I have been watching a lot of TV the past few days.

Being rather non domestically inclined, I find the shows about extremely large families absolutely fascinating.

Jon & Kate Plus 8 - Kate is a lot like I used to be, only with slightly more children, and my house wasn't as clean. She is a bit obsessive. I am not. Okay, I am, but in different ways. I like her sense of humor and I like the way she and Jon interact. I like the organization. I would like to see more of the children's personalities exposed. I appreciate the fact that unlike some of the 'mega' families, their children came in two's and then in sixes. The chaos is true, the reactions are valid. Unlike....

The Incredible Duggar family of Arkansas. - I THINK she is up to baby 18 or 19 now. She makes me nervous. I think it's wonderful that they can have and raise all those kids well, that they pay cash for everything, that they are successful. However, I totally do not understand enjoying being home with 18 children, and smiling so much. I RESPECT it, but do not understand it at all. There isn't much chaos shown in this family, but with that many older kids, she caught on soon that it would be virtually impossible to truly 'mother' that many children, and so the older children are each responsible for a younger child. I can see why with that many. The kids also have 'jurisdictions' which are basically area's of the house they are 'responsible' to take care of. The kids all look happy, well loved and well adjusted.

The Heath family, Kit and Siobhan. This is a blended family. The original six boys, or five boys and a girl, are from Siobhan's first marriage, which is not spoken of other than to say she was. The rest of the kids are her and Kit's. There is a bit more chaos in this house. Siobhan looks rather stressed at times, but the two of them are very much in love, and that shows. I rather like this family.

The Povey family of the U.K. - She makes me nervous. I think she has an overload of seratonin. She is so placid and accepting, and loves having children to take care of . With a broken dryer, she hangs everything out to dry and then irons it. Good GOD !! Her entire day is centered about taking care of the kids and the house and the laundry. At the filming of the show, they had 15 children with more intended. She quite clearly stated that she would keep going until nature shut her down. They are not on the 'dole' and pay their own way.

The Sentmans, at 16 kids. She is rather like a drill Sergeant. Her kids seem more real. You can see interaction and tension in that house between the kids, but you also see love and helping.

There are others, whom I cannot remember. While I do enjoy watching the shows, they all make me feel uniformly inadequate.

I go through life not liking many things I must do. I look forward to sending my kids off to school and having the break every day. I often have trouble figuring out what to make for dinner for four, much less 14 LOL.

I hate to clean. My house is not a pigsty by any stretch, but it could use a cleaning person. Wish I could afford one.

My children don't help out as much as the 'show children' do. Getting them to clean their rooms is a herculean task.

I also like Little People, Big World. They have obviously made money doing the show, but they were taking care of life and business in a world made for average sized people. I have enormous respect for Matt and Amy who have faced down incredible challenges to simply live a 'normal' life, and they have excelled at it.

When I feel down, I watch that one. It makes me realize that I can keep going. LOL.

I'm feeling better today. Not exactly 'chili dawg' but more human. The coughing has eased up, the Flonase and Zyrtec are doing a job on the snot factory inside my body. I have out of town company coming today, and so must get up and clean, at least run the sweeper.

It doesn't hurt as much to cough anymore, that is wonderful. I have, in the past, coughed hard enough to actually break a rib. That is a deep freakin cough!!

Good Sunday all.