If you are in a large family, the first thing you need is a sense of humour. Comedian Jim Graffigan says parents get burned out in big families, even naming of children. It's like, the first kid: "You were named after Grandma"; the seventh kid: "You were named after a sandwich I had. I loved that. Now, get your brother Reuben."
Recently on his birthday my youngest brother said that he was thanking our parents for the gift of life. I said I was glad they didn't stop at nine - I'm number ten! It really struck my what a tremedous gift life is. Imagine the void without it! We don't thank God and our parents enough.
And I recalled a debate I had with a fellow teacher back in the 1960's about large families. My best argument, I believe, has come true; it is that it depends on the children you have. We cannot do without the problem solvers of our troubled world.
In a United Families International article July 6, 2011 Prime Minister Putin of the Russian Federation said, "Without exaggeration, the central problem of contemporary Russia is demography, strengthening the family, increasing the birth rate..."
Among the consequences of falling birthrates is economic decline. Russia's fertility rate is 1.2; 2.1 is required for population replacement. In terms of numbers, Russia's 143 million today will drop to 116 by 2030 with current indicators. Russia's highest abortion rate in the world does not help.
In "Large Families are Treasures" Tom Christensen rebuts the Salt Lake Tribune which asked, "all potential parents to consider not only their own resources but those of their community and planet" and cut back on the "procreation of large broods."
Christensen says, "The truth is child-welcoming families are among a nation's greatest assets.
"As populations age, live detached lives and live longer (while fewer children are born to work, care for their own and pay taxes), economies stagnate, crime and social problems increase, and governments cannot fund their old age entitlements like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid," Christensen points out.
"Supervised by a full-time mother, large families do a superior job of raising children. Children tend to be less spoiled, [less] disrespectful and [less] unproductive when socialized in a large, orderly two-parent family. They develop citizenship and strong values as they learn to obey parents and interact, worship, share, and work together.
"Children in large families realize that they are not the center of the universe. Mothers and fathers, in turn, find meaning, fulfillment and interdependence in raising a child-rich family. Their marriages are more likely to last," he says.
Christensen further points out, "It is more efficient to raise ten children in one home than one child each in ten homes. Large families operate according to an economy of scale: growing and preparing nutritious food at home rather than always eating out or buying packaged food."
Large families cannot waste limited income on alcohol, cigarettes, fashions, trips and toys. Living within a tight budget builds thrift, industry and character.
