My bro preached once that the more kids you have, the more prosperous you are — based on actual statistics. 

INCOME

As to answer your question, our main stream of income is by renting out our house. We rented a house and rented out our house, then got a loan to buy another house in a rural area based on the rental we were getting.

We also invest in shares and crypto.

And I sell our stuff (furniture and clothes and toys) on Facebook marketplace.

EXPENDITURE

I am also a pretty prudent shopper. I do my grocery shopping online so I can compare each item from various groceries and sort by price per unit, and usually focus on items on clearance— even non-grocery items. 

I also buy kids clothes and gifts online like from China. Not the fastest to arrive so have to always buy 1.5 months in advance. 

We have cut down on meat products and more into vegetarian diet now. Check out ‘what raw vegan eat in a day’ on YouTube. Can’t think of a healthier diet. We have also scrapped out junk food and high sugar products from our groceries. They’re cheap but not necessities and not healthy. We buy lots of oatmeal, cocoa powder and peanuts that makes a ton of healthy but cheap snacks. And freeze a ton of fruits we get at clearances. Buy in bulk. Great for making ice creams.

I also have a ‘one seed rule’ which is to plant every single seed and food scraps that can be regrown. That way, we get more of what we are eating. Plus, money grows on trees, so if there is a surplus of harvest, we can always sell our produce for cash.

FUTURE 

One day, I’m hoping to work on aquaphonics.

My next two financial goals will be a YouTube channel for my kids and a Kickstarter project by one of my kids. Basically find out what your kids calling and interests are and start teaching them to build their own financial portfolio. Finance is one of the most important lessons in life each parent needs to teach their kids. When they leave my house one day, they must leave with some sort of business or investment that is able to support them and not ‘going out in the cold naked’, if you get what I mean. A job alone is a very unreliable source of income, more so in their day than ours. If they cannot get a financial footing, they should not be allowed to leave the house. If they do, we have failed to raise our kids the way Abraham, Isaac and Jacob raised theirs. (The same goes to any other aspect in life, especially spiritual life— if they’re not secure in God, they should not be allowed to graduate from this house, or I have failed.)

 Q: Help, the house is falling apart and I am homeschooling 5 kids. The older kids are not listening and I am still nursing. Nothing gets done.

Our friends are starting to diminish and most of our time is spent on outings while getting errands done. It’s hard to go on homeschooling outings when I have a baby.

A: A few things are unnecessary. Here’s some tips:

1. Skip the homeschooling outings. It doesn’t work with such young kids, especially those not weaned.

2. Skip the friends. It’s hard but don’t fret over it. If they’re there, they’re there and if they’re not, don’t worry, there is a season for friends. Right now, survive.

3. Getting the house in order is a priority. The academics has to wait because we can’t learn with books in a messy environment. Plus, what they really need to learn now is how to organize. Simple life skills.

4. The three older kids have to grow up. A phrase my husband says to my kids, “Who messed up? Did mommy mess up? Then, who?” And they have to learn to clean up their mess. 

5. I hide their favourite toys in a box they are unable to find and they don’t get them back until all their devotion and schoolwork is done. This is usually at the end of the day… sometimes hiding for 2-3 days until I am satisfied with the result. My girls love dolls. So they get the dolls back when they’re done, but they can have one doll when they do something amazing (i.e. make their bed, set the table, help mommy) but every time they screw up, one doll is taken away (I.e. mommy made their bed, daddy set the table instead).

6. Sign them up for classes you can’t teach (if you can afford it), such as piano classes, ballet classes, violin classes. This will give them the social life and friends they need.

7. Outings are important but not that regularly. Choose your outings wisely. One of the main reasons we homeschool is because we want them to be free to learn more than just the academics, and to spend time as a family. Outings are a benefit homeschoolers have, not something we should stay away from. But it is how we make use of it. Try to kill two birds with one stone by making everything educational.

8. Grocery shopping is educational as well but I personally find that very exhausting going out with such a young one. So, online groceries it is for me, which brings me to number 9.

9. I try to get the whole world turning around while I nurse. This is grocery shopping, trying to earn some cash by selling stuff, prepping lessons, my devotion, making appointment, phone calls, etc. Stuff get printed out, instructions given to my kids, etc. which brings me to number 10.

10. Get Google home. I can lay down and nurse and have the world running at my fingertips if each room and living area  is plugged in. You can get Preloved ones off FB Marketplace, and they don’t necessarily need to be screen displays. I use them for intercom, to give instruction to the older kids, etc. and my kids can be contacted via that even when I am not at home. Plus, I can get the lights on, toaster and kettle burning while I nurse.

11. The kids are more independent than you think. If you watch master chef junior, you will realize how capable they can be. My kids have learned to use the air fryer and I have kid friendly instructions for them — open the freezer, grab the spring rolls/ sausages / fish and chips / roti 🫓 and chuck them in the air fryer and turning up the dail to 10 mins. Then, use thongs and mittens to remove items or wait till they cool down — Ask Google for 30 mins timer. Kids can talk to Google.

12. Screen time is a savior but choose videos wisely. I play phonics, numberblocks, Bethel kids, etc. Google display can turn on from any room. Or put them on the TV from any room. Just talk to Google to do it. Especially helpful when you have poop on your hands and a crying baby and a toddler who managed to grab the paint kit, all at the same time. (This suggestion is optional — just skip number 12 if you don’t want screen time.)

13. Kids love doing chores. Just put big cute eyes on the dishwasher, trash cans, washing machine and dryer. Then ask them to feed them every morning and every evening. Rewards come in handy too.

14. Try funschooling, gameschooling, forestschooling and wildschooling fb groups for more unacademic suggestions. Teach a child to enjoy learning and they will teach themselves.

15. Remember that what is important now is your relationship with them. Major on that and everything else will fall into place. Try to keep the peace in the house at all costs.

16. Deal with the most influential person among the kids. The oldest is not necessarily the most influential but usually is. If you can train this one to do what you need her to do and when you need her to do it, the rest will pick up.

17. Your short fuse is due to a lack of sleep. Try to get as much sleep as possible, please. 

I’m not the best at giving advice but I just give what I can.

 Q: Worried about my homeschooled kids not fitting into this world.

A: Tomorrow will worry about itself. Our kids will grow up. By then, they will be adults. Just keep them in prayer. Don’t just train them to be good employees. Raise them to be major influencers in this world who hold powerful positions. We are to be lights of this world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. And don’t hide your lights under baskets but set them on lamp stands.

People will go to them for advice, people will respect them. People will model them. People will vote for them. People will notice them. People will see the light and see Jesus in them and they will come to know Jesus. People will adopt their beliefs, their diets. People will agree with them. 

They will guide people. They will hire people. They will encourage people. They will care for people. They will speak for people. They will write laws. They will pass judgment. They will write books. They will write curricula. They will implement new ideas. They will blow people’s minds. They will speak on platforms and podiums. They will solve problems. They will determine the future of this world for generations to come.

They will have dominion over the world and subdue it.

You’re right— they will not fit in. They will stand out.

Q: Help, I am facing spiritual attack on my family and church.

A: You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

1 John 4:4 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20John%204:4&version=NKJV

Just get into worship and pray in tongues 24/7. Take communion daily if you have to. Ask God to reveal to you more about what is going on and what steps to take. 

Nothing formed against you shall prosper.

Remember— Jesus gave us power and authority over demonic spirits. These are just empty threats. Don’t allow the spirit of fear to enter in. Take your stand.

Remember Elisha and his servant. Ask God to show you the chariots of fire surrounding the city. There are angels all around. You are not alone. When you enter into high powered worship and prayer, you empower these angels to fight. 

It is one thing to play a song. It is another thing to sing it yourself and get into high powered worship. Worship songs are different from ministering songs. Worship with songs like, “Majesty”, “Jesus we enthrone You” and “I Exalt Thee”, and mean every word with all your heart and raise your voice. The demons will flee. If they return, do it again. By about the third time, they will leave and never return again.

 Q: My older two are jealous of the second two and are rebelling. I used to work and mom took care of them but a I’m a SAHM now. My hubby is not a help and doesn’t see kids or home as his responsibility. 

A: The oldest two do not have enough attention from you, and disrespect comes from the fact that they were raised by someone else. It is good that you are a SAHM now but you are desperately in need of quality time with them. You need time to play with the first two or do whatever it is that they want to do with you. You need to replace those years that were lost and just be there for them, build that relationship. They need attention from you. Keep the younger two occupied so that you can play some board games, etc with the first two. And personal one on one time with them is very important as they grow older.

Secondly, don’t bother too much about schedules or routines. Those are not important in building a relationship and the contrary will happen if you try to be strict with them. It will just stretch your relationship with them even further. The temptation is to busy yourself with small details like these that you are too busy for them again. Take time off school and housework, and just go to the beach as a family and have some quality time for a couple of weeks. Go for a relaxing holiday if possible — not about visiting places, which will just make you busy again, or going to expensive hotels and restaurants that take a toll on your wallet but more nature stuff do you guys can just be a family again. Very educational too.

Thirdly, what I found helped was that the younger would give the older presents. This is something I came up with but really transforms everything. We had to do this from the very beginning — when the child is just born — holding the baby’s hands and giving the present to the older siblings shows that it is from the baby and not from you. This may not need to be birthday or Christmas (although they do give older siblings presents then as well) but this is just an arrival present. So when the baby comes, all siblings gets a present from the baby. They don’t feel threatened by the baby that way. I know it’s been some time, but it is not too late to start giving older siblings gifts. And make it a good gift since they are older and can understand more now. And make it frequent to cover for all the times that she has not given earlier. The later more frequent gifts can be smaller gifts but birthday and Christmas gifts are good gifts. All my kids give each other presents on Christmas and on birthdays, the birthday person gives other siblings small gifts too, like as a thank you for helping in their birthday party or for coming. This will reduce jealousy like a ton.

Try some Family Adventure Challenge. I’ve only tried the couple one but I think a family one is what you need. You can also play certain games when the kids are older like Among Us. Maybe go on YouTube and see what families play. 

Keep a close watch on the oldest two. They said if you can fix the first kid, the rest will follow suit. So please, please, please, take him on dates.

As for your partner, that is old fashion thinking and he needs prayer. But there’s only so much you can do.

 Q: My daughter is rude in front of others but her explanation is that she wants to be cool.

A: She is insecure. She is trying too much to fit in. She cares a lot of how people think about her that means she has gone through something that has triggered it. She has been rejected before and it was so bad that she has not got over it and has totally changed her behavior in front of others. You need to find out what happened in the past and tell her that whoever it was that bullied her was wrong and that she doesn’t deserve to be treated that way. She is cool just the way she is and deserve better friends and better treatment. It is like the people she looked up to and wanted to follow and be like has publicly rejected her and made fun of her. Check if it is true. I’ve been there before.

No counselling needed from a third party. You are the best counselor.

 Question: Help! I’ve always been a full time mom but am now thinking of college and whether I can even afford it or just wasting a ton of money when I fail.

Answer:

The question is. What do you want to do? Work on the how later. But if there is something you really know you need to do, do your best until you get it. College is just a vehicle to a destination. Where are you going? And then we will figure out whether you will be walking, taking a cab, a bus, driving, a ship, a plane or a rocket.