Having ten children is not a lot, is it?
Before the boyf left for China, I terrorized him by openly reading “A Sane Woman’s Guide to Raising a Large Family.”
It is written by my friend, Mary, whom I have never met. Reading her book is like reading her blog, it is every bit as personal and offers a tremendous amount of insight into Mary’s life with a husband and ten children. Except, the book is very direct and specific with helpful advice.
Halfway through the book, I began to wonder about Mary’s age. There is so much wisdom shared in here that I don’t think anyone could possibly know them before the age of 95. I don’t think these information automatically goes into your brain when you give birth.
One of my friend grew up in a large family and didn’t like it at all. She shared that what she remembers most about growing up is that her mother is always pregnant and that her sister was the one who mothered her. I expected a book about parenting a large family to be all about providing enough space, food and tuition fees for everyone but Mary talked about these and other things such as how to love and nurture each child as a unique individual instead of treating all as one group of kids.
My friend who grew up in a large family have experienced so much sibling rivalry that the size of fight in her is enormous. Even though she is a petite Asian woman, once she’s set her eyes on the next promotion at the office, even the large-sized men have the sense to back off. Mary talked about how to help each child enjoy his siblings so much so that the bond between them will be one he treasure even long after he has grown up and left home.
My dad grew up in a large family and is so close to his siblings that my brother, cousins and I are blessed with many aunts and uncles who care about us very much. When my car broke down in the middle of the street years ago, I could count on any one of them to come to my rescue at once.
Hmm… so, (in case some day I get married), to have one to two kids or ten?
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10 kids is wow! hahaha! 2 is just nice for me bah. =p
2 is very normal ya, 1 boy 1 girl, usually people will say is just nice. But what if 2 boys? or 2 girls? Still 2? Hehehhehe lots of speculation.
yaya, still two. don’t really mind the gender! hahahh capped at 2!
After having one first then only decide 2 or 10.
Hmm… so after you have Naomi, what made you change your mind?
Definitely ten. =) I grew up in a girl and a boy family. So i can tell you that it is really no fun and whenever you wanna talk about something you like to him, he looked at you as if you’re from space. If he tells me about cars, certain engines that boost up yadda yadda yadda. You get my drift? =)
Well, what if you get two girls? Then they both can talk about dolls and masak-masak and understand each other, right?
hello! i accidentally stumbled upon your blog and I really love it! Nothing like the usual blogs out there. This is just simple and … soothing, if it’s not a weird word to describe?
hope you don’t mind me linking you up.
oh btw, i think 10 children is a lot!
Take care!
Regards.
Thanks for the compliments, Nicole. :)
2 is enough for me as well, irregardless boy or gal. Haha…
2 seems quite manageable. I will lend you the book when I get back to Melaka. Whether a big or small family, there are a lot of great ideas that you will discover.
Hillary,
I am laughing that you terrorized your boyfriend by reading my book!!
Hugs
Mary
PS– I just turned 42 :)
:) He wasn’t really that terrified, in fact he was the one who helped bring the book back from the US.