A Solution to Morning Mayhem, With Hilarious Results

With limited funds, surrounded by lots of little people on a hobby farm, I had to discover innovative ways of coping. When I relaxed, often an unusual, creative or even funny solution to a problem popped into my head. I just needed to keep everything in perspective and listen to my own inner voice as……

Thoughts on Mothering A Large Family

I can honestly say my husband and I are joyful because we answered a particular call to parent a large family of nine children. Many small experiences kept reinforcing the truth; God called each of our children into being with our cooperation. I stumbled blindly at times and then a burst of clarity would shine……

Are They All Yours ?

I laughed when a friend sent me an amusing video, a song composed by a family of 12, sung to the tune of the Christmas carol, “The 12 Days of Christmas”.. . The video is hilarious because it is composed of phrases directed to large families, phrases I have heard for decades.  . You must……

Joyful Chaos: Dining With Eleven

Listen as I struggled to gather my crew every night for a family meal. “Oh good, you’re done barn chores. Perfect timing; dinner is almost ready.” “Two more minutes, everybody!” “Joseph I’ll help after we eat, okay?” “Mary, please run up and open Jean’s door and shut off the music.” ‘Dinner is ready!” “Grace, I……

“Don’t Let the Dog In and Don’t Let Daniel Out!!”

Life was especially chaotic after the birth of our eighth and ninth children because everyone was still fourteen and under. It was difficult to keep a sharp eye out for my new bundle of energy.  Daniel was a real handful as a baby and a little kid. With his little eyebrows lifted up in surprise, his…

Help: I’ve got 5 Older Sisters

When you live with five older sisters you might as well have six mothers. The school bus was not scheduled to pull up for another twenty minutes. Six-year old Rebecca, my youngest child, needed both hands to yank the old, heavy kitchen door open, desperately attempting a quick escape for some free time before school.  As the door…

Want a Laugh? Take a Peek Into Our House…

Come take a peek into our house a few years ago because in a family of eleven, everything is a Big Deal. . Imagine twenty-two pieces of bread lined up in two rows on the table. Each sandwich is made with a particular person in mind because I did want them to actually eat the sandwiches at…

Finding Joy in Chaos

“Welcome to OUR home. We love kids, animals, plants and even you. Just come on in!” Five-year old Daniel is leaping off the fourth stair wearing his black cape, a purple Batman sweatshirt and his 'Mountie' hat. Three-year old Rebecca carries a huge, old purse stuffed with cut pieces of paper and fake money and…

The Flu While Flying Solo

A writing, soul sister who I met on Blogher, jokingly started  this poem by rewriting one of my articles . She chopped out all the flub words from a prose short story. I was swept up in the spirit of revision and kept writing. inerertoldher  writes at thegirls . I could feel my body relax As I curled……

Coming Around Full Circle

When an acquaintance interviewed me three years ago for a newspaper article to run on Mother’s Day, I saw myself through the eyes of an outsider for the first time. It was almost mind-boggling to admit to her that I had spent 18 years pregnant and/or nursing babies.When she asked me if I ever regretted not using…

Inspire Me Monday :Me? A Mother of Nine9?

  By all outward appearances, I am a rather old-fashioned sort of woman. Yet, I was the least likely candidate to have a lot of children because I had never even held a baby before my first-born. You would think having nine children (yes, nine!) would have turned me into a frazzled wreck with a figure like the……

I Am a Conundrum

Not everyone is called to have a large family but not everyone is called to be a career woman or single or a working mother. For some reason my lifestyle pushes people’s buttons; perhaps they think that I am a self-righteous fanatic or that I am condemning certain lifestyle’s or choices but this is simply……

“My God! How Did She Get Herself Into That Mess?”

I am conundrum. A rather outmoded sort of woman, ridiculed by modern career women, vilified by the earth’s prophets of doom and sanctified by the religious right. I was the least likely candidate to have a lot of children.I mean, I had never even held a baby before my first born.You would think having nine……

Morning Mayhem

When my ninth child was born, every one was fourteen and under. That meant that everything, even ordinary tasks became huge productions. Just to feed, clothe and house the eleven members of our family required energy, stamina and organization.  Everyone had to co-operate because after dinner, dishes, kitchen clean-up, homework and homework help, lunches, bath time, story time and bedtime all begged for……

“Don’t Worry Sir; My Boyfriend is Like my Trampoline.”

It was Christmas Eve  but we were stuck in Canadian Tire, waiting  at the auto parts desk, not to buy a present, but to buy a car part Michael needed to fix our vehicle. Lucy, three weeks before turning two, was sitting  quietly in the shopping cart looking adorable in a  soft, pink snowsuit.  Suddenly she pointed and yelled , “Gee……

Pets

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“Quit Trying to Dismember Me!”

The school bus was not scheduled to pull up for another twenty minutes but six-year old Rebecca, my youngest child, was pulling the kitchen door open, hoping for some free time before school.  As the door open, I looked up. Before I could comment,  Mara , one of  her many older sisters, whipped around and……

None of Us Are ‘Normal”

Many of us think of our lives as boringly normal, while others live the high life. Take a step back, and take a look at your life as an outsider might. Now, tell us at least six unique, exciting, or just plain odd things about yourself. Most men think in straight logical lines. They shake……

Two Hundred And Sixty-Four Shoes

Try keeping track of shoes for 11 people In a family of eleven, everything is a big deal. Want a laugh today? Come take a peek into our house a few years ago. Imagine twenty-two pieces of bread lined up in two rows on the table. Each sandwich is made with a particular person in……

The Battle of the Bugs

The phrase ‘quit nit-picking’ took on a whole new meaning after our official Lice Week. Once again the school had sent notes home about another outbreak of head lice but of course I was confident that we had never had and never would get lice. Over the phone, the school secretary asked me to check……