That’s me and all my sisters in the photo above.  I’m the second oldest of 14 children – 8 girls, 6 boys, no twins, all from the same parents.  We weren’t catholic, and yes.  My parents knew what caused us.

{You wouldn’t believe the things people dare ask you when you have a large family.}

I’ve heard it all.  Or so I think.  And then someone blurts something out in the grocery store and you can’t help but feel like laughing because someone is asking you that like they know you or something.

As a result of all the reactions, it’s gotten easier just to leave that little fact about myself out.

Not because I’m embarrassed.  Not because of the meanies, or the awkward conversations.  I just don’t like the attention it brings.  From the time I was little, people stared wherever we went, they counted us,  they asked embarrassing questions, they acted like they knew us and that no question was too personal.

I think most people are honestly so baffled and curious about raising a large family in our current culture, that they just want to know how it all works.

And I get that.  I really do.

Then, there’s the people who are blissfully naive and so so nice.  God bless them too.  They have a surreal view of what getting 16 people ready for church looks like and envision us dutifully holding our family devotions every night.  They think we never fight and always get along.  And after the Duggars, I get that view too.

Lastly, there’s the people who feel like large families are an open playing field.  That we’re somehow available for criticism and all the areas we fall short in.  They like to hold us at a higher standard.  They like to put us on display.  They like to find all the reasons why having a large family doesn’t work in our day and age.

And I sort of get that too.  It feels good to put somebody else down to bring ourselves up.

However…

…we are quite aware of how the birds and the bees work.  We do not always get along.  And yes.  I agree.  We’re not perfect.  Very not perfect, and we did fall short in some areas.

All families do.

I do not fault people for their curiosity, their idealism, or the occasional meanies.  When you walk into a grocery store with 10 little people, it does look odd.  When you tell them your dad works and your mom stayed home with you, I’m sure you want to know how we afford it.  Then, when you mention you were home schooled, it’s only natural to wonder how your mother could be that organized and well…sane!  And then when it comes out your youngest sibling is almost 2, people of course want to know if your parents are going to have more.   :-)

It’s a strange place to be for a child of that large family though.  The curiosity.  The questions.  The attention.  The unnormalness.

And you cannot know what it’s like till you’ve been there.

Here’s the thing that most people really want to know:  Did you like growing up in a large family?

Honestly, I would want to know the same thing if I hadn’t been raised in one.

Yes.  I am %100 glad I was raised in a large family.

You read that right.  I’m not bitter towards my parents.  I’m not suffering from post-large-family-distress.  I’m perfectly happy I had the upbringing I had.

It’s a lot of unrewarded-on-this-side-of-heaven work…probably why most people don’t do it. :-)  It’s a lot of sleepless nights for my mom, tough labor for my dad, and pitching in by the kids.

  I learned a lot about sharing; a lot about hard work; a lot about mothering; a lot about self-discipline; a lot about being selfless; a lot about cooking in large quantities; a lot about letting go of the unimportant; a lot about being organized; and a lot about holding lightly to my things.  {It’s probably going to get broken tomorrow anyway.}

Do I think large families are for everybody? No.  Do I think all large families have it right?  No.  Do I think any family has it exactly right? No.

But…if anybody can do the large family thing…

…my parents can.

And that is the grace of God.

 My sisters from left to right: Chloe, Sarah, Anne, Mandy, Rachel, Me, Becky, Abby

 Aunt Abby with Shiloh bug.

Aunt Sarah holds Emma Claire while Rachel looks on.  {Aunt Rachel and niece Emma are 5 months apart.  Crazy I know!}

My girls jumped in for these shots…I love them…

I’m clueless, but Chloe’s face is priceless.

 My beautiful sisters, Becky and Mandy.

 And of course, “mama’s boy” had to be reunited with his lady…after being separated for 30 WHOLE minutes.

Let’s just say, he would DIE in a large family.

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