fun when they were all together It does make it difficult when some children want to read later and the others want to get to sleep. But a reading lamp can solve this problem. Personally I shared a room with my sister and she was 8 yrs younger, it was never aproblem, I begged Mum to let her share with me. I guess it is an individual family thing.
[QUOTE=Bookswithtea]What is a day like in your home? Is it very different from when you had 5 (which is what I have, right now ).{/QUOTE]
You know I don't know if it is that different. Except that the washing is more constant, and I guess the children are a little older so the household runs a lot smoother. (or is it the fact that I require more )
Maybe as the children become older teens I hear the pace will change. At the moment they still all enjoy each others company and have plenty of time together, amusing each other which allows me to have some computer/reading time.
I'll have to let you know whether number 7's arrival changes things, other than new baby routines.
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Erin
Faith Filled Days
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Lisbet
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We're in the middle of transitioning to 8 children now. Baby is 6 weeks old. For some reason, 4 was the turning point for us. Much like Erin, I am far more organized and on top of things than I was with the first 3. I often wonder if it's b/c we have more children, or because I've matured in that way. It's probably that I've matured in that way b/c we have more children!
While the early days with a newborn are always out of whack of our 'routine', after that, I haven't really noticed a big difference between having 4 and having 8. (funny, since it's twice as many children!! YIKES, when ya put it that way, seems nuts! )
To be perfectly truthful, I have no idea how things get done. I have had 3 under 3 for years now, and somehow we've managed quite well. I look back and the years have been like a whirlwind, and I can't pinpoint exactly how it's all went down!! I love it though, I just wish it (time I suppose) would slown down so I could savor more of it.
The only thing I'm certain of is Grace, it's all been through His Grace that we have been dressed, fed, warm, and educated!!
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Lisa, wife to Tony,
Mama to:
Nick, 17
Abby, 15
Gabe, 13
Isaac, 11
Mary, 10
Sam, 9
Henry, 7
Molly, 6
Mark, 5
Greta, 3
Cecilia born 10.29.10
Josephine born 6.11.12
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cathhomeschool
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Bridget wrote:
| Our kids bedrooms are crowded, they are not very big rooms, but they like being together and they only sleep in there anyway. The big boys have a room in the basement that locks so they can leave their lego creations and LOTR minitures set up. |
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This is totally OT, but I had to comment that just yesterday I told dh that we should do something similar -- put all 4 boys in one room and use the "other" bedroom as a lego/small-breakable-toys room. They HAVE a lego room now (the master closet), but even at 9'x9', the space is small for 4 active boys, and pieces are occasionlly stepped on and broken. Not to mention the fact that they're sharing the space with Tim's clothes!
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Janette (4 boys - 22, 21, 15, 14)
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Bookswithtea
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I was talking with dh this morning about grace. We were commenting on the idea that we don't receive the grace for jobs we aren't doing.
Maybe its hard for me to visualize the future because I have been given grace for the 5 I have and that's it.
I know I am more organized than I used to be. I have also learned to give up my own free time (mostly time I used to spend on the computer or reading books) to meet the needs of others.
I guess what I hear y'all saying is that its simply more of what I've already experienced and have been doing. That's encouraging. At least its all familiar! I wasn't raised in a large family and I didn't know any large families growing up. Its all very very new to me. When I was growing up (Navyman's daughter), 5 children would have been considered *huge*!
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Blessings,
~Books
mothering ds'93 dd'97 dd'99 dd'02 ds'05 ds'07 and due 9/10
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Angel
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Erin wrote:
Well,
Having a larger family doesn't happen overnight (thankfully, unless you have multiples ) so you get to ease into things, 'grow with the job' so to speak. |
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I guess this is what's in the back of my mind, as we just went from 3 to 5 in the past year (my twins are 8 months old) -- what if it happens again? Instant large family!
My oldest (who is 9) has special needs and is very routine oriented. When I'm pregnant our routine just seems to get thrown out the window for a few months. I have to say that this one of the things I'm trying to work on right now. In the past I've thought, well, it's only for a little while, it's just one of those times, we'll take a break. But due to his learning problems, those breaks have really set my son back in his writing, spelling, and math. So I have to learn how to keep everything going while I have that 24/7 nausea.
--Angela
Three Plus Two
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cathhomeschool
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Angel wrote:
| I guess this is what's in the back of my mind, as we just went from 3 to 5 in the past year (my twins are 8 months old) -- what if it happens again? Instant large family! |
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We have friends who went from 3 to 6 kids overnight -- and the oldest was not quite 6 at the time. I think that the thing to remember and focus on is that God doesn't ask anything of you without also providing the grace necessary to follow through. Easy to say, I know, but it is so true.
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Janette (4 boys - 22, 21, 15, 14)
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4Real Forums : Mothering and Family Life
Topic: along the lines of what is large...
