Bring Back Big Families

Highs? They’re out-of-this-world. That newborn smell—like fresh laundry and miracles—hits me every time I cradle our tiniest one. Her tiny fingers curling around mine, those sleepy sighs against my chest? Pure, bottled magic. The older kids are all in, bickering over who gets to hold her as my wife and I thousand-yard-stare into the abyss of laundry and dishes and surety diapers. But, when my five-year-old whispers “I love you” to his new sister, my heart’s a gooey puddle.

Lows? I’m a walking zombie. Six kids is a circus, and I’m the bleary-eyed ringmaster juggling chaos with chauffeuring and lots of (decaf) coffee. Midnight feeding or bad dreams, diaper explosions (this little girl is a like a landmine. You never know when she will explode, which she does often), and now four crazy boys who think the house is the newest indoor MLB stadium. My cardio’s more than covered these. My eyes have bags deep enough to pack for a getaway, and I’m pretty sure I mumbled “Sleep” when asked about dinner plans.

And the comments? Oh, they’re endless. “You’ve got your hands full!” says every cashier, neighbor, and random stranger. “Too many kids to keep track of!” from the rarely seen uncle. The best? “Are they all yours?” No, I just collect kids like Pokémon cards.

But honestly, their wide-eyed mix of shock and awe at our big, noisy crew? It’s kinda sweet. We’re a spectacle, and I’m owning this wild, beautiful mess of six.

Drop a comment below or hit me up on X and tell me: What’s the wildest thing you’ve juggled as a parent? Or, if you’re part of a big family crew, how do you handle the chaos? Share your stories, and let’s swap some laughs and survival tips!