Catholic Mom Raising a Blended Family of 9 Kids

My husband proudly announces that he has 9 kids to every "Dick and Jane" in this planet. People look at me in disbelief waiting for a punch line. I count silently until 5, I smile and nod my head. And they ask the inevitable question, "Are they all yours?".


Technically, I know what they mean when they ask that question. But, the truth is, my husband and I have forgotten that some of the kids are
his, and some are mine. Ever since we got married, I committed to our
Lord to raise these children as my own. We can't even bring ourselves
to call them "stepchildren".


Raising a blended family is a "call" from God. And, He threw the ball
back on my court to "accept" it or "reject" it. Guess what? I almost
rejected God's offer. I was scared of the implicit sacrifices of raising a large family and that my shortcomings will not permit me to
be a worthy mother of these children. I swiftly sought God's will in
the Blessed Sacrament, convincing God that it just can't be.


It can't be, I repeatedly told Him. I hate cooking, what more cooking
for 9 children ranging from 13 months to 18 years old. I yearn for
everything classy around me so I can show-off to my friends my successes in life. What about my plans to take my PH.D.? I don't intend to be a stay-at-home Mom, this is so displeasing to my parents
who raised me to be career-oriented and self-supporting. What about working hard for a considerable retirement and the Europe trip I plan
to take before I reach 45? I don't want to short change my two
biological sons, spreading thin on them to solve deep-rooted problems of another mother who failed as a parent. I want peace not children screaming on top of their lungs for attention over some taddle tale issue.

I deserve a better life. Period.


See? I am no different from all you ladies who want above-average,
comfortable life. Don't we all wish to be more in control of our
future?


But, what made me make a 360 degree turn in my way of thinking?


It was God's special prompting. He let me know without doubt of the
privilege that he has allowed me to prepare my entry to eternal life.
I realized that not everyone is given the opportunity to prepare before
one meets our Lord. Motherhood is generally equated with martyrdom.
But, to raise children not of your own, love them, sacrifice for them and nurture their souls so they can be men and women for others and God? It is indeed a special mission designed by God for me. All I have to do is to remember that whatever I need to carry out this mission will depend so much on the graces that He will bestow on me. For I am nothing without Him.


These children's souls are more important to Him than finding solutions
to their temporal needs. God will provide for us. He will take care of their shortcomings. All He wants me to do is to nurture these children so their souls will be led to Him. For He said, "they are precious souls."