In my large family birthdays post, I alluded to the fact that we adopted a large family mentality long before we were a large family. That fact alone, revolutionized our home life. Ever since then, I’ve found it important to tell other families how acting like a large family even when they are not can make a tremendous difference in their lives.
Why I adopted a large family mentality:
It happened simply because I began to desire a large family. Because of this desire, I began frequenting large family sites on the internet and the real-life homes of people who had large families. I observed. I asked questions. I mimicked.
What happened when I adopted a large family mentality?:
My husband was deployed at the time, so the most obvious difference was that my day was much more streamlined and easier to manage. The second thing I noticed was that my children were happier. I also realized I was more content as well.
Where did I start?:
I started with a Bath Routine. It was a simple place to start and easy to implement. I’ve been using the same bathing schedule for 8 years now!
What types of large family things can a small family implement?:
Just about anything! I’d encourage your to peruse the Large Family Living section of this blog, and also consider these things…
- Share bedrooms
Large families do this because they have to, but it builds such camaraderie between siblings, I suggest it to everyone.
- Color Code
I shared on Wednesday how we color code our children. This is something that will build efficiency in any size household.
- Give the Children Chores
Require work from them. This builds responsibility and character and teaches them that a household is held together by the entire family and not just one person.
- Streamline Everything!
Laundry, Shopping, Cooking, Entertaining, School, Traveling, EVERYTHING! The more efficient you become, the more time you have for your family.
- See Them as Blessings
It is nearly impossible to accept God’s leading in your family size and not see your children as blessings. Start enjoying them for who God made them to be. Revel in their crooked smiles and open-mouthed kisses. See them as God sees them…not as something you must do for the next 18 years, but as someone you’ve been blessed with for an eternity. When God says they are a reward, believe Him!
Thank you SO much for this advice! We are just beginning to develop a Large Family mentality and this is just the encouragement I needed. We’re excited to watch our family grow with as many blessings as the Lord desires for our family.
Such a great post! We only have three children, but sometimes I get to thinking how I would order my day if I had 7!I wanted 7 children, actually) I love big families with lots of children and I think we could all learn much wisdom from those that have them!
Hi Amy!
I’ve been lurking around here for quite a while now…and I’d just like to say that yours in one of my new favorite blogs!!
Thanks so much! (and I love it when lurkers come out of the shadows!
)
I’ve been reading here, just haven’t taken the time to comment! I enjoy your blog!!
.-= Tanya – Lilyofthevalley´s last blog ..Horse Treats =-.
My mom only had 3 of us but she did many things as though we were a much larger family because we were very poor and she was very sick and bedridden for a good part of my childhood. I think as a result, I have automatically done some things “large-family-style” because I grew up that way and know firsthand how well it works. I’ve always hoped to be blessed with a large family but my husband doesn’t see things quite the same way. “We” are planning for 4 kids and #3 is due in September. So our family won’t really be ‘small’ with 4 kids, but I joyfully soak in the amazingness of my children and wonder if my heart wouldn’t always long for ‘just one more’ even if I had 14 kids…
.-= Mama Mirage´s last blog ..The solution is… – Toddler Tales Tuesday =-.
Thank you for all of the shopping, meal lists and grocery list posts. We were just discussing once a month shopping and how to make that happen.
Baby # 3 is on the way. The once a week thing is not working so great anymore. =)
You have a wonderful blog by the way.
.-= Virginia Lee´s last blog ..Calendar Craziness and To Remember =-.
Thanks so much! The more children you have the easier it is to just stay home and streamline because a “want to” becomes a “need to”. Congratulations on your #3!
This is SO me…a momma of a smaller family but with a big family mentality!
So Amy how does it feel to be on the other end? With “hopefuls” like me observing, asking questions and mimicking YOU?!
I’m soooo thankful for you, your MOMYS posts and your blog!!!!!
.-= Grace Wheeler´s last blog ..How We Used To Do Chores–Chore Cards =-.
You know, I still feel like a small family even though we are now the size of the families I was looking to for information! There is still so much I can glean from families bigger than my own. I’m honored that smaller families want to mimic what we do, but I also know I will never feel as though I have “arrived.” lol
Loved this post. We have 3 kiddos through adoption and our 2 girls share a room. One is 8 months, the other is 3 years. I love listening to them “chat” with each other when they go to bed. People keep asking if we’re going to buy a house with more bedrooms and I say, “no, I like that they share a room.” Would love to adopt another boy and then they could share a room.
Haha, have you been spying on me? Love this post, its exactly what I do it makes life so much better! I have 2 kids, but hoping for many more!
I now have four children and I am definitely finding that I need a large family mentality with four, even though I don’t consider four to be a large family!
Thankfully life isn’t quite so full on as it is with a truly large family as I am just not “up to” keeping on top of it with wonderful efficiency yet. Something I hope I am growing into.
.-= Liz´s last blog ..Please hold… =-.
well spoken
Hello Amy! =)
My husband just found your blog the other day and we’ve enjoyed reading through your site! We are very like-minded with you from what we’ve seen – that’s encouraging always to come across, hm? I especially loved your post on adopting a large family mentality when you’re a small family. That’s exactly what we did when we were just starting out with 2 kids and we read The Full Quiver book for the first time. We have 9 children now, and we’ve enjoyed such pleasure along the way because we did this very thing, taking on this mentality early. We would like to put your post on our large families blog, would that be okay with you? Blessings, Erika
Hello! That would be fine as long as it is only an excerpt that points back here as my articles are copyrighted. By the way, The Full Quiver is one of my favorite books!
Hello. I have 4 and am pregnant with number 5. I feel myself struggling through parts of the day. For example, bedtime story-time…I want to read stories to/with my kids at bedtime. They could all use the help to wind down. The oldest 2 are ready to hear chapter books. My preschooler cannot focus on chapter books, yet and still needs picture books while my 14 month old can barely focus on board books. I can’t figure out how to do 3 different story times especially when the 3 oldest share a room. How do you do story-time?
Thanks
Hi Jennifer! We read one book. Right now that book is from the Little House on the Prairie series. Daddy also read from the Bible one chapter. The 2 yo does not sit still and look at the book, but he is expected to be quiet and play nearby. My 13 month old is already in bed. I do read younger kid books throughout the day, but nighttime isn’t time for a bunch of books except on rare occasions. Hope that helps.