I am the mother of eighteen children, four in the hands of God, fourteen in the hands of my husband and myself. The oldest today is twenty-one and the baby is three years old.
Fourteen Years Ago:
We purchased the house that I grew up in from my parents about fourteen years ago and added on to make a two-family dwelling under one roof. Why? Well, it is all about family.
I just heard a priest on the Sensus Fidelium channel say, “Saint John Vianney said: “The reason our times are so irreligious is on account of un-Christian families.” ”
I believe this with all my heart to be true. Do you know what he said the answer was?
This priest said, “If you don’t like the way the world is, then raise some saints. That’s the way to change it. That’s your job. That’s what God’s given you to do.”
Amen to that!
So, we needed a bigger home, and my parents needed a smaller house. My dad asked that instead of buying a house out in the ‘boondocks’ where we would be far away, would we please buy their house so that we could be together.
My parents were aging, my mom had developing and increasingly difficult health issues and my dad was beginning to show some slight dementia that has now become worse. So, as it worked out, as God had planned for us, we own a house with sixteen plus acres and my parents have/had (my mother passed since) a safe place to live out their golden years.
Today:
Now, we all live under one roof with no separation and having the children around my father has been very therapeutic for him. He has told me several times, “I am right where I want to be doing exactly what I want to do. Who could ask for more than that at my age?”
When I write here, I hope to help you see how advantageous it is to have family around who loves you and sincerely cares for your well-being.
I hope to show how a family can and should be a support system, and I don’t just mean cheerleaders and yes-men. Sometimes support comes by not supporting the wrongdoing. People call it ‘tough love.’ I call it necessary.
Our life is not all unicorns and rainbows but it is sturdy and withstands the horrors that show themselves in this world. Instead of medicating, I am mitigating. I am teaching my children how to take care of themselves. When they leave this house for their own, the battle will be less fatiguing.
When a child learns to take care of themselves, they automatically take care of each other. It is just the way it works. Watch for yourself. Helping is therapeutic and it is contagious.
I am trying my best to raise children who will change the world. I can see significant changes already. While they may be minuscule in the big scheme of things, minuscule is better than nothing.
Tomorrow:
My brother coined the phrase “Baby Therapy” about his time spent out here at the ‘homestead’ with my children. He’s lived in the city and has held stressful supervisory positions. His world is complicated as is true of two-thirds of the world, I’m sure.
Time with my children always sends him back home feeling ‘chillaxed’ or chilled out and relaxed. I receive ‘thank you for the great time’ texts when he gets home. It is humbling.
Why? What is the big deal? Who could possibly relax surrounded by children? This blog embarks on the answer to these questions.
I hope you enjoy reading what we are truly all ABOUT.