If you woke up this morning feeling bad because you forgot it was my birthday, don’t worry: you’re in good company. I like the cartoon where Charlie Brown says, “I already know nobody likes me. How come we have to have a holiday to emphasize it?”

However, there are plenty of hours left today for you to send your well wishes and pretend that it was your intention all along. It’s OK; I’ll take what I can get. Cash wire-transfers are also gladly accepted.

But, whuddoyaknow, I’m the one handing out presents today. I’m posting part 1 of my interview with John and Diane, parents of 10 kiddos. It’s a treat, for sure. Stay tuned tomorrow when I’ll post the rest of it. Enjoy!

Meet John, Diane, and Family

Back row: Jessie-22, John holding Olivia-5, Diane holding Clarissa-8 months now, Sara-11 and Karina-20 Front row: Yelena-2 on Nick’s lap-17, Lucas-8, Becca-11 and Andrew-13

Amy: Diane, what’s something you wish someone would have told you when you had your first child?

Diane: I received plenty of advice, but I was 20 years old and didn’t have a personal relationship with Christ, so how good that advice was, I can’t say for sure. I was selfish and did what I wanted, but I wish I had listened to the simple advice to enjoy her. I have apologized to my three oldest for being such a selfish mom, and blessedly they have forgiven me.

Amy: Please talk to the moms with all little ones underfoot. When does it get easier?

Diane: I love it when they become more independent! We train our children from the beginning to have responsibilities that are equal to their abilities for their ages. As they grow and mature the expectations that we have for them increase. It’s a lot easier when they are able to dress themselves, go potty on their own and help with little tasks.

Don’t be afraid to give your toddlers and preschoolers responsibility. There is a time when your first children have grown and they don’t need as much attention as the little ones. That’s when the older children transition from being only consumers to becoming contributors. They can help watch the little ones, clean up, make lunch and whatever else they can do to make a large family go.

For the mothers who have a ways to go before any of their children can help themselves and each other [Amy starts coughing and waving her arms], try to remember every day (and night) in light of eternity. That’s what gets me through the long nights when the baby won’t settle down and I’m operating on a few hours of sleep. I cry out to God and remind him of how weak I am and could he please help me make it through this one night. At other times I remind myself…”This is only temporary. I’ve made it through the early years of the other children. God willing, I’ll make it through these.”

Amy: John, what is the best thing you do to help your wife?

John: Diane’s love language is service. She feels most loved by me when I volunteer to carry one of her usual burdens, which gives her time alone to do what she enjoys. It could be something as simple as putting the young ones to bed at night - washing up, brushing teeth, changing diapers, getting pajamas on, reading, talking, praying, and tucking in. If I do this for her, it gives her some time to relax and read a book or do her needlepoint.

Something else that I can do to help Diane is to watch all of the children for a longer period of time and just let her loose to get out of the house and drive somewhere - alone. She will often go to the library or to the Borders bookstore and just browse around. She doesn’t even have to spend any money to have a good time. Whatever she does, it’s her time to do with as she pleases.

An everyday blessing that I can bestow upon her is to give her a hug as soon as I arrive home from work. After dealing with a house full of small children all day, she needs direct contact with an adult. I immediately follow this up with, what else - conversation. A few good minutes of adult conversation puts her right and draws her out of mother-of-small-children syndrome. You know, where Mom moves her index finger up and down over her lips while blubbering.

Amy: whut R U talking abowt, Jon? Us Mamas of small chilluns never need a brake, doo we?!#@?