In our house, the kitchen table is more than just a piece of furniture: it’s the heartbeat of our family. With six kids running around, mealtimes are a sacred ritual, a time when we all come together, share stories, catch up on baseball games, and just be. I’ve noticed something about this over the years: my… Continue reading Random Musings #8
Author: bringbackbigfamilies@gmail.com
Twenty-One: The Beautiful Mess of a Big Family in a Little House
Our house is small, much smaller than most people would probably believe. I know people with half the kids I have who live in a house that’s literally 3.5 times the size of our house (not a joke or an exaggeration either) because they “outgrew” their previous house which was only twice the size of… Continue reading Twenty-One: The Beautiful Mess of a Big Family in a Little House
Twenty: New Baby, New Chaos: Life with Six Kids
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… Continue reading Twenty: New Baby, New Chaos: Life with Six Kids
Nineteen: Hello World! Redux
We are officially, as of 10:02 am, Monday, May 19th, a family of eight (how is that possible?!?)! I’ll keep this one very brief by saying only a few things, the most important of which is…. We are so excited to have our other bookend to hold all of the boys together! God has truly… Continue reading Nineteen: Hello World! Redux
Eighteen: Forget March Madness: May Madness Hits Parents Harder
Running the May Marathon May is a parenting marathon, and I’m already out of breath. This past Monday morning, while mentally juggling how to get to my son’s baseball game and how to get my daughter to the same game from musical practice, I caught a radio segment during my commute (usually my prayer time… Continue reading Eighteen: Forget March Madness: May Madness Hits Parents Harder
Seventeen: A Mother’s Day Tribute: To My Wife and All Moms Who Make It Work
Mother’s Day is a moment to pause and honor the women who hold our families together, especially those navigating the beautiful chaos of raising kids. This year, it’s even more personal—my wife is literally a week away from giving birth to our sixth child, and her strength inspires me in ways I can’t express. But… Continue reading Seventeen: A Mother’s Day Tribute: To My Wife and All Moms Who Make It Work
Sixteen: The Big Transition
Ever feel like you’re playing zone defense with your kids, still losing, and drowning in dad guilt? Here’s my take as a dad of five (six any day now). I read a story recently about a dad who shared his breakdown in his car on TikTok, freaking out about going from one kid to two,… Continue reading Sixteen: The Big Transition
Random Musings #7
“The way we talk to children becomes their inner voice.” – Peggy O’Mara I ran across this quote just today. I’m not sure how I hadn’t seen it before, but it hit me kind of hard because I realized that virtually all I do all day long is talk to kids. When I wake my… Continue reading Random Musings #7
Fifteen: Why the Slate Truck Sparks Joy for Our Big Family of (Almost!) Eight
A little something different today…. As a dad of five (soon six!) rambunctious kids, I never thought I’d be daydreaming about a two-seat electric pickup. With car seats, baseball and ballet gear, and enough snacks to feed a small army, our family’s rides usually scream “minivan or bust” (actually, our Honda Pilot isn’t a minivan, but I… Continue reading Fifteen: Why the Slate Truck Sparks Joy for Our Big Family of (Almost!) Eight
Fourteen: I’ll Be Back
Woke the kids up early to see what the Easter bunny left. Went to sunrise mass to worship and receive the body, blood, soul, and divinity of our risen Lord and Savior. Came home to hide Easter eggs all over the back yard. Watched all my kids hunt those Easter eggs, count the candies they… Continue reading Fourteen: I’ll Be Back