Photostory Friday – Diaper Duty
October 23rd, 2008 . by Joyce
Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek
In this photo, taken about 16 years ago, our twin daughters, Sarah and Laura, are about seven years old. Off camera to the left is our oldest child, 9 years old at that time, and Debra sitting on the cushion, about two years old. The girls are stacking cloth diapers for baby Rebecca, who is child number seven. That’s right; when my oldest child was 9 years old, we had seven children, and I must say, though we were all busy, we enjoyed ourselves very much.
I am full of a tumble of thoughts, wishing I could explain in very few words (so as not to bore you) exactly what it was like, and why the children were helpful, obedient, creative and kind to one another. It took a lot of planning, persistence and hard work on my husband and my parts to accomplish this, and yet we enjoyed the children ever so much.
I am especially thankful that these “little people years” were home school years. Our schedule was unhurried. There was plenty of time for adequate sleep, for doing animal chores, for helping around the house, for playing outside, and for reading books together.
Here is a link to a little something I wrote when I first began blogging that explains some of my thoughts about interacting with the children. Here are some of my thoughts on encouraging creativity in children. As long as I’m at it, here are some things I appreciate about my family.
I will be back to read your words of wisdom!
It’s nice to see everyone working so well together. I hope they still get along that well now so many years later.
I love that you called that time your “little people years”. Such a great way to put it!!
Cecily Rs last blog post..Photo Story Friday and Gracie’s Contribution
Oh this was perfect to read and such a good reminder from a veteran. And this vintage photo was pure perfection.
MamaGeeks last blog post..True, That.
I have four children — I married late, had been told by several doctors that I wouldn’t be able to have children, so it was with great delight and wonder that I gave birth, quite normally to all four in five years. They were a joy from the day they were born. I enjoyed your post very much, brought back lovely memories!
Sylvia Kirkwoods last blog post..Pick Your Color — Gray or Black?
I love the photo and although we do not home school I really believe in not over scheduling my kids, helping them build strong relationships with each other and having time to read and play and be.
I can’t wait to read those past posts and I love my “little people years” right now!! Love the post!
Laura@StorytellinMamas last blog post..My Funny Pumpkin Heads…
There should be medals for mothers like you.
Great Story.
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Aww.. Sweet helpers are such a treat. It’s sweet and melancholy in a way to remember back to when our oldest ones were young. Even though I still have little people, life was so much simpler and quiet when they were ALL little and life’s problems as well..
I moved to a new blog, hmm.. I can’t enter it on my name this time, so here’s the link, anyway..
http://ramblingtheoldpaths.blogspot.com/
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Wow-wee, Mom! What lovely comments, my oh my!
Say, I sure like our hair in that picture–so lovely and glossy.
Seven children. Wow. I need to take a moment to check out your links. I love insight from been there done that and done it well.
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What a nice picture of them helping out. At first I thought, “wow, 7 kids in 9 years!”, and I thought that was almost us… we had 6 in 9 3/4 years with a miscarriage in there so…
Big families are awesome!
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