Is parenting in a large family different than parenting in a regular-sized family? Probably. There's more group herding. There's more laundry. There's a lot more driving around town! But there are these amazing “bonuses” too- like everyone has someone to play with. To ask for help with homework. To share a room with.
But I also think that in many ways- it's not that different. I always say that parenting takes up all of your time- whether one kid is filling up that space or a dozen!
Quick Links to the Info in This Post!
While I absolutely love being the Mom of a large family- I have to admit we didn't get here because this was my life-long dream or because I grew up in a household with lots of siblings (both my husband and I each have just one brother!) We got here because we found that we just loved being parents!
First we had one child and then quickly became pregnant with another. And 7 months after he was born we joyfully discovered we were expecting again! We had three young boys under the age of 3, and we loved it!
And before long we thought to ourselves… “How much harder could one more be?”
And so we adopted our sweet daughter Lili.
And then we said to ourselves, “How much harder could one more be?”
And so we adopted our beautiful daughter Charlotte.
And then we said to ourselves, “How much harder could one more be?”
And that's how Alex came to complete our clan!
Large Family Parenting
Am I an expert on this whole “parenting a large family” thing? Heck no! I make mistakes and learn new things about my kids and how to raise them every single day! But I do have some tips to share that might help you as you navigate parenting too- no matter what your family size!
Sure, Large Families are a Little Different:
- Why I Love Having a Large Family
- The Best Large Family Car (When You Have 6 Kids!)
- Getting Out with Kids {When You Have So Many!}
- Planning an Outing with Kids
- Eating Out with a Large Family
- Places I Don't Go With My Large Family!
Parenting Strategies:
Things that have worked for this family with 6 kids!
- Sibling Rivalry: Why I Don't Even Try to Keep Things Fair Among My Kids
- How Do You Help Kids with Homework (when you have so many?)
- My Advice on Dealing with Picky Eaters
- Are You Raising Resilient Children?
- How To Be a “Good” Parent in a Large Family: Spreading Yourself Among Your Kids
- How Old Should Kids Be to Play Call of Duty?
- How to Have the Birds and Bees Talk with Your Kids
- Teaching Tweens “Why is Community Service Important?” 15+ Service Projects for Kids!
- 12 Great Science Fair Ideas for Kids!
- Staycation Ideas with Tweens and Teens!
- 5 Tips for Moms on Surviving a Trip to Chuck E Cheese!
- My Go-To Site for Evaluating Movies, TV Shows, and Books for Kids: Common Sense Media!
Keeping Things Organized:
Mothers of large families know that the key to LIFE is being as organized as possible!
- How I Manage The Kids After School Schedule
- How to Keep Medical Records for Your Kids
Making Time for Mom!
As busy Moms, we often put ourselves last. Which, quite frankly, can lead to “job burnout”! Here are some ideas to help make yourself a priority!
- 4 Tips for Balancing Work and Family Life
- Five 1-Minute Ways to DeStress
- Personal posts about my battle with HPV+ throat cancer and breast cancer
Parenting Stories:
Just like any other Mom, I love to tell stories about my kids. Not the kind that will embarrass them later when their college boyfriends or girlfriends stop by the site to check out their childhood photos… but stories that reflect on the wonders of parenthood and also the challenge of it all!
- Letting Them Grow Up Part 1 and Letting Them Grow Up Part 2
- How Will My Kids View My Parenting?
- Is it Always Fair to Drag the Other Kids Along?
- Is It Harder When Your Oldest Gets Older or When Your Youngest Gets Older?
- Am I Doing Laundry All Wrong?
- My Storyteller and His Magic
- When Siblings Inspire One Another
- Use the “Good Dishes”
- Pets Can Live a Long, Long Time (A Cautionary Tale)
Adoption & Parenting
Again- let me be super clear- I am not an expert on adoption parenting. I am just an adoptive parent raising kids that I am blessed to help to grow up.
Each of my children has a unique story- one that they alone can tell if and when they choose. These posts share some of my experiences and thoughts on adoptive parenting. If you are looking for a great resource on adoption and raising a family created through adoption, I highly recommend Adoptive Families.
- Why We Decided to Grow Our Family Through Adoption
- Is Parenting an Adopted Child that Same As Parenting a Biological Child?
- How to Explain Adoption to Your Friends and Family
- 8 Great Books on Adoption Parenting
- Finding the Right Adoption Language for Your Family
Back to School Ideas and Tips!
I love, love, love the start of a new school year! The chance to start fresh with clean bedrooms and closets and new school supplies! Here are the checklists, ideas, and tips that we use at our house to get the new school year started right!
- The Best Planners for Students for the 2020-2021 School Year!
- Back to School Checklist (free printable)
- How to Get Your Home Organized for Back to School
- How to Create a Homework Caddy
- How to Create an Organized Homework Space in the Kitchen
- School Supplies for Middle School and High School– what to keep on hand and how to keep it organized
- How to Organize the Kids Closet for Back to School
- 20 Organized Kids Bedroom Ideas
- Teaching Kids to Clean Their Rooms (in 4 Easy Steps!)
- The 10 Best Free Back to School Subway Art Printables!
Saving Money with a Large Family
Having six kids does not mean it is six times more expensive than raising one child. Or at least it doesn't have to be!
- 3 Quick Tips to Save Money at the Grocery Store Every Week!
- Free Printable Grocery List (to help you figure out the lowest possible price to pay per item!)
- How to Save Money by Shopping at CVS
- How to Save Money While Shopping at Target
- Some Unique Ways to Save Money While Raising Kids (that you may not have thought of!)
- How to Save Money on Hair Cuts
- 5 Things to Do Before You Complete an Online Purchase
More Resources for Busy Moms!
- Get Organized! A Busy Mom's Ultimate Guide on How to Organize Your Life, Your Family, & Your Home!
- How to Throw Your Own Kids Birthday Parties at Home
- How to Hold a DIY Summer Camp at Home
- Ideas for Great Family Road Trips
- Recipes That Your Kids Will Actually Eat
I hope that you found this to be a great resource to you for parenting your kids- no matter what your family size!
