The Best Omen: The Noise and Joy of a Big Family is a Gift

We were at a wedding yesterday, and as the afternoon unfolded, I found myself drawn not to the heartfelt speeches or the beautiful centerpieces, but to the controlled chaos happening all around us.

It was a beautiful scene of pure, unadulterated happiness. There were children everywhere, and while occasionally they were quietly sitting at their tables, for the majority of the time they were living big—riding a little train or screaming with laughter on hay rides, their faces sticky with cotton candy and powdered with popcorn dust. Later, they were all on the dance floor, moving with that fearless abandon only a kid possesses.

Traditionally, children at a wedding are considered a good luck charm for the couple. But watching the scene, it struck me: this wasn't just good luck for the newlyweds. It was a powerful, undeniable omen for life itself, a perfect glimpse of the deep, enduring joy that comes with choosing a full house.

I know what the conventional wisdom says. The moment you start talking about a large family, the worries pile up: the cost, the sheer logistics of moving them all, the never-ending laundry, the certainty that you will never again know true quiet.

And yes, those struggles are real. There will be sleepless nights, sibling squabbles that test your last nerve, and moments when you look at your bank account and cry.

But let me tell you a secret: The struggles are temporary, and they are dwarfed by the joy. The struggles are the background noise. The joy is the soaring, unforgettable melody.

The mountains of laundry eventually get folded. The bills get paid. But the opportunity to fill your world with this much light, laughter, and unconditional love? That is the most precious gift you can receive.

When you open your heart to a big family, the love doesn't get diluted; it multiplies. You're not just creating children; you're building a team for life. Think about the magic you get to witness every day:

Your children grow up with a ready-made support system. They learn patience, sharing, and compromise not from a book, but from the constant, dynamic interaction of siblings who will always have each other’s backs.

On a tough day, it's not just one hug you get—it's five. It’s the sound of little feet rushing down the hallway to greet you. It's the sight of an older sibling instinctively stepping in to comfort a younger one.

When you look ahead, what do you see? A Thanksgiving table that expands every year. A cacophony of voices at the holidays. A legacy of connection and belonging that you have intentionally woven together.

Watching those kids at the wedding, giddy from the sugar and the movement, I realized that the chaos they created was not a problem; it was the pulse of life.

If you are standing on the edge, weighing the risks of a big family against the unknown reward, take the cue from those kids: Jump in! The noise is a beautiful sound. The chaos is a sign of life being lived to its absolute fullest. Don't let fear dictate the size of your world.

Embrace the beautiful chaos, because it is one of the greatest blessings you could ever be given.