Large Families Today

mishakennedy — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 13:47:29 +0000

After my Large Families Today.com blog was hi-jacked by some strange web hosting company, I’ve decided to resurrect this blog. I’ll be working on it for the next few days – but look for new posts soon!

Thanks!
Michelle

The Duggars: 20 and Counting, Book Review

mishakennedy — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 16:40:22 +0000

I recently finished a fun book – The Duggars: 20 and Counting. I’ll have to admit, I was a little worried at first. I thought it might just be a rehash of the Duggars’ TV specials and shows. But it was actually a very fun and quick read.

There are a lot of great stories in the book and in each chapter, they take the time to have one of the children answer some of the questions they get from viewers of their show.

One Q and A I found particularly interesting was this:

Question: “Seeing how you all dress so much alike, I’m wondering how the children in your family are allowed to express their individuality?”

Jon and Kate Plus 8 Go Green

mishakennedy — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 23:01:00 +0000

Because we haven’t had enough already…Jon and Kate Gosselin will be back – on April 19 at 9 p.m. EST.

Yes, folks, Jon and Kate are going green. The special will show the eco-friendly changes Jon and Kate will be making to their new home – maybe someone can convince Kate to actually wash some dishes and get rid of those paper plates!

Here is our perspective on large families and the environment.

Perhaps Kate would like to learn how to be green and frugal by making her own laundry soap. or learn how to put some lemons to good use!

Jon and Kate Plus 8 to return for fifth season

mishakennedy — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 14:14:54 +0000

According to TLC, Jon and Kate Plus 8 will be back for another season. This comes on the heels of the news that the couple’s season finale hit record ratings for the network.

Apparently, the fate of the show was still up in the air during the finale, when Jon expressed his distaste for being in the spotlight. Was it being caught on tape with those co-eds that spurred his disdain? Because I don’t think that he really hated all those free trips – and the hair plugs! Oh yeah, and the new house!

My distaste for the Gosselins is not new, as evidence in this piece I wrote: http://organicallyinclined.org/2009/03/05/jon-kate-plus-8-vs-the-octomom-nadya-suleman/

I truly do feel sorry for the Gosselin children. The Duggar kids and the Hayes kids, I think, are just enjoying showing their lifestyle – and if they are able to put a couple of their kids through college, or go on vacation because of it – then what the heck! The Gosselin children aren’t going to be cute forever and one day they are going to be real terrors – spoiled from their spoils. I don’t think Jon and Kate have seen that far ahead. What happens when the show ends, and Jon needs a regular job again, and all the Gosselin teenagers want cell phones – and cars?

Just a thought.

Is Anna Duggar Pregnant?

mishakennedy — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 15:08:22 +0000

I wasn’t really sure I was going to post on this topic, because I feel like it’s not our place to speculate – and I never wanted to be one of “those” websites, however, I get at least 20 inquiries a day wondering if Anna Duggar (the first daughter-in-law of the famous Duggar family) is pregnant.

First off, I must say that I have no idea. The Duggar family has not announced anything and no one has told me anything personally! But there has been much speculation on many blogs from viewers who say that when the Duggars went to El Salvador, Anna made a reference to not being able to carry a lot of things because of the baby – and that when they went to the Christian Film Festival she was covering up a bump with a jacket. Also, apparently Jim-Bob told his son, Josh that he would have “his own monkey” running around soon enough in the Christmas episode.

Now, let me be clear. I did not hear the reference in the El Salvador episode and wasn’t observant enough to notice Anna’s jacket in the film festival episode! I also haven’t yet seen the Christmas episode, so I have no idea.

It wouldn’t surprise me a bit if she is pregnant…she’s a healthy young girl, after all, and I’m sure they had no trouble conceiving. I’m also sure they want to keep the news quiet until she is further along.

I wish them all the luck in the world and hope all goes well – whether or not she is pregnant right now. Frankly, it’s nice to hear that in this day and age, there are some people in the world able to keep a secret!

Table for 12 – The Hayes Family

mishakennedy — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 14:55:18 +0000

I just wanted to say that after being subjected to the whining and ranting of the Gosselin family – possible the most spoiled family ever – it is so nice to watch a large family that’s kind of like the rest of us! Now, I have read some nasty things about this family too – mostly from people who get angry about IVF treatments and the like – but I try not to make judgments on how people come into their large family ways – whether by IVF (even Nadya Suleman), naturally or through adoption and fostering.

I just love to watch and learn how different large families do things. The Hayes family is just so darn regular. While I wish I could watch TV more and see all of the episodes, that just never seems to happen (oh, right, I have all of those kids to attend to!), I did see the episode where they were celebrating mom Betty’s birthday. It was just so great to see her react to going to a spa the same way I did!

I have a wonderful friend who took me for my first (and so far only) manicure and pedicure for my birthday last year – and I have to say that while I enjoyed it, I probably won’t do it again – I certainly would never pay for it!

It was nice to hear Betty react similarly – saying she’d rather spend the free time with her family, just watching a TV show or something. I am exactly like this! I have had to go on speaking engagements occasionally and if I’m off alone in a city I’ve never been too, I am so bummed out that I can’t share the experience with my family!

I’d rather be home, sitting on the patio around the firepit – or taking the kids out to a fair or something than do something decadent for myself.

I always hate to see a mom complain about her lack of “me” time. I think “me” time is overrated. I read a great article once by a woman who said something similar. She said that she found that when she had “me” time, she just kept craving more – until she realized she was really neglecting her kids – getting angry if they bugged her while she was on the computer or whatever.

I spend a lot of time working at the computer – typing articles and book chapters, corresponding with readers, programming a website, making up homeschool assignments, planning meals and our lives basically! But I have learned to put it down. I have to be able to change my focus in an instant and leap up to settle a dispute; put away an idea for a bit so I can make lunch, clean a bathroom, fold a load of laundry, answer a math question or read a story.

While I sometimes get it in my head that I would love to be a great writer and travel the world and have people line up to get me to sign their books, I have to remember always what my first job – and first love – is, and that’s being a mom. I want to be the best mom I can…and I don’t mean some Mrs. Cleaver, Martha Stewart mom…I just want my kids to know (she writes after putting laptop down to allow toddler to climb up on big, pregnant belly and wipe her toddler nose on her shirt) that I am always available for them – to them. That I do everything I can to make sure that they can be the people they want to be.

Anyway, I just wanted to chime into the fray and say that I just love this new show – they are so different from Jon and Kate Gosselin. It’s so nice to see a dad who looks like he actually likes his kids – and a mom who doesn’t appeared burdened by the thought of them!

A New Book Cover

mishakennedy — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 18:18:13 +0000

My new book, A Fine Mess: Living Simply With Children, will be out in about a week and I now have the cover.

What do you think?

Well, I hope you all like it – and the book too! Please let me know if you’d like to review the book for your site or blog (or a newspaper or other publication). I can send you a free e-book version for review purposes. Just email me at michelle@organicallyinclined.org and I let me know if you’d like the document or just a link sent to you – as well as the blog or publication you’ll be writing for.

Official publication date is April 6, but we’ll see if that happens!

Homeschooling and Socialization

mishakennedy — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 18:25:04 +0000

Two women meet at a playground, where their children are swinging and playing ball. The women are sitting on a bench watching. Eventually, they begin to talk.

W1: Hi. My name is Maggie. My kids are the three in red shirts — helps me keep track of them.
W2: (Smiles) I’m Terri. Mine are in the pink and yellow shirts. Do you come here a lot?
W1: Usually two or three times a week, after we go to the library.
W2: Wow. Where do you find the time?
W1: We home school, so we do it during the day most of the time.
W2: Some of my neighbors home school, but I send my kids to public school.
W1: How do you do it?
W2: It’s not easy. I go to all the PTO meetings and work with the kids every day after school and stay real involved.
W1: But what about socialization? Aren’t you worried about them being cooped up all day with kids their own ages, never getting the opportunity for natural relationships?

W2: Well, yes. But I work hard to balance that. They have some friends who’re home schooled, and we visit their grandparents almost every month.
W1: Sounds like you’re a very dedicated mom. But don’t you worry about all the opportunities they’re missing out on? I mean they’re so isolated from real life — how will they know what the world is like — what people do to make a living — how to get along with all different kinds of people?
W2: Oh, we discussed that at PTO, and we started a fund to bring real people into the classrooms. Last month, we had a policeman and a doctor come in to talk to every class. And next month, we’re having a woman from Japan and a man from Kenya come to speak.
W1: Oh, we met a man from Japan in the grocery store the other week, and he got to talking about his childhood in Tokyo. My kids were absolutely fascinated. We invited him to dinner and got to meet his wife and their three children.
W2: That’s nice. Hmm. Maybe we should plan some Japanese food for the lunchroom on Multicultural Day.
W1: Maybe your Japanese guest could eat with the children.
W2: Oh, no. She’s on a very tight schedule. She has two other schools to visit that day. It’s a system-wide thing we’re doing.
W1: Oh, I’m sorry. Well, maybe you’ll meet someone interesting in the grocery store sometime and you’ll end up having them over for dinner.
W2: I don’t think so. I never talk to people in the store — certainly not people who might not even speak my language. What if that Japanese man hadn’t spoken English?
W1: To tell you the truth, I never had time to think about it. Before I even saw him, my six-year-old had asked him what he was going to do with all the oranges he was buying.
W2: Your child talks to strangers?
W1: I was right there with him. He knows that as long as he’s with me, he can talk to anyone he wishes.
W2: But you’re developing dangerous habits in him. My children never talk to strangers.
W1: Not even when they’re with you?
W2: They’re never with me, except at home after school. So you see why it’s so important for them to understand that talking to strangers is a big no-no.
W1: Yes, I do. But if they were with you, they could get to meet interesting people and still be safe. They’d get a taste of the real world, in real settings. They’d also get a real feel for how to tell when a situation is dangerous or suspicious.
W2: They’ll get that in the third and fifth grades in their health courses.
W1: Well, I can tell you’re a very caring mom. Let me give you my number–if you ever want to talk, give me call. It was good to meet you.
–Author unknown

Comment or Join to Win – Sinupret for Kids Giveaway

mishakennedy — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 14:57:29 +0000

Just comment on any Large Families Today or Organically Inclined – and you’ll be entered to win:

A sample of Sinupret for Kids
A copy of Dr. Bob Sears book, “The Healthiest Kid in the Neighborhood”
A Sinupret activity book, stickers and bear
Cute little kids’ binoculars

Sinupret for Kids is a plant-based, natural cold remedy that works by supporting the immune, sinus and respiratory functions of the body – rather than just treating symptoms. It helps children by getting them healthier – rather than just treating the symptoms of the cold.

Sinupret has been the subject of a number of randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials. In one of the largest clinical trials in children testing sinus remedies, Sinupret was evaluated retrospectively in more than 3,000 children by approximately 1,000 physicians. 88% of the physicians found Sinupret effective. A majority of the children who used Sinupret experienced healthy sinus functions.

For more on how to keep kids healthy naturally, read this article by Dr. Bob Sears.

FYI: I (Michelle Kennedy Hogan) don’t often accept review work for OI because I like to keep the information from the site as objective as possible, so I will let you know that I was given a copy of Bob Sears book and a sample of Sinupret for Kids for my family. I am a big fan of the Sears family and their positions on natural living and attachment parenting – otherwise I would not advocate them on Organically Inclined or Large Families Today (they also have a large family, by the way!). I really like the book offered here and I thought some OI readers might enjoy it and the sample too – so I hope you’ll participate!

Thanks!

Having a Large Family Isn’t A “Big” Deal

mishakennedy — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 16:28:41 +0000

Now that my oldest child is almost 17 and my second-oldest almost 16, well, we don’t go out and about as a family as much anymore. For vacations, sure – or family get-togethers, but even those, sometimes find us leaving the oldest behind (he really is just too cool for the rest of us).

That’s why it was so rare and so nice for all of us, this past Monday, to get in the car and go to our newly-turned 13 year old’s favorite restaurant for his birthday.

Taking the eight of us out to eat at a “regular” restaurant is not nearly as big a deal to all of us as it appears to be to the staff who had to seat us. For a Monday, the restaurant was pretty busy but not overwhelmed…even still we were told we would have to wait 30 minutes for a table. Not to be disgruntled at Alex’s favorite restaurant on his birthday, we all sat down to wait. And watched as smaller families were seated fairly quickly.

Not to be deterred, we remained patient and were seated fairly quickly. In the center of the restaurant (where the large parties go). Now, I’ve waited a lot of tables in my life, so it was a bit of a shock to me when two waiters appeared at our table. We’ve never required two waiters before. I’ve never needed help waiting on an 8-top before, but apparently we were elevated to a new level of service.

Through the years, John and I have become expert at ordering for the clan. We are very good at helping kids make quick decisions and then having them be clear when ordering for themselves – no waffling or you’ll confuse the waiter!

We ordered and waited and ate and had a generally good time. We don’t have a lot of behavior issues at the dinner table – either at home or out – because we eat together often. Generally the only issue is the little ones wanting to get down when they are done eating…but we’re working on it! Needless to say, I didn’t think anything of our being at the restaurant and eating with our six (OK, seven, but one is in utero and not really an active participant yet!) children. We eat together all of the time and like each others’ company, well, most of the time. I think the biggest issue I had was a bit of embarrassment when my oldest started reciting some dumb TV show I wish he wouldn’t watch out loud! Fortunately, it wasn’t obscene – just weird. But I suppose John and I embarrass them enough for reasons we don’t understand, so it’s all good.

After we sang a quick “Happy Birthday” to Alex in the middle of the restaurant – just to make the embarrassment complete – we started to get ready to leave. I always leave a big tip for good service and the extra clean up a big table like ours requires!

As we were getting coats on and doggy bags together, a couple of lovely ladies stopped and cooed at Kiara (who is a friendly, adorable 17 month old) and told us what a lovely, well-behaved family we have. I was bit surprised, to be honest. I used to get comments like this all of the time – back when I had 4 under 6 – but because we don’t go out so much all together anymore, it was a shock. I kind of forgot that I had a large family (although the two waiters were a tip off). I thanked the ladies and continued to gather our things.

As I sat in the car and looked back at the “tribe,” I remembered that I have a “large” family. Frankly, sometimes, I forget. Although I do have a more than average amount of laundry and dishes and I make bigger meals – and I have more cereal in the cupboard…I don’t have more patience – or even more noise. I guess while it is unusual to have so many kids, it doesn’t seem abnormal at all. I don’t have kids bouncing off walls or going unnoticed (unless they are teenagers who are choosing that avenue). I don’t have my older kids “raising” my younger kids. I fully understand that I chose to have my kids, so I do the majority of the raising.

I don’t have strange chores lists. Each child is expected to do a chore after dinner (dishes, wiping up, picking up toys, etc) that is appropriate to their age and ability. I also expect kids to help out here and there where needed. I might ask a kid to fold a basket of clothes while I’m running another kid to a practice. I might have my oldest daughter start boiling water for pasta while I’m picking up their dad from work, but I don’t expect them to have dinner on the table!

While I never mind someone stopping me in a store and asking me if “they are all mine?” I do hate that people think that having so many is unusually difficult. I am not a saint. My hands are pretty full, but not completely. I am not overwhelmed or exhausted and I love my life.

I believe children are a blessing…and a gift – certainly not a burden.

What about you? Do you think having a big family is a big deal? Discuss it here!