So few people want large families these days. Most of the results I find by googling are opposed to having kids or claim people who do are just talking themselves into it and really don't want to. Why do so many Trads here have lots of kids and what's so great about it? What about sacrifice? Does it take so much of your time, energy and money that you are missing out on life? Are people mean to you, when you go out with your kids? Do your neighbors look down on you now? Are you scared how your kids will turn out as adults?
Hello Anonymous-
Here is my experience:
1) We have lots of kids to obey God, and show ourselves docile to His providence;
2) What's great about it is that they make us better people (by thinking about them instead of ourselves), and our sacrifices for them help us get to heaven;
3) Sacrifice is the core issue: Those who don't want large families usually contrive excuses from a worldly perspective. Jesus said those who did not take up their cross, follow him, and do penance, would not see the kingdom of heaven. For most married people, the burdens of parenthood (and all the associated stresses) are the crossed Jesus is sending you for your sanctification. If you shrug off those crosses, you will likely not save your soul (with many exceptions, of course!);
4) Yes, parenting takes much of your time, money, and energy (especially the latter). If I only had two kids, I could be driving a corvette, have a cabin in the woods, etc. And perhaps some day I will have those things. But I do not prize them above fidelity to the purpose of Catholic marriage. If I ended up living in a trailer park, but my family were all in the state of grace, I would be content. You have to be vigilant in warding off a worldly and secular view of life!
5) Yes, people are mean to my wife all the time, and yes, even the neighbors look down on us. That's part of the cross. If you ever notice the Jєωs and Muslims are taking over, it is precisely because they are more committed to their false religions -and live them daily- more than we of the one true religion tend to live ours: Of course they will look down on us! "No servant is greater than his master...if they persecuted me, they will persecute you." Consequently, if you are not being persecuted in some way, it is a sign that you are not living your faith (and are shrugging off the crosses Jesus is sending you for your salvation).
6) Your last question, I do not really understand: Living this way (i.e., Catholic) is the only reason for my confidence in the way my children will turn out. They will spend their lives trying to retain grace, and their strength of character will protect them from many of the temptations and sins of so-called normal children: Drugs; impurity; worldliness; eventual damnation.
My advice to you is this:
You need to think more about God than yourself, and the rest will follow.
Without that, you have only hell fire to look forward to.