Safety in Numbers . . .

Growing up the 6th child in a family of eight kids meant there was rarely time for solitude, but on the upside there was rarely any boredom either. Not only were we large in number, we had acres and acres to roam. We had enough siblings and space for an impromptu baseball game and chores were quickly finished when divided amongst us. But I never fully appreciated these aspects in my youth.


When I married I aspired to a small family. I claimed I didn't have the patience for a large family and figured I would have more time to spend with only a few children, rather than trying to spread myself thin on a large family. I discovered planning and family size actually have nothing to do with each other, but none the less, I have two lovely girls and one small, but feisty dog. Just the five of us, that is our family. . . .except when it isn't.


My kids were barely out of diapers when they started collecting friends. They must have inherited my need for people, because our house was always full of kids. It didn't help (or hurt--depending on how you look at) that I had a policy of feeding anyone present for a meal. At first I thought it was because I was such a cool mom that they were drawn to our house. Then I began to realize other moms just weren't that tolerant and I got them all by default.


Either way my yard and house more often that not looked like this. . .

And most of our activities and family photos where our family + one (or two, or three). But I figured it is always a good thing to know where your children are and when they are home that is easy to do.

For a short while I began to dream of a time when my girls stayed home and played with each other, and the house was quiet, and my pantry and freezer remained full, the house stayed picked up. . . .and I could leave my children with their dad and go shopping. . .peacefully. . .alone.

Then this week my wish was granted.

I spent a day shopping all alone. And do you know what I discovered? I hate it! Who do you ask "Does my butt look big in these jeans?" Who encourages you to buy this or that simply because you look so great in it? Who jokes with you about other shoppers? No one.

Plus my house has been quiet and extra kid free. The girls have played pretty well. They even occasionally pick up after themselves. But I did not consider one minor detail. Who plays a game with them when they have no friends over? Me. Who listens to their stories and songs for hours on end, I ask you?. . .me. Who gets to hear the refrain over and over and over "what can I do? I am bored." or "Can you watch this movie with me?" or "Will you help me sew something?" or "Can you push me on the swing?" or , or, or. . . . .ME!

I'm not saying I don't enjoy doing all these things--I played a mean game of Royal Toad after lunch today--but HONESTLY, there are two months of summer left. Here is what I have concluded: I need more kids.

I will be posting a sign out front that reads:

All kids welcome. Please come in. . .and entertain my girls for me!

Plus, I have a fantasy about being one of those tight knit families with lots of kids that fight like cats and dogs and love each other beyond reason like the family on Brothers and Sisters. And I could reign over them all like a queen. . .I mean, loving mother hen. In the meantime, I will continue to borrow the neighbors' kids and just smile when my kitchen looks like this:

Now I think I will go call my mom, or one of my sisters, or one of my five brothers. . . .