Ups and Downs
THE UPS AND DOWNS OF A LARGER FAMILY
According to National Statistics the average household in the UK has 1.8 children so if like our family you have at least 4 children I would say you qualify for the title of “Larger Family” in today’s Modern World.
On top of a very busy schedule larger families cost more money. There maybe more pressure for both parents to earn an income which means there isn’t the straightforward divide of responsibilities that parents would have had in generations past. Coping with four children or more can be a constant juggling act especially when they are all so young. This will often mean that Dads will have a more hands on involvement with bringing up their children.
However, having a larger family also provides your children with built in playmates. Yes there will be lots of squabbling which will drive you to distraction at times but this will ultimately help teach them the ability to share and also to forgive and forget. When playing together nicely it will allow you to get on with the chores. The older children do provide a certain amount of entertainment for the very young ones.
The younger ones benefit from learning from the older ones and often you may wonder if they are growing up too quickly! The upshot is they will have plenty of love and support from their siblings and they will never be alone.
As parents you need to be able to give individual time and attention to all of the children. Their personalities are likely to be very different and therefore their needs may also be different. This can be a particularly difficult challenge meeting everyone’s needs thus keeping everyone happy. Often your own needs are not catered for and even parents need their own needs met from time to time.
Having a larger family will also mean larger household chores. More cleaning, more cooking, more laundry, more grocery shopping, the list could go on and on. However, if you are creative you will find ways of getting it all done and if you are smart you will also make use of the many pairs of hands you have in your family!
Hopefully, illness won’t strike too often for when it does a general virus can take two weeks just to get through a family of 6.
But let’s end on a positive note and remember that whilst a large family is hard work it’s also a constant hive of activity with never a dull moment. Enjoy your family there is nothing more precious………..
