There’s a whole team of Nappy Ladies out there, and many of them are amazing for different reasons. But Tania is one of those women who won’t even believe that she is in any way special.
Well, let me tell you, she is. And so is her husband Mike, who seems remarkably accepting of her zany ideas (he reminds me a lot of my late husband, in that way). They have seven children, from 15 years old downwards. Yes, seven. Apparently, they originally only planned to have two, but changed their minds at some point along the way.
And those kids are contributing members of the family. No waiting on hand and foot by Mum for them, oh no. And – if for no other reason – that makes Mike and Tania’s family pretty unusual by today’s standards.
Tania also bakes. She home educated one of their children when school wasn’t a good option. She grows vegetables in the garden (well, I think attempts to grow is a more accurate description). And she is one of my most successful Nappy Ladies – where she has the time to advise, I don’t know, but she does plenty of it.
In order to share the love they have and also to teach their children more about less fortunate children in the world, Tania and Mike have also adopted sponsored not one but two children abroad. And are paying for this by making adjustments to pocket money allowances, which their children are happy to do. These are kids that have been brought up to think of others, not themselves all the time.
If that weren’t enough, she also writes a blog, which I hope you’ll take a look at: www.largerfamilylife.com. I’m always astonished at what good writers so many of our Nappy Ladies are.
All this, and she is currently pregnant with child number 8. I’m worn out just reading about her life! Tania, trust me, you ARE amazing and an inspiration.
Tags: compassion, larger families, Nappy Lady, sponsoring a child, Tania
November 9, 2008 at 11:39 am |
How she does it i’ll never know. Looking after two children and a hubby is a full time job!
November 9, 2008 at 12:18 pm |
Well, I’m quite embarrassed! Thank you, Morag!
We are not amazing in any way (but I do think my husband may well be to put up with me!). We do what anyone else does, just on a slightly larger scale and I’m sure you’ll soon find out all our embarrassing secrets if you keep reading the blog.
I just want to point out that we have actually sponsored two children. We haven’t gone down the adoption route… yet!
Tania
November 9, 2008 at 9:28 pm |
I love the blog Tania, the new look is great.
Our sponsored child is from Haiti, through Compassion. Just as you say, I was looking through the photos thinking “who, who? Where are you?” and then suddenly there he was.
November 10, 2008 at 3:17 pm |
Tania, do you have some tardis-like machine to let you find time to do everything? And if so, does it help with decluttering the house enough to fit the kids in? I can barely fit mine in here (kids or chores), but I do seriously want another 3 kids at the very least! Glad the link is here, I can continue to blog-stalk you with little effort. Am hoping to learn childrearing skills by osmosis…lol!
Lou x
PS Morag, is this gonna be like a NL award ceremony? You can big up the superstar advisors (could take a while!) and they can thank their kids, hubbies etc on here? I bet next year we could get a tv slot for it – if bbc3 isn’t buying, the c4 group will want it as reality tv (nappycamp, rated 18!!!!)