Loving My Large Family {from a mom of 15} & Family Link-Up!

December 15, 2011 5 Comments

I’m very pleased to have Sherry from Large Family Mothering guest posting today for Big Family Friday!

Children are an heritage of the Lord!

I don’t think of my children as one group, or even as any certain number. Just the other day I even forgot for a moment how many children I actually have (I have 15 great children).

You see, I am in awe of everyone of them! I carried each one under my heart, rejoiced at the first fluttering I felt, prayed for them, talked with each one before they were ever even born, massaged all those tiny feet as they poked out from my enormous tummy.

It is assumed that, after giving birth so many times, it all somehow becomes old-hat. I suppose there are things that one can take for granted, but there is just no way to get “used” to carrying and giving birth to another precious life! In actual fact, the whole process has become more sacred to me with each new pregnancy. I find myself keeping the whole thing more intimate, since the often unintentional callousness of others can still break my heart–“Are you done yet?” is one that I have a lot of trouble with–as if having a darling little baby is just about the dumbest thing a person could ever do, so why don’t I quit already?

I don’t ever complain when they cause a bit of work, worry, or even interrupt me while I am busy. My husband and I never sit together wishing that they were already grown and gone. Instead, we feel great sorrow for couples who are our age and have no children at home.

It is just so marvelous to have them all here with us. There is always something to do, always someone to care for, always genuine “meaning” to the mundane things of life.

We love the noise, the commotion, and the instant “party” whenever there is something to celebrate–even a toddler who uses the potty for the first time is hailed and lauded!

Ryan’s rendition of a happy mother and babe

No, they aren’t perfect little angels, and they can cause us some sleepless nights and passionate emotions, but they are worth it. They are worth making the effort to work things out, even with some difficult soul-searching questions, when they don’t feel happy, comfortable or even receptive to us.

In reality, we have needed each one–even though they may be angry with us, or simply misunderstand, or just want to try things their own way. We need them because we are not perfect people either; we need them because they are assisting God in our transformation.

Folks tend to wonder where their kids would be without them; we tend to wonder where we would be without our kids!

Sherry K. Hayes has been homeschooling her 15 children for more than 23 years. She has been happily married for 29 years. Sherry is best known for her encouraging blog, Large Family Mothering.

Homeschool Sanity: a Practical Guide to Redemptive Home Educating is Sherry’s attempt to communicate a pathway back to common sense learning.

Recapture the best from the past!

Homescool Sanity is filled with colorful and engaging helps, graphics, templates, charts and resources. Even the busiest mother will be able to breathe a sigh of relief as she reads how easy it is to give her children an education that will be a blessing to them for the rest of their lives! It is Sherry’s sincere hope to lead the way back to the best of the past in order to prepare our children for the brightest possible future. The cost for this wonderful new pdf book is only $11.50.

Link-up your posts for Big Family Friday! Whether you’re a big family in number, or a big family at heart; link-up any post that celebrates God’s greatest gifts–faith, family and homeschool.

Comments

Sharla says:

December 16, 2011 at 9:36 am

I love the heart of this post! Children are a blessing and each one is unique and should be celebrated. Every child should know the type of love that those in Sherry’s family do. It is sad that many people have the attitude of “are you done yet?”

- Jamerrill says:
  
  December 16, 2011 at 11:10 am
  
  Sharla, that always makes my heart said too. As if we could ever “be done” with God’s blessings.
  
Carey Jane Clark says:

December 17, 2011 at 6:14 pm

We are a big family at heart. We have three beautiful children in our home and three in heaven. So while I can’t participate in the linkup, I admire and applaud your big family spirit.

- Jamerrill says:
  
  December 17, 2011 at 6:17 pm
  
  Oh sweet…you can still linkup! It’s hard to come up with a “new” linkup style–there are so many great ones out there. Thanks for stopping by!