Letter: Big, messy families are joyful, and mine has taught me how to love

Children play in a sandbox during the Utah Honey Harvest Festival at the Clark Historic Farm in Grantsville on Friday, Oct. 11, 2019. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Slightly less than four million babies are born in the U.S. a year, and it has been declining since 2007.

Five children can be a lot to handle (“The joy of the big, messy family,” March 1). I am the sixth of my mother’s eight children. She has two boys and six girls. It proves that my mother is an amazing woman, for her continuance in putting up with us. Although we are constantly busy with our everyday lives, my family makes time for each other, which brings us really close. Playing sports is one of my favorites, because my family makes the whole team.

Yes, having a big family can get messy, and getting a turn in the front seat can take a while, but we all love each other, and for the most part, we get along great. Having a big family taught and is still teaching me to have more patience and compassion, and sharing has become an everyday occurrence. We share our friends, clothes, candy, troubles, Christmas presents, jobs and punishments.

Many believe that having more than one child is too many. Is that true? My big family is continuing to teach me how to share, and most importantly, how to love.

Bethany Bonnell

Eagle Mountain

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