AMY MARYON

03 AMY MARYON Thoughts of a Mom of 10

According to the US Census Bureau, the average American family has about three children, but Amy Maryon’s family is anything but average. With ten homeschooled children, a blog, a YouTube channel with 81 thousand subscribers, and multiple published books, you would think Amy’s life is more than one woman can handle. With a loving husband and a mighty faith, she has mastered the complexities of a large family through pairing down to what really matters. For her, it all comes down to her love of Christ and her amazing family. We wanted to understand more about this inspiring mom with a simple but inspirational message, and she was kind enough to entertain our questions.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your YouTube channel - when did you start and what made you want to start?

I am a stay at home mother of ten children. I started a blog years ago as a way to help encourage other mommas out there doing the same thing that I was doing. I offered free schooling materials for families that wanted to Homeschool but couldn’t afford it. I felt led to give it away and trust that God would provide the ability to do it... In the last year, I have felt led to do more youtube videos as a way to share what I do in my home. I never would have guessed it would manifest as it has. In about six months time it has grown to provide a full-time income for our family. It is my heart to encourage other mommas and the Lord showed me that I would be doing that but being a mom who is at home all day I had no idea how I would be doing that. Now I see how God has opened a whole level of opportunity to minister to other mommas on a level I could have never been able to do it at home through youtube. It has been a huge blessing and confirmation that what I do has encouraged other mommas out there.

What’s a typical day in your life like? Are there any tips and tricks that you swear by being such a large household?

My life is very typical. I do the same daily tasks that most mommas do... clean, cook, pick up, kids, clean, cook, pick up, kids. Back in the day, it was clean, make food, nurse babies, change diapers, kids, repeat. We are all doing the same daily tasks just different

Amy is wearing our “His Will, His Way, My Faith” tee in heather rouge.

kinds of crazy :). My tips and advice would be to simplify your life. In all areas: meals, chores, amount of stuff you have, activities, etc. When you simplify and have less stuff it gives you more of life....more time...to enjoy.

How have you raised your kids differently from your first child leading to your most recent?

Any challenges? Stressed more and more strict with the older ones. I did more book parenting and as I had more I realized there is no “right” way to raise kids. Each of them is different and if you love the Lord and make that your focus He will guide you each day. You can raise each child the same way and every one of them will go a different path. They are all made different and what works for one doesn’t work for all. My older ones tell me all the time....”We weren’t allowed to do that!”. I say, “Yes but you were number 1,2,3, not number 10! You are my testers....... I’ve got lots of practice with this parenting thing...by the time number ten comes around I’ll have it figured out :)” I have learned a lot and am constantly learning... it is best to enjoy life and spend more time playing.

We love the advice about simplifying your life! In terms of meals, chores, and activities, how do you come to a consensus of deciding what to eat or do? Does everyone agree on one thing, or do you have to come to a compromise somehow?

Life is always about compromising and working with others for a greater purpose. I definitely need the input of my family as for what meals they like. It isn’t going to do any good to make something if no one likes it. I have found that if you cook with simplicity and good taste, most of the time everyone likes it. With the occasional kids going through a phase of not liking something. Sometimes they just don’t like a meal no matter what I do with it and that is okay... I didn’t invest tons of time preparing because it was simplified and we know not to make it anymore. Chores are simplified and scheduled out to be done throughout the week and month. This helps keep my stress level down when I am staring at fingerprints all over the window to know that on Tuesday they are going to get wiped off verses stressing about all that needs to be done in a day. If you have a designated laundry day you get it all done that day.. The rest of the week you don’t worry about laundry even when it piles up because the following week you are going to do it again. This helps to know what to do each day and it gets done. Activities for our family are based around our family being together. We don’t try and divide and spend time away..we try to do things that draw us together. Serving in our church, going to the park, spending the day at the lake, and hiking with friends. All activities that are simplified but you can do with a range of children so that everyone has fun.

We know you get tons of questions being a mom of 10. What is the number one question that you always get asked and how do you respond?

How do you do it? Jesus. I only do what I do because of the grace-giving to me by the Lord to do what I do each day.

Lastly, we love that you were able to relate your story with our designs. If you were to give a title to your life story, what would it be and why?

my early life...I would have never imagined that my life would be all that it is turning into. I have a wonderful husband who loves me, a beautiful family, I live in a gorgeous mountain area, have a home that I love, I am part of a wonderful body of believers at church, and I run a full-time business making a great income for our family. I serve a God with all my heart, soul, and mind and He has given me a life I could have never imagined. My life verse is Ephesians 3:20...Now to Him, that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we can ask or even think according to the power that lives in us. ABUNDANTLY BLESSED - Thinking back to

Amy is wearing our “Raising My Tribe” tee in charcoal.

threadTALK Bonus: Where Are They Now?

What have you been up to since we last spoke back in March 2019, any exciting changes?

My channel hit 100,000 subscribers, something I couldn't imagine. Very thankful to be able to encourage and share what I do in hopes of helping another person struggling with things that I have in the past.

Through doing this new venture on YouTube , my husband has been able to fully focus on our home business of a sign shop..He was able to leave his job and be home with us as of this year. That has been a dream of our family since the beginning!

I have been able to be part of and focus on serving in our community on the board that has been on my heart to do for awhile. It is important for me to share with my kids about community and belonging and being part of making a difference in a positive way. If no one does anything there is none..so by being a board member and helping organize event and taking part in them, letting them know it is important. Continuing to be an active participant in our church, leading our elementary kids ministry and being part of the online community so that during this time of stay at home kids can still connect with us.

Keeping family and Jesus at the forefront of our life and being a light to those around us .

Any new discoveries or must-haves for your large family?

I could give you a list that is long but what I have learned is that even if you can't buy that stuff spending time together is worth more . A simple meal together is remembered more than the well prepared with all the gizmos and gadgets that there are.

If I couldn't buy all the latest organization tools that are available because there are many:) you can still get by without them..

Simplicity and cutting back and learning to be content without is the key .If all the greatest must haves come....then awesome you can enjoy them all but without that contentment..you are always striving to want more..

“When you simplify “ and have less stuff it gives you more of life....more time...to enjoy.