All Nine
Scenes from the Life of a Large Family
“Here we go...! Does everyone have his school bag?” 12-year-old Leon herds his six younger siblings along in front of him. It's almost 7:30 in the morning, and the Meschke children are headed for school or day care. Preparations for departure have kept the family in a state of perpetual motion since 6 AM: “The night before, I make sandwiches for everyone, and at six the next morning, we all get up. The older children prepare müsli for the younger ones, and in general, each of us has a task, otherwise, we simply couldn't function at all.” A life of continual stress, the daily existence of a large family. The Meschkes have seven children ranging from 1 1/2 to 12 years old. When this Flensburg family goes out together, they find themselves the focus of attention. Nine strong, they are a conspicuous exception at a time when families having one or two children are regarded as “normal.” Here is a way of life that is derided by most – large families must often combat prejudice. “People often ask me whether all of these children are really mine,” explains Iris, their mother, “and when I say yes, people are either astonished, or else regard me with pity. But I'm used to it.” Iris and her husband Martin made a conscious decision to have many children, and although they almost never have time to themselves as a couple, to say nothing of solitary moments, they have no regrets about their choice. What is everyday life like for a family of nine? How can organization emerge from chaos, how to do justice to the needs of each individual child? All of the Meschke children have their hobbies, music or sports, along with school or day care: the week follows a strict plan. Martin earns the family income as a carpenter, but big holidays or expensive gifts are out of the question. Sacrifice is simply a part of life. “Recently, I had 20 minutes to myself after an appointment. That was nice,” relates the father of the family. In a family with seven children, it is the little things that count. An excursion together to the aquarium in Sylt becomes an annual highlight – but at the same time a logistical challenge. Now, Christmas is almost upon us – the Procession of St. Martin’s, baking cookies, stories about Santa Claus. At times, it hurts to realize that not every wish can be fulfilled. But for the Meschke family, being together is more important than any Carrera track.
