I'm due in September, Amanda in October. I'm new here... I've been on a homeschooling list for years, but just felt like, for Lent, I wanted to do something different, and wanted to find somewhere that would encourage me in my ongoing quest to SIMPLIFY and stick to what's important...

Marcia (whose kids are watching about their 20th movie this week, we're still not up to schoolwork, and SO SICK of winter its incredible... and I just heard we're getting another 6-11 inches of snow tonight!!!)

When you have those days that you just can't face homeschooling, just choose your movies wisely. There is a WEALTH of history, geography, sociology, and science available on film!

Laura
Mom to Eight

I though I answered this earlier today. I am due in September, Amanda in October. She gave us "Father of the Bride" for Christmas, after we all survived her December 1st wedding. The, she sent the little kids a Valentine's present -- "Father of the Bride 2", wrapped in pink and blue paper!!! When they opened it, I was on the phone with her, and I started crying and said "are you telling me what I think you're telling me?" and she screamed "YES!!!" and we all laughed, and called my hubby on his cell phone, and had the baby (just turned 2 on 2/17) tell him!!! It was GREAT!!!

When the forum page fills up, it scrolls over to a second page - you might think that your reply did not show up, but it is there, just click the "next" button at the bottom.

Laura
Mom to Eight

Yeah, I figured that out AFTER I sent the second post... ;) I'm going to jump over to "homeschooling" to talk about movies...

Is this site always quiet? I stumbled upon it by googling "large families"... I think its great -- you have a wealth of information and encouragement, and that's what I need to get through the end of the winter here in Massachusetts!! (tho I must admit, the snow WAS beautiful this morning...)

Marcia

The forums are still fairly new, so they are quieter than they will be long term. They have started to pick up a little as of the first of the year, and we now have some regular posters, whom we appreciate immensely!

We get enough comments now though, that it tells me that they will succeed long term. It just takes time to build activity on a forum if you are not actively advertising it. And I have NEVER advertised this site - it has just grown with its own momentum.

Laura
Mom to Eight

No worries, I say. I too get judge in public. =)
All I say, when some ppl. ask...." yep, they are all mine's." I have big smile on my face and walk away in pride.

Hello All!

I am new here, but faced with this particular issue on a pretty regular basis.

I am very pregnant with our seventh child and people always want to know "is this your first" before even thinking about it I respond "oh no, this is our seventh" and then it begins! There are a few people who are delighted but most people say things like, "It's time do get someone 'fixed'" - as if one of us were broken? Or "you do know what causes that?" We are homeschoolers and I have even in the last month or so had a woman, complete stranger having never even seen my children question me about what we are thinking and if I'm sure the kids are happy and completing their school work, because "you know Andrea Yates homeschooled". That was pretty deep for me. I am learning to brush thus stuff off, but I do wonder why it never occurs to people that others are happy with their decisions. Wouldn't it be strange if I said to a mother of one child "how selfish of you, that child has no one to grow up with. You should be thinking more about that child's need for companionship and supply him/her with brothers/sisters"? That would just be odd, but I get comments to the opposite effect all the time! Okay thanks for letting a 9-month pregnant in the hot hot Texas weather woman vent!

Oh... Nine months pregnant in Texas is an excuse for ANYTHING! :)

Seven is the point where people's eyes really glaze over... Perhaps because they've all watched the Sound of Music "Don't you like children Maria?" "Yes, but SEVEN!".

They can imagine 4, feel overwhelmed with 5, get lost with 6, and their brains just shut down at 7!

Go ahead and be smart aleck. They aren't going to get it if you are polite anyway. Bad of me, I know, but I just have no patience for rude people!

Thankfully, I've met more polite strangers than rude ones. It is the family members who were the rudest. I guess they think they have the right?

Laura
Mom to Eight

Yes, people love to make assumptions, give unsolicited advice, and manage your life. Of course, their lives/families are always beyond reproach.

The most frequent assumptions I hear are that my kids must be deprived of material things, I must be on the edge of a nervous breakdown, and they will all turn out to be sociopaths for lack of parental attention.

My kids don't play computer games, walk around with headphones stuck in their ears, or watch much tv. This is because of our choices, not because we can't afford it. My kids never whine that they are bored--they simply have too many interests (and a lot of willing siblings to play games or sports with).

And now that the kids are mostly older--7 teenagers in the house, 6 between 6-11--there is not much housework, cooking, etc. It's mostly managing schedules. The kids learn self-reliance, life skills, and cooperation.

And in addition to parental attention, the kids have role models in their older siblings. The sociopath thing is the response that many have when they find out we adopted "older" foster kids. Aren't we afraid we will be murdered in our sleep? Sheesh!

When strangers approach us with really stupid or hateful comments, I start speaking in a foreign language. Even if, a minute earlier, we were all speaking English. This tends to confuse folks, who probably go away making nasty remarks about immigrants.

The kids have their own comments. If asked why there are so many children, the little ones will reply "We're not children, we're rabbits." or that they were bought at Sears.

GG