Episode 139: A Day in the Life…Britt’s Interview with Everyday Parents
What You’ll Learn
A few months ago, Brittany was invited to be a guest on the Everyday Parents podcast, and we're SO excited to share it with you! It's not often that a podcaster is interviewed on her OWN podcast, and getting a sneak peek into the large family life is always fun (even if you have your own large family...maybe ESPECIALLY if you have your own large family)!
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Brittany White (00:32)
Brittany is a mom of 7, homeschooler, and creator of The Deliberate Day! Brittany and her husband have 7 children, 11 pregnancies in 11 years, but they lost 4 precious little babies. They have ages 15 to 4, 5 girls and 2 boys…they always knew they’d have a big family (maybe 10 or 12). They decided early on they’d be open to life as part of their faith, and it was something they’d been convicted about, so that’s what brought all of their children.
Pregnancies & Births (02:26)
Brittany was blessed with really smooth journeys from the get-go. The first 5 babies were healthy, happy and wonderful!
Her sixth child came with an emergency c-section and a long stay in the NICU, and pregnancy number 7 required daily shots in the stomach for Brittany. So she’s had some very challenging and some really beautiful journeys with pregnancies.
Supporting a Family of 9 (03:19)
Brittany is a stay-at-home mom, but also a nanny AND an entrepreneur. She has an online business where she teaches moms to plan, organize the chaos, and meal plan.
Her husband works in IT, outside of the home.
Home Sweet Home (04:05)
The family lives in a little suburban neighborhood in Florida, and there are a lot of people who come through because it’s a military town (which can be sad for the kids…especially when their friends leave…but it has been good too).
They live close to church and both sets of grandparents.
They have all 5 girls in one room, and the two boys together in another. They are living the quote, “Love grows best in tiny houses.” This can be challenging some days, but others they get to see the beauty of how being so close is very bonding.
The two boys are 15 and 12, then the girls are 14, 13, 9, 7, and 4. Brittany homeschools all the kids for now, but very soon, her oldest will begin college classes with the Dual Enrollment program available to Florida students.
Community (06:03)
Brittany’s support network is made of many close friends with big families. It’s something that didn’t just happen, it has been cultivated over the years by Brittany and I over many years. It’s important to put in the work and time, and get out there and introduce yourself. Mommas, don’t be afraid to start something, and build your support system.
What Brittany Would Like to Share (08:20)
Brittany feels incredibly blessed to have grown up in a big family, and to have had a big family. It comes with a lot of challenges!
We don’t really do it all, but the seasons ebb and flow, and while big family life is chaotic and crazy, it is beautiful.
Brittany sees her own siblings quite often, her youngest two sisters and brother live close. She also has siblings in Alaska and California that she’s had the opportunity to travel to some incredible places!
Daily Routine (09:41)
Brittany tries to get up before her children, around 5:30. She gets a cup of tea, sits down, and looks her day over (to stay on top of the chaos), and she chooses the six things she wants to get done.
Then, she’ll work on the spiral notebooks (if they’re not done yet), and that’s when the kids start trickling down into the living area (and she’ll wake any stragglers).
Breakfast is something Brittany has made REALLY easy…she doesn’t need to have touchpoints on every meal in the day (to protect her capacity). Her kids (down to 7 and 4) get breakfast independently and pull their school books out.
In her home, she’s put in the effort to get the children working independently as much as possible. The oldest 4 children have spiral notebooks, and this helps them practice responsibility and complete their assignments without Brittany having to micromanage.
Smaller children have clipboards, and they have different tasks such as “brush your teeth,” “math with mom,” or “language arts with mom.”
In the morning, kids work individually on reading, or together on memorization, and around lunchtime, there’s a hard stop. Brittany has found that schooling from 7:30 or 8 to 12 noon works best for the family.
At noon, the kitchen (which has been closed since breakfast) is open. Lunch is ALWAYS leftovers. Everything is pulled out of the fridge, and the kids can reinvent, reheat, or just eat any of the leftovers. Then, everyone cleans up together and then enjoys free time.
During free time, Brittany heads upstairs and works…she’ll start some laundry, check on chores, and encourage kids to work on any chores or bedrooms that need some love.
Around 3:30-4:00 dinner starts! Each of the 4 older children have a dinner night (Meal Mastery), and the 3 youngest have Friday nights. This is also about when Brittany’s husband gets home (this is VERY exciting for the kids).
There are a TON of creative endeavors available in the home—and while the kids would LOVE to play video games—screentime is limited. Instead, kids are encouraged to play, paint, color, play outside, go for bike rides…
There are seasons where certain kids (depending on ages and stages) can either clash or mesh REALLY well. Currently, the youngest is very involved with the two oldest kids. AND, the three younger girls naturally fit together really well. The two oldest girls are currently either getting along great…or NOT.
After dinner is Brittany’s FAVORITE time right now. The family turns off all the lights for family prayer and shares the pieces of the day. They start out with a prayer asking for God to be in their presence, share something they’re thankful for, talk about something that made them feel deeply loved, and finish with something they’re sorry for or want to ask forgiveness for. This has been beautiful because it allows Brittany & her husband to see the thoughts behind things that have occurred earlier in the day, and it helps build relationships in the entire family.
After family prayer is family clean-up, and whoever reaches the T.V. first gets to pick the Pandora channel…there’s dancing and EVERYONE is cleaning.
Bedtime can be really chaotic, but on a good night, the youngest girls go to bed at 7:30. A sibling will read to them, and Brittany goes in at 8 or 8:30 and does special loves and a rhyme she’s sung to the kids for years (her older kids will even join in)…most nights. Brittany has a special routine she does with her middle son—to give him the time and attention he needs all to himself.
The youngest two go to bed 7-7:30, the next ones go to bed 8-8:30, and the oldest three go to bed from 9:00-10:00 for the oldest three (this depends on how they’re managing getting things done in the morning).
Around 9:00, Brittany shuts down and she and her husband spend time together until 10-10:30.
Five out of seven of Brittany’s kids have struggled with night terrors, so sleep isn’t always guaranteed uninterrupted throughout the night. Depending on sickness, bathroom trips, and love needed, there seems to be something each night.
Brittany’s family has many activities throughout the week. These include park days (most Fridays), and they participate in a homeschool group. Her oldest daughter is a mother’s helper, and her oldest son is working as well.
The family homeschools 4 days a week (Monday through Thursday).
Grocery shopping happens religiously on Wednesday evenings, and grocery pick-up happens on Thursdays (this is also the day Britt runs errands). Thursdays are also the days the kids get to practice adulting skills…buying things they want, talking with cashiers, making returns…
Meal planning is non-negotiable. It is an anchor in the day and it makes things run so much smoother. On Tuesday or Wednesday morning, Brittany will plan all the meals for the week, and then she does the shopping weekly.
The family has a Ford Transit for transportation, and it’s Brittany’s favorite vehicle she’s ever had!
Final 3 Questions (29:48)
Brittany and her husband like to play games together to relax. They go to local coffee shops or spots, share some food (so they can try more things), and usually play Double Canfield or Splendor (Britt likes these games because she’s great at them). Living in Florida is also a blessing because the beach is close, and they get to enjoy it (even without kids some days). They are finally at the point where the older kids can watch the younger ones, so babysitters aren’t needed (this is a GREAT season to be in).
A parenting win for Brittany is how her kids have taken on dinner on their nights. They are beginning to expand their skills and make decisions on their own…even when things don’t go right.
A challenge for the family has been bickering and arguing (which is normal in large families), and Brittany is still learning to step back and allow for these things to work out.
Everyday Parents Podcast
Jerome and Caitlin are husband-and-wife cohosts of the Everyday Parents podcast, where they interview parents from all kinds of families about their daily routines. Jerome is a stay-at-home dad to their toddler and Caitlin works hybrid, so this little family gets to spend plenty of time together curating their own routine and learning from other families' routines.
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Before you go, check out our new Seasonally Simple Wardrobe Planner in the shop! It will probably organize your life (as far as clothes and laundry go).
Sweet mommas never forget,
You are doing beautiful work!
