Interesting Life: Angel Loggins

Angel Loggins is a close personal friend of mine, a wife, a mother, and juggling quite a few children! Read on for her amazing story.

Currently residing with her husband in a small Tennessee town, Angel Loggins cherishes any free time available for her to pursue her hobbies. She loves crafts, such as crocheting, and is an avid reader and writer of poetry. Her favorite television shows are True Blood and The Tudors. Attending cosmetology school gave her the skills necessary to do makeup and hair for her friends. However, this seemingly ordinary 22 year olds life is anything but. Angel's household consists of four children, all of them 5 years or younger, including a set of twins!

Upon hearing her situation, I was compelled to sit down with her to hear firsthand the joys, struggles, and chaos that ensues from having so many young children under one roof. Although Angel and her husband, Curtis, have been married for six years, the twins are the only kids from their union. Angel is a stay at home mother while Curtis writes estimates for a local body shop. Between taxes and child support, the family usually has $1200 for monthly expenses. Listening to the details of her unique situation gave me a newfound sense of respect-and total awe-for this woman and everything she has accomplished.

The resounding theme throughout our conversation was how much Angel loves all of her children. Lindsay, at 5, is the oldest. Her father passed away in 2006. Angel describes Lindsay as an extremely intelligent little girl who loves reading and watching the Discovery Channel. She is "outgoing, bossy, and oftentimes thinks the world revolves around her" but definitely enjoys her role as Mommy's Little Helper.

A few months younger than Lindsay is Dalton, who is also 5. Curtis has custody of his son from a previous relationship though he currently pays child support to Dalton's mother. He is quiet and shy, and has made tremendous progress with his learning in the past year he has stayed with the family. Among other things he loves being outside, playing T-ball, and helping people. Just like most growing boys he has a voracious appetite and loves to eat.

Twins Alexander and Caiden are 2 years old and the babies of the family. Older by one minute, Alexander asserts himself as the dominate one. Caiden serves as the more loving and affectionate of the two. Both boys are proving to be very good at sports.

Angel outlines a typical school day for me: She wakes at 7 a.m. to get the older kids up for school. The twins usually are up by this time. Lindsay and Dalton scramble to get into their school uniforms and out the door. Although the school is within walking distance, Angel drives them because they live off of a busy highway. Once she comes home, she feeds the twins and lets them watch Teletubbies while she uses her computer to pay bills and respond to emails. For the rest of the day she cleans the house and takes care of the twins. Each afternoon, her mother-in-law brings the kids home from school. Dinner goes on the table between the hours of 5-7, depending on whether or not Angel has something prepared. All children are in bed by 8 p.m.

Approximately $200 a week is spent on food and diapers for the children. Yet this figure does not include clothes and shoes that are rapidly outgrown, nor does it cover doctor's visits or medications. Lindsay suffers from severe allergies and chronic sinusitis, Dalton has constant ear infections despite the tubes in his ears, and Caiden has asthma.

Having twins certainly makes life more stressful, especially now that they are mobile and in their 'terrible twos.' The older kids help with the twins and they also have chores around the house. It is very important to Angel that everyone pitches in when it comes to keeping the house tidy. Luckily, the family can also enjoy outings away from home due to the good manners of the children. Angel laments that the family cannot afford to eat out more often because "strangers always approach the table to talk about how well the kids behave." Going to the store is relatively painless as well. Lindsay and Dalton are old enough to understand "no touching" and "no running" rules. Alternating between a cart and a double stroller keeps the twins from getting bored while in public.

Regardless of behavior, four young children inevitably take a toll on a marriage. "Between the stress and constant care of four kids it really affects you physically and emotionally. In this relationship I am the primary caregiver and am around the kids 24/7 whereas my husband is the breadwinner. Alone time is non-existent" Angel tells me. Many times the couple argues about the kids and their finances, so that further ads to the stress. By the end of the day they are usually too tired to be intimate, which brings another source of tension.

Another factor contributing to the difficulties of Angel's marriage are the issues surrounding Dalton and his biological mother. Fate works in mysterious-and ironic-ways as evidenced by the relation of Dalton's mother to the rest of the family. Both Angel and Dalton's mother have children by Lindsay's deceased father, though Dalton is not the child. This unusual arrangement catalyzes disagreements between the adults, but Angel is quick to point out that they always occur behind closed doors and the kids are not aware. She reassures me that Dalton is an integral part of the family who is treated just like everyone else and feels no different than his siblings.

When was the last name Angel experienced some much needed alone time? "Two years ago!" she tells me exasperatedly. During her brief respite from home she was able to get her hair and nails done only to return to the daily grind a few hours later. Angel credits her mother-in-law with helping her maintain her sanity and always being only a phone call away, whether it is for some maternal advice or an unexpected emergency.

One of the most inaccurate stereotypes in contemporary societies says that stay home mothers has it 'easier' than a woman with a career outside of the house. Angel scoffs at this notion. "They can criticize it all they want after they've spent a week doing what I do every day. I would happily trade places with anyone in any job profession to prove my point!" Very few people could put themselves in Angel's shoes without having a nervous breakdown. I applaud Angel-and all other mothers with multiples-for their extraordinary abilities.