It’s been a full and fast-paced six months here at Bring Back Big Families. Between swimming pool clean-ups, late-night reflections, and a deep dive into what it really means to be a strong dad, I’ve covered a lot of ground lately. The Dad Strong series unpacked the four pillars of strength—physical, mental, spiritual, and intellectual—and how they play… Continue reading Twenty-Five: Six Months (or so) of Bring Back Big Families
Tag: Parenting
Random Musings #9
A Personal Mosquito Nightmare Mosquitoes are the absolute worst. I despise them with every fiber of my being. For some reason, these little bloodsuckers have a special obsession with my ankles. Last night, after a quick trip outside to toss the trash, I came back looking like a pink-and-white Dalmatian, scratching my legs, arms, and… Continue reading Random Musings #9
Twenty-Four: The Backyard Swimming Pool
Our backyard swimming pool is the heart of our summer chaos, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s a modest ten-foot pool, nothing fancy, but it’s ours, and it (somehow) fits our whole big family, kids, parents, and toys. The kids go wild for it, splashing and shrieking with joy the moment they… Continue reading Twenty-Four: The Backyard Swimming Pool
Twenty-Three: Dad Strong, Part Four – Sharpening Your Intellectual Strength
A dad’s mind is a tool that needs constant sharpening. In a big family, where questions fly from “Why is the sky blue?” to “Daddy, in what situations would I need a gas mask?” (you might laugh, but that’s a real question from my eight-year-old/survivalist son), intellectual strength means staying curious and informed. By always… Continue reading Twenty-Three: Dad Strong, Part Four – Sharpening Your Intellectual Strength
Twenty-Three: Dad Strong, Part Three – Leading with Spiritual Strength
As a Christian dad, you’re called to be the spiritual leader of your family. In a big family, where challenges like financial strain or societal pressures can test your faith, your spiritual strength is a beacon. Speaking from my Catholic perspective and expanding on Catholic ideals (though these apply to all Christian brethren), spiritual strength… Continue reading Twenty-Three: Dad Strong, Part Three – Leading with Spiritual Strength
Twenty-Three: Dad Strong, Part Two – Cultivating Mental Strength for Your Family
As a dad, your mental strength is the bedrock of your family’s stability. In a big family, chaos is constant, from spilled juice to sibling squabbles to unexpected bills. Mental strength isn’t about never feeling stressed; it’s about adopting a selfless mentality that shows your kids how to face life’s challenges with grit and grace.… Continue reading Twenty-Three: Dad Strong, Part Two – Cultivating Mental Strength for Your Family
Twenty-Two: The Great Hand-Me-Down Hullabaloo: Four Boys, Two Girls, and a Wardrobe Reboot
As I stood over my fourth basket of laundry yesterday (I think it was four, anyway), I had a distinct thought about the majority of the clothes I was sorting: they’re nearly all hand-me downs. Hand-me-downs are the ultimate family heirloom as far as I’m concerned. I grew up in my older brother’s clothes. I… Continue reading Twenty-Two: The Great Hand-Me-Down Hullabaloo: Four Boys, Two Girls, and a Wardrobe Reboot
Random Musings #8
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
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