Posted in Large Families

With each child the Lord adds to our family, I am struck anew with how very different each of them is from the others.  Even as babies, each has had their own unique temperament.  It is really quite amusing to note the vast differences in personality, likes, dislikes, reactions, and senses of humor.  I have one child who is very creative, artistic, and inventive, but tends to be a bit of a daydreamer.  Another is very industrious, down-to-earth, and entrepreneurial, but is sometimes too serious for his own good.  One of my children has a zest for life and finds joy and excitement in every new experience, and yet another is shy and cautious, but sweet and thoughtful.  The littlest one in the group is still developing in personality, but he seems to be fairly laid back and happy-go-lucky.  It is fascinating and rather fun to observe the unique God-given traits and tendencies evident in each of these little people he has placed in my care.

Needless to say, however, all these differences tend to be cause for conflict.  The neat-nick gets annoyed by the dreamer’s messes.  The exuberant one gets on everyone’s nerves.  The shy one is also something of a whiner.  All this conflict affords wonderful opportunity for each one to learn how to get along with others.  Rubbing each other the wrong way can help sand off the rough edges.  Growing up in a large family, my children will have plenty of chances to learn to get along with lots of different kinds of people.  If they can learn to get along with their brothers and sisters, and even become best friends with them, they will be able to get along with almost anyone they will come across in their lives.  This is a tremendous blessing in disguise.

As mamma to this varied brood, it’s my job to see that they learn how to get along with each other without injuring one another in the process.  Though that statement is a bit tongue-in-cheek, it is true that at times I feel like a referee.  I often need to remind myself that they will grow up someday, and I want to be sure I do all I can to help them form close bonds with one another while they are young, bonds that will last all their lives.  Intervening in arguments, settling disputes, and strengthening attachments between siblings is hard work at times.  I know it will be worth is someday when I see them grow in friendship with one another and in their ability to interact with many different kinds of people.  I also strive to enjoy and appreciate the differences in them, even when I am having rough edges sanded by some tendency in one of my children I just don’t “get”.

Homeschoolers are accustomed to hearing the question “what about socialization”.  Let me tell you, as a homeschooling mother of several children, mine are getting very well “socialized”--and so am I for that matter.