Office 411

LFL and the definition of Chaos.

Chaos for some of you means out of control, unorganized, or just simply a mess. Well, let me introduce to you a new definition of Chaos. Chaos is:

At 4 pm I walk through the door, the sitter is pocketbook in hand waiting to leave, the painters upstairs are fighting off the dog, Daughter #3 is claiming to have finished homework and needing it checked, Daughter #4 is crying because someone (meaning Son #2) ruined her pretend cookies from the pretend oven. Son #2 is eating said pretend cookies, son #1 is reading in the midst and husband is upstairs beginning the process of moving furniture from one room to another to accommodate the baby I am expecting in 8 weeks..it is now 4:02.

Fast forward to 5pm, The painters are still wrapping things up trying to "clean up" 4 rooms of painting and deconstruction, Daughter #3 is wanting her hair straightened for her concert tonight and is yet to find her performance clothes. Son #2 is practicing climbing up to the top bunk (his new bed) which makes me realize we are missing the gaurd rails, Husband is throwing his back out trying to assemble a second set of bunk beds, Daughter #4 is running in circles with baby stroller on wood floors and I am trying to order food delivery amidst 10 different order requests. (Oh son #1 still reading in the midst)..it is now 5:04

Fast forward to 5:45, Painters are wanting thier final inspection and check as one is drinking maple syrup striaght from the bottle and trying to indicate to me that there has been a delivery man at the door for 10 minutes.However, because my doorbell fell off and since I do not speak his language I have no idea what he is saying and nod my head. Husband is realizing he is also missing screws to the second set of bunk beds, Daughter #3 is worried her hair wont be done in time and arguing with me about wearing gym socks with "fancy shoes", Son #2 is trying to convince me he is OK in flip flops even though its 40 degrees out, Son #1 reminds me he has a math test tomorrow and hadn't studied and delivery guy finally just walks in.....it is now 5:47.

Chaos...to some this would be an example of just that. To a person who has LFL, it is Chaos, but good chaos, an abundance of life, love, joy and tears.

 

So what is a large family??

There is no one answer. But I will tell you this, if you have heard "I don't know how you do it!", "Wow, are they all yours?", " Are you Catholic?" "Did you plan them?"..then you probably have a large family. Family also means whatever you want it to mean, if you consider your "unit" a family no matter how or when it was put together, well then it's a family. Me, I have 2 stepdaughters that are now adults, 2 children from my first marriage, two children from my husband now and one more on the way..so we make a family of 9. And yes I have heard all of those quotes above plus a few more. After a few years of adjusting to this new image as a mother of a large family I have learned a lot. One thing I have learned is that those of us who have this "large family life" (To be called LFL here on) have certain things in common. Things we share unlike families of a smaller size. Time management, budgets, calendars, activities are just a few. I also have found that there is a comfort when we meet and share stories and ideas and laughs. For you know what I have been through. When I share a moment of complete chaos that occured , eyes don't glaze over, mouths don't drop and judgement is not placed. So if you experience LFL and can share your input, take others' ideas and enjoy the solace that a community with commonalities can bring than welcome to this blog. I look forward to hearing your stories and sharing in your lives.