5 Minutes for Books:
A Sane Woman’s Guide to Raising a Large Family

ByJennifer Donovan Published On: Updated On:

It’s not too late to enter the 5 Minutes for Books Mother’s Day giveaways. You have until April 30.

Should I start this review out with the disclaimer that I have two lovely children — the “perfect family” one boy and one girl, and I plan on keeping it that way. I reviewed this book because I know a lot of you out there either have large families or are exploring the idea of having a large family (I wrote a bit more on my blog Snapshot about my love for large families, and why I only have two children. Check it out and let me know your thoughts about family size). I also know Mary Ostyn** personally, and wanted to help her get the word out.

Because I know Mary, when she told me the title A Sane Women’s Guide to Raising a Large Family, I thought it was absolutely perfect, because she IS perfectly sane. She seems “normal” — not like someone who would choose to raise ten children! Okay, now that I’ve perhaps alienated all of you with a large family, and maybe piqued the interest of those of you who do not have or want a large family, can I move on to the official review?

I found this book completely delightful. Mary’s sense of humor and love for children came through loud and clear. If you are familiar with her blog Owlhaven, you probably would have expected this.

For those of you who don’t “know” Mary, or who don’t think that a book about raising a large family would have anything to offer you, let me give just list a few of the bits of information that were helpful or encouraging to me:

  • What do you do if you and your spouse don’t agree on family size?
  • “Frugality is not deprivation. Frugality is freedom. Frugality gives options” (page 23)
  • How to handle children’s activities
  • Children’s Chores
  • Encouraging Sibling Friendships

The reason that this book is so readable and so helpful is that Mary manages to write about the way she does things — what works for her — without alienating those of us who make other choices. She’s a co-sleeping, homeschooling mom of many. I’m a “babies-in-their-cribs,” public-schooling, happy mother of two. We disagree on many parenting philosophies, but I know that her choices are right for her, and she doesn’t presume that her choices are right for everyone.

Enter to win your own copy of A Sane Women’s Guide to Raising a Large Family by leaving a comment here. We’ll announce the winner in next week’s column.

Read Mary’s tips about How to Raise a Reader in our On Reading column at 5 Minutes for Books.

**Mary was my roommate in the Dominican Republic when I went last November with the Compassion Bloggers. A new group just arrived in India today. Please follow their journey. Pray for them. Learn more about the country and the children in need over there.

The grand prize winner of the Welcome, Little One $149 is #79 Marlena U.

The winners of the Welcome, Little One book are #51 Karen, #111 Krystal, #104 Kathy D., #86 Adrienne Gordon.

The winners of Things I Want My Daughters to Know are #30 Deborah Wellenstein, #33 Mozi Esmes Mommy, #51 Barb.

If you didn’t win, you can still enter to win this novel and a bunch of other books over at the 5 Minutes for Books Mother’s Day Giveaway (open for entries through April 30).

Jennifer Donovan has been a part of the 5 Minutes for Mom team since 2007. She writes product reviews, covers events, and manages the 5 Minutes for Books weekly column and website. She lives in Houston and blogs at Snapshot about life with her family.

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108 Comments

  1. Genevieve Larson says:

    just had my 4th baby and I have been contemplating a 5th. I so need to read this book.

  2. I’ve got 5 and counting.. Please enter me 🙂

  3. Melanie D says:

    I would love to read this!

  4. Barbara Rawe says:

    Raising children is no easy task! Might as well laugh yourself through it! Happier healthier kids….saner parents

  5. Barbara Rawe says:

    Raising children is no easy task! Might as well laugh yourself through it! Happier healthier kids….saner parents

  6. This sounds like an excellent book for me to read and pass along to my mother.

  7. Heather Goldsmith says:

    I come from a large family. We could all use this

  8. Sounds like a good book – thanks for the chance to win a copy!

  9. Susan Smith says:

    Sounds like a good book

  10. Cynthia Mercado says:

    Would love to read this book! I have 7 children from 28 years to 5 years.

    mercsmercado at yahoo dot com

  11. Would love to read this.

  12. I would love to read this book. We are a family of six hoping for more.

  13. Molly Capel says:

    As a mom of a kind of big family (5 boys), I would love the chance to read this book.

  14. I would love the chance to win,thanks.

  15. This is looks like an excellent book! Great giveaway 🙂

  16. Christina says:

    I agree with the quote from the book that Frugality gives freedom! The more money you save, the more you’ll have to spend! This is a wonderful giveaway book, and thanks for the chance to win!

  17. corrie clemens says:

    i love to read and want to win this.

  18. Jennifer Hedden says:

    enter me

  19. Gabriel J. says:

    Great read, make me a winner!

  20. We are working on kid #1, expected to arrive this summer and I would love to read this book!

  21. I’d love to win this! We have 3 so far, and we’re hoping to add several more in the next couple of years.

  22. I would love to win this book!

  23. I would love to have this book… I am one of 10 that my birth mother had… I can’t even begin to imagine it… lol

  24. sounds great thanks for the giveaway

  25. Karen (from Our Deer Baby) says:

    I would love to win a copy!
    I have seven kids, so not super large, but it is not small either ^^

    Karen

  26. Stephanie says:

    I would LOVE to win this book!! I don’t think I have a large family (only 4 kids) but from the reactions I get in public most people think I do. Maybe it’s because they are all under 6 that people feel overwhelmed by them. 🙂

  28. Just had my 4th son and I’d love to read this!

  29. Linda Chaput says:

    Looks like an interesting book.It could change our minds on large or small family.

  30. I’d love to win this book! I need some sanity. 🙂

  31. I raised six children, this would be interesting to see her take on a big family.

  33. I’ve been following Mary for a while and would love to read her book.

  34. Stefanie Hartman says:

    I definately need to read this book right away. We have an extra large family and will be adding more soon. Blessings to all mothers and grandmothers for their Mother’s Day!!!!

  35. shannon prophitt says:

    Looks like a good book!

  36. I could really use this book and would read it!!

  37. Sweetpeas says:

    I’d love to win this. I have 3 kids now, and have been feeling very convicted to let God decide our family size, but my husband doesn’t feel the same, so I’m leaving it in God’s hands to work on my husband’s heart if it’s His will.

  38. warillever says:

    I would *love* a copy of this book

  39. Oh, I so want to win this! I’ve been trying to get my hands on a copy for the past few weeks!

  40. i subscribe

  41. please enter me in the drawing for this book.

  42. I would LOVE to win this book.

  43. Pingback: Need a Mother’s Day gift? | Owlhaven

  44. I would love a chance to win. Thank you.

  45. We are adding #6 to our family. We have two birth children, a daughter from China, two boys from Ethiopia, and a daughter waiting in Ethiopia. Most of the time I am pretty sure I am not sane but that’s OK because I love my life.

  46. sherry nickerson says:

    Thanks:)

  47. Heather Diotte says:

    Thanks for the wonderful giveaway!! 🙂

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  48. MRS.MOMMYY says:

    newsletter

  49. MRS.MOMMYY says:

    subscriber

  50. MRS.MOMMYY says:

    would love to read

  51. I just had my fifth boy, and the #1 question I get is “Oh… were you trying for a girl?” because everyone assumes that’s the only reason someone would dare to have 5 kids 😉 I’d love to win this book!

  52. Sounds like a book I need to read.

  54. Shelly Nissley says:

    I love to read and this book sounds great!

  55. shannon Baas says:

    Looks like a good book.

  56. christopher h says:

    this sounds like a good read

  57. This book looks interesting and I will have to read it. I think being that I am only a mother of 4 who is homeschooling, I don’t think I qualify as much as many of the other moms. It can be challenging being a mother, but for me it’s been hardest being alone the last 14 months with two special needs children. My husband comes home next week and I cannot wait! I think I will be much more SANE when he gets here. Good luck to all of you hoping to win! Thanks for sharing the book. 🙂

  58. Michael Capp says:

    I’d love to win!

  59. I dont have that big of a family but this book would certainly be interesting with the kids I do have.

  60. great giveaway

  61. Susan Heim says:

    I *only* have four sons, so I’m not sure if that’s considered a “large” family, but I could definitely use some sanity-saving tips! I’m sure this book would be very helpful.

  62. I grew up the oldest of seven siblings. We are all pretty close in age (10 1/2 yrs is the age spread).
    My mother was also one of 8 siblings.

  63. I am also a subscriber. Love your Blog!!

  64. I would love this book. Though my family isn’t that big, 3 kids, I consider it big since we also have 2 kittens and a dog. (Do I get to include my husband?) I also love to read about how big families deal with everything.

  65. With five kids I could use this!

  66. I am a subscriber!

  67. I know someone I would love to give this to!

  68. Faerylandmom says:

    I would love a copy of this. As a mom with four children, I have recently found out that I have a “large” family. 🙂

  69. I would love to read this book. I have seven children between the ages of seven months to nine years old. A large family is an amazing blessing, but sanity can seem to be a hard thing to find on some days.

  70. I get the newsletter.

  71. I’m a subscriber.

  72. Sounds like a great book! Thanks for the chance.

  73. I subscribe too

  74. I’d love this book!

  75. I have your button!

  76. I get the newsletter!

  77. I subscribe!

  78. Would love to win!

  82. I would love to check this book out. It really sounds interesting.

  83. Charlsie Swadley says:

    i would love this book!!!

  84. My 4 kids definitely keep me busy and I can always use advice for those who have “been there.”

  85. I’ve only got four, but I’m sure I could find some useful information. Thanks for the chance to win!

    saz AT chainreader DOT com

  86. This book sounds delightful. I’m worried about how I will handle things as my family grows, so I could use some advice. 🙂

  87. Ok I really need this book, LOL!!! Might as well take a shot at it!

  88. I love her blog and would love to win this book! 🙂

  89. LisaMarie says:

    We are expecting our 6th child this June. Never did we think we would have a large family. LOL This book would be great!

  90. This book looks ah-ma-zing! I’ve always wanted a big family… It’s tough to help people understand why!

  91. Tamara (AK) says:

    Sounds like a wonderful read! Tossing my name in the hat…

  92. Tiffany M says:

    I would love to win this book. I am currently pregnant with my 5th child. I am the oldest of 12.

  93. I'm The Mom says:

    Love to win this!! As a mom of 6 ranging in age to almost 19 to almost 4 months I sure could use a dose of sanity!

  94. The Gang's Momma says:

    I could use a dose of sanity around here. Especially since I’d love to explore the idea of another adoption.

  95. As a mom of 6, i’d love some ideas on how to make this easier.

  96. Jennifer3 says:

    This looks very interesting. I would like to read it!

  97. and the newsletter…

  98. and I subscribe to the feed.

  99. I would love a copy of this. Thanks!

  100. I’m definitely interested in this book. My husband and I want to have a large family, at least six children. And my husband says he can see himself actively fathering into his 60’s!

  101. Very tempting…..I wonder if she’ll bring out a sequel on how to manage when you elderly relatives move back in with you as well as adult children returning with their spouses…….now that would be my kind of a book.
    Cheers

  102. I’ve had this book on my reading list for awhile. I’d love to win.

  103. Thanks for a great review. You have me interested. We have seven but it does not feel “large” yet.

  104. I plan on having many bebes, whether I have to birth them or adopt them. This might give me a look at what I’m up against.

  105. Lori Pierce says:

    We all need a little more sanity in our parenting. I would love to read about Mary’s philosophy.

  106. I would love to have a coy of this book. I have heard there is some great information in it!

  107. I have seven children ages 13 to 8 months and would love to win this book–even though I think I’m still pretty sane…

  108. Stephanie says:

    Ooh I have been eyeing this book for quite some time! I would LOVE to win it!

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