Do you have fellowship with other large families? I think that this is key..... since you are the 'freak' large family and everyone thinks a school field trip is occurring every time you walk your children somewhere......
I feel you.... not that we're any where near seven.... but we fellowship with families that have 9 children on up to 14 and going anywhere with them really turns eyes. Having fellowship with large families really helps add sanity to the whole situation. May I ask the ages of your children? Older ones in other families really seem to help with all of the chaos as well. A large home to host the invasion really helps as well!
"Do you have fellowship with other large families?"
fellowship?
What's that? hee hee!
On the rare occasion we do get out there are some couples who already have large families or couples who are working on it.
Yes - there are many who look at us as freaks and take the time to kindly point out to us how we should go about taking care of the "problem".
The ages are 17, 14, a child who would have been 12 (died at the age of 4), 7,5,4, and 3 mos.
The older ones do help, and the house is large enough (although still incredibly messy).
I really handled it fine up until the second to last pregnancy...and then this last pregnancy has sent me over the edge.
Alot of people think this should just come naturally - but it doesn't to me.
It seems like everyone is getting only a little slice of the attention they need.
I wish I could be doing more for each of them - but just taking care of the daily essentials seems to take up the entire day.
It all is making me mean and cranky.