Combined families often get bad reviews, but the family my children got when they traded away 'the suffocating four-person' nuclear one is one that has benefited all of them.

The only siblings I have are half-siblings. My nuclear family would have been an extra-suffocating threesome. Instead, I have an interesting brother and sister, in-laws, and darling nephews.

Take naps. Often new ideas come together when you are half asleep, but you have to train yourself to remember them.

I loved the house the way you would any new house, because it is populated by your future, the family of children who will fill it with noise or chaos and satisfying busy pleasures

I was an only child. I've known only children. From this experience, I do believe that the children should outnumber the parents.

The bad reviews get to me, believe me.