You know, I have never actually been asked this question. Instead, I have heard, “Oh, you know parenting is hard. You have 5 kids.” I do however feel like it is a question people have wanted to ask me. It’s honestly a question I think about to myself on a daily basis. What is it like having 5 kids?
I’ll cut right to the chase: it’s difficult. It’s also very rewarding at the same time. I would say the biggest things to note are there is literally always something going on and something to do and someone to take care of. Another thing is that no two kids are the same. Five kids means five different personalities, five different needed methods of conflict resolution, five different favorite foods, colors, TV shows, etc. You would think that somewhere in there two of my kids would be exactly alike, but alas.
Having any kids is hard work. It doesn’t just get harder just because I have more kids. It doesn’t get easier either. Having kids is just plain hard work. I remember when we found out about kid number one, I had a friend write me a letter about what to expect from fatherhood. One of the biggest lessons he told me was that my time was not really my own anymore. That is advice I have passed on to other would be fathers and has been very helpful for me to understand. Sure, I get time on my own now and again to do things that I like, but really, it's small chunks that I must capitalize on. Most of my time is spent on others. I work for my family. I get home and wrestle my kids. I send my wife out alone and put the kids to bed so she can get time away.
It may feel daunting, but it is good as well. I mentioned earlier that no two of my kids are alike. This is a blessing. This gives my wife and I the opportunity to discuss amazing things that each and every one of our kids are learning and growing in every night. The amount of kids we have just lengthens the time that we have to talk about different milestones and quirks they expressed in a day. I like that and cherish those conversations and cherish getting to see and hear my kids express their interests and show their growth.
It’s chaotic. There is no getting around that. People make messes and with each kid it only seems like the messes get bigger and bigger. Getting out of the house to go to church can be a nightmare. Getting in and out of the vehicle seems like an Olympic sport at times. Meals are nuts. Sometimes, they all love what we make them and they scarf it down as fast as possible. Sometimes, it seems like a mutiny is happening because of what we made for them to eat. Bedtime can take a few minutes to a few hours. You never know what to expect because of five kids and I wouldn’t change it.
In a world where big families are dwindling quickly, I’m thankful for each and every kid that God has blessed my wife and I with. The biggest takeaway from having five kids is that it is fun. There are peaks and there are valleys. I’m thankful for each of these kids because they have all been entrusted to me. God has granted them to me for such a short time to teach them about the Gospel and see them grow up into adults that know and love Jesus. I think that is exciting.
Comments