People are funny.

While the overwhelmingly most common reaction to our family size and the fact that we are adopting again is an accusation of Josh and I suffering from a lack of stable mental health, there has also been a completely opposite and surprising reaction popping up quite often.

We have now heard more than a few times, "Well of course after this you have to go for the even dozen!" and, "Cheaper by the dozen you know! 12 is perfect!" and even, "Well you can't stop at 11, you have to go for 12."

It is true that "Cheaper by the Dozen" has a cute ring to it (and we do enjoy the movies) and an even number of children can be practical for lots of reasons, however it is very clear to me that anyone who suggests we need to hit the magic number of 12 is not an experienced parent.

Let me explain to you why.

If you have an even number of children (we'll call it 10 just for giggles), and let's say you take a vote to see if you should make peanut butter and jam sandwiches for lunch or macaroni and cheese, five kids will say peanut butter and jam and five kids will say macaroni and cheese.

If you take a vote on whether you should watch Home Alone or How the Grinch Stole Christmas, five will vote for Kevin and five will vote for the Grinch.

It does not really matter what you are taking a vote on, if you have an even number of children, they will split the vote. This will happen every single time you let the kids vote on something.

Occasionally it will look like there will be a clear winner. Aha! Seven kids voted to go to the children's museum and only three voted to go to the zoo! Woo hoo! And then Shane will say, "Oh wait. I forgot. I pinched my finger on something at the museum last time. I don't want to go there. I want to go to the zoo," and Ben will say, "Yeah, me too. I change my mind. I want the zoo like Shane," and there you are, all tied up again.

Occasionally the kids will split a vote on something and you will stand there and give them "that look". You will give them the look that says, "Make a decision now!" and one kid will switch her vote to Pizza Hut to sway things that way, but then just as quickly one of the boys who had originally voted for Pizza Hut will say, "Wait! I change my mind. I am sick of pizza. I want Burger King."

It has become clear to me that even numbers of children means that democracy does not work. Democracy is only an option in families with odd numbers of children.

Little Solomon may be the baby coming into this family, but that little boy is going to hold all of the power. We've joked about giving him the nickname "swing vote". Eleven kids is going to be a very good thing. Eleven kids is going to mean that there will be a majority and decisions will be made quickly and fairly.

When it comes to family planning, I say "odd" is the way to go. :)

* Picture from Liquid Library