Thursday, June 21, 2007

More than three?

I met a really nice customer in the shop the other day. She is expecting her 5th child at 44. I was inspired and told her so since it is such a rare sight these days. But she made it look really desirable!

Her first four kids are all girls, the oldest 18 followed by 16, 12, 10 and 8. They were all in the shop that day, cheering her on and giving her feedback as she tried on clothes - like "oh mummy, that's really nice on you..." So close, so nice, all so well behaved too, with the closer age gaps clicking together and all taking care of the youngest. There is economies of scale.

This lady also reminded me a lot of my late mother - with her calm cheerful and warm demeanor and her penchant for looking pretty and trendy - she picked up a fushia pink and brown dress and said, " I like this, this colour is trendy now ah girls" My mum too always liked to be dressed well and with the times.

Anyway, resemblance aside, her family actually sparked a renewed interest in having more than 2. Not like her of course, so maybe at most 4. Hahah, now as I write this, I suddenly think I am mad. Having four would defintely blow all my chances of a nice toned tummy.

But then I stumble upon a blog that leads me to more blogs of these mums with numerous kids - not 3 ah, more like 7, 10, YES in THIS DAY and AGE. Some kind of sign? Anyway, reading their blogs certainly brings an entirely new perspective to the comfortable two kids we are so used to. Some parts are a little too "godly" for many I think, but many entries are really insightful as they talk about how to feed their army of kids, how to put everyone to sleep, how to go on holiday. I mean these women are serious multi taskers ( mind you, I don't sniff a maid in their household anywhere) and you really wonder how they do it. So, they give inspiration and certainly make our little parenting woes seem like a mountain out of a molehill.

They did say - the first two take up the most time and energy though- after that they have lots of babysitters in the form of the older siblings.

So, here's a list of some of the blogs - read and be tickled (esp when some people actually offer them contacts for vasectomies) , be amazed and get tips.

In the trenches of motherhood
Amy's humble musings
Raising godly tomatoes

1 comment:

Ondine said...

I think I share your sentiments. 4 at most and the tummy, I'm not even thinking about it now! How's the book by the way? :)

Anyway, I attended at talk at church by this couple who have 6 kids and the mommy homeschools all the kids! The husband used to be an Ad man but he does church work now. Take a look at the blog. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/MamaLim/