Managing the MotherLoad by Jennifer Applin

Larger Families Post

I have a new post up at Larger Families.com. Here you can read all about our breakfast routine (and the fact that I sleep in as late as the kids will let me ;-).

Food Topic at Larger Families

This month's topic at LargerFamilies.com is "feeding our families." Be sure to visit throughout the month to get recipes, meal-planning tips and advice from those who feed the masses large families ;-)

New LargerFamilies.com post

I have a new post up at Larger Families.com. This week we were discussing the following question: "If you could instill in your children just one quality/characteristic (i.e. compassion, honesty, integrity, etc.)what would it be, and why?"

What's your answer? (feel free to reply in the comments section of the Larger Families blog)

New post up at Larger Families.com

You can check out my latest post at Larger Families.com here. It's all about trying to stay organized!

Coming Soon....

I have a lot of new plans for this blog all set and ready to go for 2008. The new content includes:

-book reviews

-organization tips

-parenting advice

-suggestions for making time for yourself and others

-ideas for being charitable

-ways to live a faith-filled life

-Featured Resource Friday

Stay tuned....the new blogging format starts today :-)

New post up Larger Families.com

I have a new post up on the Larger Families.com blog titled "Gratitude: Putting a Spin on Struggles." The Larger Families site has a new look and we added some great new bloggers! Check out all of the inspiring posts from this month's theme pertaining to gratitude :-)

Our version of lockers

This week I reorganized my foyer closet. I needed something more functional for four smaller children. I forgot to take a before picture, but here are two after pictures:

The focus was creating an area that the kids could really use to be fairly independent when it came to getting out the door (or putting items away when they came home). I also wanted to get school-related papers, files, etc. off of my desk (where they will surely get lost!). I figured since lockers work at school they could probably be a good solution, but they are expensive to buy. Thankfully my mom was getting rid of some closet organizers so with them I designed this system and my husband built it. It looks taller than it is. This top wire shelf is below my shoulders and I'm only 5'2".

There is one more wire shelf to go above this one and together these two areas will have baskets/containers for hats, scarves, gloves, sports-related items, lunch boxes when not in use, etc.

Below that is the wooden shelf which holds school-related binders, files, library books etc. for the older two and snow pants for the little ones.

The coat area has a total of 6 hooks each for coats and backpacks. Previously we had a short coat rack for the kids, but hooks are easier for little kids than hangers.

Finally we have a few shelves for shoes, slippers and boots. I like to keep everything we need to get out the door downstairs--it's much quicker that way.

So this is the kid's side of our foyer closet, complete with our version of lockers :-) 

Thank You Kind Lady at Kohls

One complaint I have with having four small children is the frequency of looks, stares, and unkind comments by strangers. Actually my complaint has nothing to do with my children, but everything to do with feeling like I'm some sort of freak when I'm out in public.

It really seems impossible to be out and about with my children and not have all eyes on us. I know that four is an above average number of children, and when they are all within a 5-year span that can be even more shocking. But...I do not feel that this warrants the unwanted attention and comments I receive.

Whenever any parent ventures out with a small child there is always a little concern about the child misbehaving and causing a scene. When you have many young children this concern is even greater. If any or all of my kids were to act up when we're dining out I'd expect the stares and maybe even a comment. My complaint, though, has to do with the fact that I'm receiving this treatment even when my kids are very well-behaved (which they usually are when we are out in public, not so much at home, but in public-yes). Knowing that the mere presence of my family walking through store doors will draw a lot of unwanted attention can be stressful.

I know that most large(r) families out there share this same complaint. I've also recently read where a woman who has two small children started babysitting two other small children. She noticed a drastic difference in the treatment she received from total strangers when she was out in public with the four children (6 and under). I'm guessing she's received some of the comments strangers have made to me: "WOW, you have your hands full" (spoken with a "you're NUTS" attitude), "are they ALL yours" (not spoken with an admiring tone), or my personal favorite "you know you probably could have prevented this!" In many ways I feel like someone with a disability with all of the looks and stares I get, yet I don't think anyone would walk up to someone in a wheelchair and say "you know you probably could have prevented this!" 

So this takes me to my quick trip to Kohls the other day. I'm walking through the store with my youngest in a stroller and the other three walking with me. They are being good and quiet and I'm hoping to get through the store without drawing too much attention. All of a sudden I turn the corner and an elderly woman walking towards me stops as we start to pass by her. (Great I think to myself) "Are they all yours" she asks...(Here we go again)..."Yes" I quickly reply not wanting to encourage a discussion on my reproductive activities. "How old are they? Are any twins?"...(And it continues)..."No, they are 6, 4 1/2, 2 1/2, and 14 months." She gets a look of shock on her face and lets out a little gasp...(Now here comes the rude comment)...She looks up at me and with the most sincere look says "You are sooo lucky!"...(OMG, did she really say what I think she said!?)..."Uh, thanks! Yes, I am." She turns to walk away and then quickly turns around and says "And so are their grandmas!"

So thank you kind lady at Kohls! You made my day and reminded me that all of the attention we receive is not always bad.

New Post up at Larger Families

I'm a contributor to the group blog at Larger Families. This is an informative, inspirational, and entertaining blog dedicated to those with more than the "average" number of children. The current topic is about some of our favorite resources (books, blogs, websites, etc). Here's A Few of My Favorite Reads.

Introducing the Little People

Introducing the little people in my life:

6 years

4 1/2 years

2 1/2  years   

 

13 months