Hi! I am new here to this site and have fell completely in love with it. I just registered today so bare with me if I ask stupid or already asked questions.
I'll just right to the questions:

1. How do you manage your large families?

2. At what age did you start your families?

3. What kind of work do you and dh do to afford this?

4. What tips would you give someone to save and be able to afford this?

5. How many of you had several children in your 30's or 40's? The reason I ask this is b/c I am 26 now and ttc#1. I want a large family but I think it may be too late.

I would basically like any of you to take some time and just tell me how you live your life. How you manage? What mistakes have your learned from? Anything you want to share - I want to hear!!
I hate to sound like I'm medling or nosey - Sorry.
This is something that we are really wanting, I just want to make sure we go about it the right way!!
Thanks in Advance for any help!

Hi, Brandi!!! Welcome! I'm glad you posted here
I will be happy to answer some of your questions to the best of my ability and knowledge...
1. How do you manage your large families? Really it's just one day at a time and one child at a time. We started with one and went from there. Just trusting God to help us each day and give us the strength to raise the children He's given us.

2. At what age did you start your families?I was 22 when I had my first child and dh was 24. But I'm 35 (in Nov) now and still hoping for more.

3. What kind of work do you and dh do to afford this?We are not wealthy. We were farmers and now we are starting a new business. God has always provided for our needs.

4. What tips would you give someone to save and be able to afford this?We never saved up to have our kids. Really to us it's about faith. Trusting God to provide for us and also not overspend in areas. We tend to splurge on great family trips (road trips in the US). Those kinds of things are so memorable and fun for us.

5. How many of you had several children in your 30's or 40's? The reason I ask this is b/c I am 26 now and ttc#1. I want a large family but I think it may be too late.
You are still sooo young! You've got lots of time. I had my 5th child when I was 31 and my 6th when I was 34.

__________________

1. How do you manage your large families? I am pretty organised here I have a set routine regarding housework and the kids sports and and school etc, this really helps me keep things running smoothly and I have alot of patience when it comes to my kids, and alot of family support from my parents and brothers

2. At what age did you start your families? DH and I married when I was 18 and he was 19, we had the twins when i was 20 and he was 21

3. What kind of work do you and dh do to afford this? DH is in the military and earns pretty good money, I dont work but here in Australia you get a fornightly allowance depending on the number of kids you have and your income which really helps also

4. What tips would you give someone to save and be able to afford this? I dont really have an answer to this one, it really depends on personal circumstances I guess, we have an investment property and our kids dont go without anything that an only child gets

5. How many of you had several children in your 30's or 40's? The reason I ask this is b/c I am 26 now and ttc#1. I want a large family but I think it may be too late. I dont think youve left it too late lots of women are starting in there late 30's these days, I will be having no.7 just after my 30th b'day

__________________

1. How do you manage your large families?-as the other posters say, one day at a time.

2. At what age did you start your families?-
well.. more offically when i was 19 but i did have a child out of wedlock when i was 16 that my husband adopted. I was married at 19, hubby 21 and we had a child at 19/21 and then kept them close since...

3. What kind of work do you and dh do to afford this?--My husband is a land surveyor and im a stay at home mom. We dont have any help from the government at all. Not even medicaid. God has brought us everything we need that we coudln't afford at the time. The ability to make ends meet is realizing needs vs wants. Our children dont have their own computers, they dont have their own tv's, they do hand me downs, we have a 97 van, we dont have cable or dish tv.. we just keep our lives simple!! no cell phones either.

4. What tips would you give someone to save and be able to afford this? like i mentioned above, realizing your needs and seperate from wants. You wont be eatting out as much, learn to pass clothes down, learn foods that can be cheap but filling to make (like a big thing of spaghetti as opposed to steak dinner) realize than an older vehicle that you dont owe money on, despite any dents or high miles is far better common sense wise then wanting out of of a new car lot that comes with 500-600 a month car payment, stuff like that.

5. How many of you had several children in your 30's or 40's? The reason I ask this is b/c I am 26 now and ttc#1. I want a large family but I think it may be too late.--nope not there yet, im 23

I would basically like any of you to take some time and just tell me how you live your life. How you manage? through Gods grace and always remember to take time out for yourself. If i dont take time to myself then i can get stressed. My internet time is my time. I do tend to the kids constantly while on here but it still gives me a bit of time to myself. I discipline my kids despite its not a popular thing anymore but the end result is children who behave greatly and therefore they dont stress me as much. I just have to tell them once and they stop as opposed to telling them 10 times if they didnt' want to listen.

__________________

Formerly~Stressedmama/Amanda81~

Amanda-Happily married to James (2/01)
Mom to Sarah 5/98, Mikayla 5/01, Tyler 10/02 and Noah 10/03
and expecting a surprise August 2005.

Thank you all for your time! This is truely something I want to do. Wether it is 3,4,or more. I will keep reading this board for future support. If I can just only get the 1st one out of the way. But I have faith that the lord will come through for me in due time. I just hope it's soon!!

Thanks again!

Please keep us posted, Brandi! Post here anytime you want, this board is for not only those w/ large families but those who want them too.

__________________

Hi, this is wishes12.we have 9 children and we're still counting! I'd like to be an encouragement as well.
1. The way we manage our family is day by day as well. everyday brings new events and some surprises that you just don't count on..Thank goodness our Lord has made us women flexible to handle things like this When my kids were little, it was a little rougher, but we found that as they grew older, and the more that we had, it actually became easier than we had thought it would be. The older ones pitch in and help with the housework, homeschool, cooking, laundry and the younger siblings. They do such a wonderful job, and it takes alot of the stress off of me, so I can be more of a mother while other things can go on autopilot,yet they can be successfully accomplished as well.If you did everything yourself, there wouldn't be much time left over to nurture your kiddos...and that's your most import job in the world. If you have small ones that are unable to help with household responsibilities, still no need to worry..there is an art called "time management". For example, you could fold laundry at the kitchen table and wait for water to boil for noodles at the same time,so as to also keep toddlers away from the stove. It all just seems to fall together somehow, I don't know how it ever does, but it does...even on the craziest days.
2. I was married at 19 and had our first baby at 20, my husband was 1 month shy of 25
3. My husband works as an IT Tech., and I'm a stay at home mom. We are not wealthy at all; and when we first started our family, my husband made about 6,000 a year. It"s better now, but we still struggle sometimes. The Lord provides everything just in the right time."Affordability" has nothing to do with it..Faith, however, does. I can remember my grandmother, upon finding out that John and I wanted to start our family right away after getting married, just about hit the roof!!! She told me " Oh, no, Debra, you don't want to do that; you want to wait until you can afford to have children and buy a house, etc." Excuse me? If I were to have followed her advice, I would still be childless at 39...question is in this society...when is it ever affordable to have children? I hate statistics!! There is a sister-in-law of mine that said she isn't going to have any more children (she only has 1) because they are too expensive. Hello????Children are as expensive as you make them out to be. If you give in and buy them those 150.00 pair of sneakers they want, of course I can see where they would be. I have found that frugality is an absolute must. But being frugal doesn't mean that your kids will go without. Frugality can be quite fun, actually. You can meet your family's needs without going into debt, and you will discover just how creative you can be. There is a book called "The Tightwad Gazette" by Amy Decyzyn(I might have spelled her last name wrong). Anyway, this woman has 6 kids and she is just amazing as to how she and her husband saved thousands of dollars a year just by being frugal, and her husband never made over 30,000 a year.
Also, 2 of my daughters and I raise rabbits, and the money we make has filled in the gaps many times.
4. The only tips that I can give you on how to "afford" a large family, is trust the Lord to provide for your family. I believe it was the apostle Paul who said " I have never seen the children of the godly go hungry" God will provide for your family, no matter how tight a situation you find yourselves in..He will make a way for you.Children are gifts from the Lord himself..why wouldn't He help you to take care of them?
5.I mention that I have had 9 children. Here are the ages as to when I had them: 20 (JohnMichael Earnest) 21(Benjamin Random) 24(Amber Grace) 25(Meagan Alyssen) 27(Sarah Jo Anne). Then I made a stupid mistake (for me it was awful) and had a tubal, then I had a reversal. Continuing: 30 I had a miscarriage (Hannah Christine), 31 (Elijah David) 33(Caleb John), 36 (Lindsey Grey) 38(Samuel Nathan) the youngest 2 were born at home with a midwife attending. and I'm still counting..or I've lost count, or I've forgotten how to count, I can't remember which ,ha ha anyway, were still trying to have more. If we have more than 12, that's fine too. I know of a few ladies that within the last year have had children way into their 40's without problems. Another mom of 9 had her youngest at 45, a mom of 10, also the youngest at 45, and a mom of 17..youngest at age 45. That more than likely will be my course as well, unless the Lord has other ideas
A really good web site for large families, or for those who wish to have them is Quivverful.com
Good Luck, and God's riches blessings

i would like that book "The Tightwad Gazette" where could i find a copy?

__________________

Formerly~Stressedmama/Amanda81~

Amanda-Happily married to James (2/01)
Mom to Sarah 5/98, Mikayla 5/01, Tyler 10/02 and Noah 10/03
and expecting a surprise August 2005.

You should be able to find The tightwad Gazette at any bookstore, however, it was written in the 90's and you might have to have it ordered. Actually there are 4 books by Amy Dacyczyn (pronounced decision): The Tightwad Gazette, The Tightwad Gazette 2,The Tightwad Gazette3, and the anthology of all 3 books. I had all 3, but spied a copy of the anthology at Half Price Bookstore. Picked it up and and replaced the others to save room on my bookshelf..gosh, I wish we had "met" a few months ago; I would've sent them to you. You might already be practicing some of Amy's tips,but there might be some new suggestions in her book as well that you'll find valuable. I would start looking at the used bookstores first or garage sales for the book..the anthology I believe is about $30-35. I just got lucky that day and found a copy for $10. If you buy them separate, I think they're about $12 new. They're worth it, but as for me, I'm a "notorious tightwad" and I can't see spending $35 for a book (unless its a mandatory college text book)

Hi Brandi,

I think you asked a great question. I thought I would try to answer it from our family perspective. First, I have to say that I whole heartedly agree with Sunshine6. Here are the answers from our family:

1. How do you manage your large families? God usually gives one baby at a time so you don't have all six or more at a time. So, you don't get overwhelmed. Isn't He a smart God (smile)?. Also, if you pray and ask Him for help he will give you all kinds of ideas as you go on the journey, one day at a time. Within the past couple of years, I have received all kinds of ideas while praying. There are ideas to help with time management, child training, homeschooling, etc...He answers most questions. He has taught me tricks with laundry (matching hampers and baskets for each bedroom). We recently matched shoe box cubes to coat racks above it. The girls shower once a week, unless extra dirty, and wash clothes on the same day. The boys bathe, because of age, and hampers are due on the same day. The children's chores are done by zones in the house. The child who is most disciplined in doing a good job gets first choice in zone. If they slack off they get the worst zone (bathrooms)...etc. I have a weekly menu that doesn't change (unless hubby requests) so that it is easy to keep a constant budget, as well as training the oldest to cook the repeated easy recipies so they can take over cooking in a year. We only go on errands one day a week so I don't wear out. All violin, piano, Judo, horseback riding, grocery shopping, doctor or dentist visits are on that one day. We don't homeschool on that one day, as we homeschool year round...There is organization, but God provides the ideas and help as you need it..

2. At what age did you start your families? My husband and I didn't start with our family until I was 26. I am 37 right now with six children. We hope to have more as God provides.

3. What kind of work do you and dh do to afford this? We never could "afford" it but God always provides. We get second hand clothes off ebay or garage sales. We shop at Aldi's, Walmart, Sams, etc. We don't have expensive furniture or fancy purchases. We sacrifice our wants for our needs. We choose not to have a big cable package, new clothing, manicures, etc.God always faithfully provides. We have not been without. Just trust Him as you seek His face. By the way, my husband is a computer animator, but that doesn't mean it is his wages that have taken care of us. When all his peers became unemployed, God kept us afloat. God even told my husband to leave a company he loved working for. Soon after he did this, unbeknown to everyone, the company went bottom up and shut the doors/bankrupt. God always provides.

4. What tips would you give someone to save and be able to afford this?Lear to budget and get in control of your finances now. Learn how to get creative dates together without the heavy prices (bike ride, picnics, games, etc.) You won't be able to "afford" a big family, but just be willing to let God provide

5. How many of you had several children in your 30's or 40's? The reason I ask this is b/c I am 26 now and ttc#1. I want a large family but I think it may be too late.Six children between the ages of 26 to 38. It isn't too late for your big family.

I would basically like any of you to take some time and just tell me how you live your life. How you manage? What mistakes have your learned from? My advice is not to follow man. There is more advice out there than you can imagine. Don't follow after crazy advice from a man, Ezzo, or crazy passivity of relaxed mothering, or whatever that is called. I have made mistakes in following man. I wish that I could have trusted to follow God. I have succeeded much better when I seek the Lord for the answers rather than man. It is good to find out what has worked for various families, but don't let the extreme parenting philosophies trap you into poor parenting. You will regret it as I have. However, God turns all mistakes and things over for His purposes and successses. All the mistakes can become flowers. Don't worry about tripping up with mistakes, you'r bound to make some, but seek His face.