Just like any small community relies on extra help to make things happen and ensure everyone is taken care of, there is one family in particular who has realized firsthand how important the help from those around them can be.
At 30 years old, Amanda Amyotte welcomed her first son, Morris. Little did she know, within the next five years her family would grow much quicker than she and her husband, Phil, could have ever anticipated.
About 18 months after having Morris, the Amyotte family would welcome another little boy, Remi, into their family. Then, 18 months after that, their third-born son, Daxon would come along.
“After three, we were pretty busy,” says Amanda, as she sits at her surprisingly calm and quiet kitchen table, while her kids play nearby. With three very active boys, Amanda and Phil felt like they could be done having kids, although they had originally planned on having four.
Then, after a funny incident at school where Morris told a teacher that his mom was going to have two baby girls, Amanda laughed off the incident, only to realize later that she may have already been pregnant again.
“I felt pregnant,” she says, with a laugh. And because the kids were all so close in age, each time she fell pregnant she required an ultrasound to see how far along she actually was.
When she was pregnant with the three boys, Phil would go along with Amanda to each of the ultrasound appointments. This time, Amanda went alone to the ultrasound appointment.
“Sure enough, it was twins,” says Amanda, adding, she was shocked and remembers crying on the phone when she called her husband. “He was instantly overjoyed,” and showed everyone the ultrasound picture.
And of course, her oldest son was quite happy to hear the news, saying, “See, I told you mom,” when he found out he would be gaining two baby sisters.
At 36 weeks pregnant, Amanda delivered two health babies – Alyvia and Anabelle, who are now about nine months old.
With five children who are five years old and under, every trip out of the house requires packing and planning. Snacks to keep the kids fed and healthy are a must, extra clothes for the youngest are also needed, and considering three of the five kids are in diapers, that adds a bit more work to any outings.
But, Amanda admits she likes to stay busy, and she likes to keep her kids involved in experiencing the world. She says staff at Mallaig School will sometimes laugh at her when she packs up all the kids just to go browse books at the book fair.
Amanda says that she does get “funny looks” when she’s out with all five of her kids, and people are surprised when they learn they are all her kids. But, she recognizes that having five kids so close together is a rare thing now. She says most of the time she isn’t offended by the looks or funny comments, but understands that sometimes people just don’t know what to say.
Five years after having her first son, Amanda says her parenting style has shifted from being a rather uptight new mom, to a more relaxed and patient parent.
She says her expectations on what she can accomplish in one day have also changed, for example, how clean the house will be and how much laundry will get done. But, one key to keeping things running smoothly for Amanda is her knack for organization.
“Organization is huge, in everything.”
From keeping clothes and toys organized, to meal preparation, Amanda prides herself on being organized.
“Routine is also very important. It makes the whole day go better.”
Especially when she typically runs on about five hours of sleep a night, Amanda knows the importance of having quiet time during the day, and she also works to have one-on-one time with each of her kids. Although it can sometimes be hard to spend time doing what each individual child enjoys, it somehow manages to work out between naps and grandparents who are involved and enjoy taking the kids often.
“Each one of them is so different,” says Amanda of her children, adding, “Each one requires different parenting.”
One of the most surprising things for Amanda, that she has noticed over the past nine months, is that her oldest sons have shown very little jealousy toward their baby sisters, and are actually very protective and helpful.
Morris and Remi know how to make bottles for their sisters, and if the girls start to fuss while their mom is busy, the boys are quick to dance and make silly faces to entertain their little sisters.
“(The boys) really want to be involved.”
In January of this year, Amanda also realized the importance of taking time for herself, and setting aside time to be with her husband. That month was particularly rough, with one child admitted into hospital and the other four fighting colds and sickness.
When asked who she turns to for parenting advice, Amanda says she does ask her dad a lot of questions about how she was when she was a baby, since her mom has now passed on. But, sometimes he doesn’t have a lot of answers, she says with a laugh.
And so, Amanda has come to rely on some of her closest friends, not only for advice, but also for support when the days feel long. Having a good coffee date with a friend is helpful, and something she believes is important.
Along with Phil working in St. Paul for Caouette & Sons, the Amyotte family also keeps a farm operation running. The family seeds about 1,200 acres in the spring, and has about 600 head of cattle.
The boys are often outside, helping their dad, and learning about the farm. The other day, Amanda even found the boys taking apart of toy power wheel. They cleaned it up and put it back together, “and it worked,” says Amanda.
And come this spring, Amanda will also be busy tending to her large garden. Growing some of their own food is something the family sees as being important, and the kids are also involved in that aspect.
If life wasn’t busy enough already, the Amyottes also aren’t shy to get involved in their community. Their oldest son is already playing hockey, and both Amanda and Phil are known to take part in volunteer activities.
Amanda is the president of the Mallaig Ag Society, while Phil sits on some agricultural related boards, and the family is also involved in the nearby Catholic Church. Often, when things need to get done, the kids simply tag along and help.
“The kids see it as part of our lifestyle,” she says, adding, they are eager to help out. “We want them to know the community doesn’t run on its own.”
And just like any community needs extra help and volunteers to support it, Amanda says she couldn’t think of a better community to live in, and be supported by throughout some of the busiest years of her life.
Even nine months after giving birth to the twins, people still stop by unexpectedly with food, hand-me-down clothes, and other necessities. The family still gets phone calls from community members, offering to watch the kids so Phil and Amanda can have a date night.
“We’ve been supported by so many people,” says Amanda. “Even through all the busyness, we feel very blessed.”
