That's correct: The older ones care for the younger most of the time (they are home-schooled.) But is this fair to the older children? I'm on the fence with that one. Their oldest is 15 (they also have two sets of twins.) At 15 years old she is better prepared to be a mother than many 30 year olds. And yet, she's being trained to be a wife and mother. Is that fair? She's closely chaperoned at all times. She'll never go to prom, or a school dance, or any social function involving children her own age that isn't part of their church.
And yet, they all have many opportunities. Most of them are studying some musical instrument, guitar or piano, some of them have taken dance lessons, and some of them have participated in sports. I've taught the eldest to use Photoshop and Illustrator and she enjoys graphics. Some of the others draw or write. Unfortunately, due to the home schooling, most of them do not read or do math at their age level.
And yeah, my sister-in-law is not healthy. She's not horribly overweight, but she looks like 200 lbs. of bread dough all the time. Her method of birth control is breast feeding, and the average time between her births is about 1.5 years. The longest time was 2 years.
I get a look into that lifestyle that most people don't.
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regna
(no subject)
Date: 2009-01-10 05:17 pm (UTC)And yet, they all have many opportunities. Most of them are studying some musical instrument, guitar or piano, some of them have taken dance lessons, and some of them have participated in sports. I've taught the eldest to use Photoshop and Illustrator and she enjoys graphics. Some of the others draw or write. Unfortunately, due to the home schooling, most of them do not read or do math at their age level.
And yeah, my sister-in-law is not healthy. She's not horribly overweight, but she looks like 200 lbs. of bread dough all the time. Her method of birth control is breast feeding, and the average time between her births is about 1.5 years. The longest time was 2 years.
I get a look into that lifestyle that most people don't.