Observations on having a large family

People ask me all the time what it is like to raise such a large family.  I have a few random observations for you today:

Bathrooms

• There are never enough towels and buying more is not the answer.  There is no answer.  Get used to drying with either a sheet or your bathrobe and get over it.
• As the Mom of a large double digit family you should probably adjust to the idea that there will never be a bathroom that is *yours* and where you can put pretty things for decorations.  Unless you like to decorate in variations of soap scum that is.
• A guest towel is only good for about two weeks in my house.  After that it is certain to have been used on someone's gecko or as a mop.

Food

• There are items on your menu of which there will never be enough, and others of which you have never seen eaten.
• I used to think it was silly to have more than one refrigerator and excessive.  I have become enlightened.  Two.  In the Kitchen.  Room?  Who needs a table?
• Two big freezers too.  
• Shopping for two weeks will always include at least one person asking if you are throwing a party.
• There is a period in a young man's life where he will not be aware of what it feels like to have a full stomach.  It empties faster than you can fill it.  Keep the fridges full instead.

Laundry

• Yes.  There is some. 
• And some more.
• Sigh

Going Out

• Get used to people pointing and staring.  Learn to enjoy it because this is what you chose!
• I learned to keep an extra bag of kids socks in MY drawer.  It saved me an awful lot of last minute stress.  I also keep hair Fripperies, a couple of colored t shirts in various sizes, wipes, and even a few pairs of assorted sized flip flops.  It has s.a.v.e.d. my sanity!
• I can't count the number of times elderly couples would come up to us in a restaurant and compliment my kids and want to talk about my family.  It was always nice.
• Then there is the guy walking out of Disneyland...yes Disneyland, who counted the heads; I was pushing a double stroller, and there were 8 more between myself and Pete who brought up the rear of the line.  He looked at me and quite rudely said "Are you KIDDING me?" and sneered his way away.  I wonder if he thought we wanted him to buy our tickets? 

Pets

• I have observed over the years that large families generally fall into two categories:  Those that have pets and those that don't.  
• We do.
• We have 2 blue heeler mix dogs, a cat, 2 cockatiels, a parakeet, 2 tanks of fish, and a rotating selection of turtles, rabbits, reptiles, and a variety of rodents.
• Yes, I do wonder if I am out of my mind!

Working

• Working from home is not always more fun.
• But usually it is.
• I can tune out most noise to work with the exception of the Disney channel.  It bores straight into my skull and vibrates there!
• Buying a laptop just for work was the best investment I have ever made so I can sit where I can see everything while I work.  
• It is common for me to look up from writing something and see a line of kids waiting their turn to talk to me. 
• I sometimes get Ninja lessons from my 6 year old son during the middle of a business day.
• I try to look decent while working to keep my mind focused better.
• Several years ago I sat in the car for phone meetings a lot.  It is quieter there!
• It took me a long time to get the hang of being both a traditional cook-from-scratch-and-crochet-for-fun mom and Nana, and CEO of a national company.  They felt contradictory to me.  Turns out I can be both!  
• Still feels weird though to be honest.

There are today's observations.  I am sure there will be more to come!