There is a great deal of daily physical work to do when one has 39 children. Although I’m down to 23 at home, which now seems easy compared to some other years, there is still the laundry, the paperwork, the housework and the meals.

One older daughter pointed out to me yesterday that no matter how many other problems are happening around me, all the work still has to be done. I still have to cook, maintain stability, and a sense of normalcy, make sure the clothes are washed and the trash is taken out.

I just spun through the house after getting 20 kids out the door before 8, picking up the laundry, sweeping the floors, throwing in a wash, cleaning the kitchen and turning on the dishwasher, fielding phone calls, snuggling with my four year old, sorting the paper that needs to be dealt with today, looking at my schedule, and watering some of my hundreds of house plants.

My days fly by, I’m constantly in motion, I type out the blogs in a cathartic gesture, and start dinner early each morning in order to make sure there’s enough food for the 25-30 that will eat here each evening.

Many 52 years old are in their empty nest time of life, lunching, shopping and getting manicures…none of which appeal to me. That’s just not my goal. They, and I, deserve some rewards…some self time after raising one or more children; we do give it our all for many years.

Birthing a child at 19, still going strong, in many ways feeling like I’m just now hitting my stride, next year all my kids will be in school all day, freeing up my time somewhat, but I’ll miss them for those 8 hours each day.

I’ll get more done certainly, not just simply picking everything up, but repainting and doing heavy duty deferred maintenance.

I’m glad when the kids get home each afternoon, bubbling with their school day, wanting turns on the computer, the Nintendos, jumping on the trampolines, riding bikes and expending all that pent up energy and the stress of good behavior while they were out in public all day.

Coming home to the freedom to be silly, reconnect with siblings, hugging me and whatever grandchildren are here, these are our good times.