Tell us how you do it: Stephi

Dear Stephi, tell us about yourself: Who are you and what do you do?

With pleasure! My name is Stephanie, I will be 43 in June and am a mother of 5 children. People often assume: ah, patchwork? No, all together with my husband… 😉 Before I became a mother, after graduating from high school, I studied business administration with a focus on healthcare, specializing in hospital management, at a dual university. In this course, I specialized in the areas of materials management and marketing. After graduating, I gained a few more years of professional experience in this field and really enjoyed my job, as I was always encouraged and my skills were supported.

You had your fifth child last year. Did this reorganize your family? What has changed?

Absolutely. With every child, not only does a relationship get a little disturbed, but the whole family structure has to be rearranged. It always takes a little while until each of us has found our place again. But with perseverance, love, and an open exchange of feelings and thoughts, we have always managed quite well so far and, as far as I can speak for everyone, we feel very comfortable in our busy extended family.

Have you always wanted to have a big family?

Let's put it this way: I knew quite early in my childhood that I loved children and wanted to raise and look after them myself. But firstly, not without the "right" man who shared this wish, and secondly, not all the time. When my husband and I met, the conversation about children and life planning naturally came up. At the time, our idea and wish was to have three children. After the first child, I honestly couldn't imagine having a second one any time soon. And then family life got better and better and now there are seven of us. Sometimes I can't believe it myself... What a gift! Firstly, to be able to have so many healthy children and secondly to see how good they are for each other and what they learn from each other. And yes! Of course, this also includes arguing and resolving conflicts in order to give the romantic idea of ​​a large family a little more reality. The fact is: if one of them isn't there or is sick, everyone immediately misses them and they are missed or cared for.

What was your life like before having children?

Always on the move, sports, friendships, lots of partying and work and to be honest I don't even know what I did with so much free time ;)))).

Do you know everything about motherhood after five children?

Anyone who says that is lying in my opinion. But not every other professionally qualified person in the field of "parenting" knows everything either. I think you never know in this regard... except the mother and the child themselves, if they trust their feelings and their connection. Even if you as a mother think you know your own child, you may sometimes be proven wrong.
Nevertheless, you certainly develop a routine, calmness and experience in certain things, which can be very beneficial. At least I sometimes wish I had this with our baby number 1.

Tell us a little about yourself, what does a normal day look like for you?

It starts early and ends late. Let's put it this way: it never really ends. It is also sometimes louder than you think from the outside and I give a lot of clear instructions and I feel like the worst mother several times a day and sometimes I can't even hear my own voice anymore.

Which moments in everyday life belong to you alone?

I sometimes lock the bathroom door if I can't even go to the toilet in peace. But that rarely happens. 😉 I just enjoy little mini-moments when everyone is playing peacefully, when I can finish a cup of coffee without it getting cold and I look forward to lots of moments when everyone has moved out... 😉 and I'm sure I'll find it really uncomfortable at first and will have to learn to fill that time again...

Despite your stressful family life, you always seem very balanced and content on Instagram. Are there days when you just want to pull the covers over your head? And more importantly, what do you do on challenging days?

That always surprises me, because I know that I'm not either. I am just the way I am and I think I generally have a rather sunny disposition. But sometimes I lose it... Since the children know that and know me, I don't pretend, I'm just the way I am. They complain sometimes, so I do the same to them. I'm only human. Even if I'm their mum. When I don't speak anymore, everyone feels uncomfortable and then they help out. And yes, my children have seen me cry too...

Finally: What is your ultimate life hack with five children?

Teamwork. One for all, all for one. And trusting them and encouraging them to do everything they can do if you let them and if you need their help. I'm particularly aware of this when I'm really sick myself. So I like to involve them in certain to-dos and thus encourage their independence.

To be honest, I don't know if this is an ultimate life hack... ;))))

You want to read more about Stephi? Then take a look at her Instagram profile over

Image credits: Courtesy of einspluseinsistsechs.