I have been pregnant for over ten years.  Yes, I said ten years.  No, not continuously.  (I’m not a part of the animal kingdom, thank goodness. Did you know that an elephant is pregnant for close to two years?  And some types of shark can be pregnant for over three.  Can you imagine?  Wowsers. If any of you are reading this and happen to be overdue, try and be thankful that modern medicine won’t let you stay pregnant for that long, no matter how much the little guy or gal likes it in there! But, I digress.  Back to my point…)  I only have six children, but I have had almost as many miscarriages as I have healthy pregnancies.  Since my first pregnancy, I have only had a handful of weeks (if that)  that I haven’t been pregnant or nursing a baby.  It has been quite the decade! 

As you can imagine, being in “baby mode” for so long has had its affect on our entire family.  Having a pregnant mom is not the same as a non-pregnant one.  (A pregnant wife is different, too!)  When there is a newborn in the family, things tend to revolve around them, at least somewhat.  There are feedings and diapers and naps to consider.  And our house!  Don’t even get me started on all the stuff that come with kids nowadays.  Diapers and changing tables, clothes and highchairs, etc.  Our family hasn’t really known what life outside of “baby mode” is like.  Our children also don’t know what it is like to grow-up in a smaller family.  I know from experience what it is like to grow up in a smaller family, having only one sibling myself.  I also know from experience, slight though it may have been, what it is like to be a mom of: one child, two children, three children, four children, five children and, now six children.  And there are different sacrifices made at each number.  The things that we had the freedom to do with one child, we don’t with six.  Things are more expensive, you have to take different developmental levels in to account, and so on and so forth.

Sometimes I wonder if my children are missing out on too much.  Things that we don’t do because they cost too much time or money (or both).  I feel kind of guilty when I talk to my friends that have only one or two children and hear about all of the things that they are doing–things that my children may very well never do.  I think as parents we all have moments like this.  It may not look the same, but I think we all have moments of regret, wishing we could offer something to our children that we lack.  (Or is that only me?  If so, please don’t tell me!)

However, those moments are fleeting.  Thankfully.  When I start to feel that way, I begin to think about all the things my children do have.  The things they wouldn’t have if our family was any other way.  I am thankful that my children are growing up in a large family.  Our home is always filled with life and laughter.  My children have playmates and “best friends” built into their family.  The differences in all of our personalities lead us to live a life that is more varied and full then it would be otherwise.  Each gift and talent of one brings value to all the others.  There are games we can play that we wouldn’t be able to without such large numbers.  I could go on and on.  (But, thankfully for you, I won’t.)

The point of this blog isn’t to say that large families are better then small families.  Rather, I want to point out that each path in life means sacrifice.  Every choice we make means we are not choosing something, just as much as we are choosing something else.  And this isn’t something to lament about, but rather something to accept–and accept with joy.  You see, when I stop and appreciate what I have in my family–what my children have because of it–then I treat it with the value and care that it deserves.  Instead of lamenting the fact that my family will not experience this class or that trip or whatever, I take care to make sure they experience the best that this family has to offer.  We will never get to “do it all”, but you know what?  That’s okay.  Because, the life we have is pretty spectacular. 

My hope is that in reading this you are inspired by the greatness of your family, too.  What is it that makes your family, the season that you are in right now, special?  Take some time and enjoy it today!  You will be glad that you did.