Being a mother is not only great happiness but also patient and responsible work lasting many years. Because of distinct mentalities and cultures, the peoples of the world have different attitudes toward motherhood. In some countries, women tend to give birth as early as possible, while in others, they do not rush to learn about the joy of being a mother. However, this does not change the fact that mothers deserve respect and protection for their rights. Although there is little financial support for large families in the USA, of 83,09 million American families, 7,13 million have many children. How do New York women with multiple children live, raise them and organize their daily life? Gillian O’Neill’s story can inspire. Learn more at newyorka.
The realities of motherhood with multiple children. Jillian’s experience
Alisa Ksenevych, a writer from Belarus, who lived in the metropolis for three years, learned a lot about the life of New York women with many children. Alisa immediately notes that the cost of living in a big city can really impress tourists. A house there costs an average of 693,900 dollars and you will have to pay about 3000 dollars monthly for the apartment rental. The average annual income of New Yorkers is slightly more than 32,000 dollars.
Like most New York citizens, Gillian O’Neill believes that before having children, you must buy your own house. The woman has three children, two daughters and a son. Before meeting her husband, she was actively pursuing her career in the field of growing markets of a pharmaceutical company and did not think about motherhood. Her beloved, on the contrary, always dreamed of a big family. After long discussions, the couple agreed that children should be present in their life picture and not the other way around.
The spouses developed a two-year savings plan, as they wanted to buy the perfect house for a big family, but also not to leave New York for a smaller town. Each had a favorite job in the metropolis and the big city’s lifestyle felt very close to both of them. Jillian and her husband moved to a more affordable borough in New York. They rented a smaller apartment and began to control their entertainment expenses. Two years later, they managed to raise money for the down payment to buy housing. The woman said that they chose a house with consideration for well-developed infrastructure, school quality and high-security level.
Jillian told that due to the company policy she works for, she had a quite long maternity leave, eight paid weeks. Moreover, the woman took another eight weeks at her own expense. That was after the first and second pregnancies and after the last one, O’Neill stayed home for nine months. This is because she wanted to spend more time with the newborn baby. Jillian could have been fired for that, as an employer in the USA is not obliged to hold a position for a woman who has extended maternity leave. However, the woman was lucky.
Gillian O’Neill on parenting and saving
Many things changed in the life of the O’Neill family after the birth of the children. Since large families in the USA do not receive any support from the state, except for a small benefit, the spouses have to carefully monitor their costs. They save on small things, for example, they do not buy lunch at work but take ready meals from home. A couple’s friends who have older kids help with children’s clothes. Jillian does not use babysitting services. Wherever she and her husband go, they always bring the children with them.
Jillian shared that most of all she does not want to raise her kids too urban. Even before the children were born, she and her husband bought a small house by the lake in suburban New York. When the weather is good they often come there with the children so they could take a closer look at the natural world.
Alisa Ksenevych asked the woman to compare her life before and after having children. Jillian said that even though she used to have more freedom, she enjoys being a mother more than ever. She admires and is proud of her children, who are small and interesting individuals. A 20-minute daytime nap, sports and morning coffee alone with her husband when the kids go to school, save the woman from the challenges of motherhood.