In a society that often questions or misunderstands large families, my husband, Nonso and I, have intentionally embraced family life as a sacred vocation. We firmly believe that children are a heritage from God and that each child is a unique, irreplaceable gift entrusted to us to nurture, love, and guide.

On 5 June 2026, my husband, whom I fondly call my Charming and I welcomed the gift of our beautiful baby girl—our sixth child.

Her birth came with an unexpected challenge. She was born in distress and admitted to the Neonatal Unit (NNU). Because of the urgency of the situation and the Church's desire that no child be deprived of the grace of Baptism when death is feared, my Charming immediately administered what the Catholic Church calls Emergency Baptism. She was baptized Montse Anagboso.

Many people do not know that in such situations, any person—not only a priest—can validly baptize a child, provided they intend to do what the Church does and use water while saying:

"I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."

It was one of the most emotional and faith-filled moments of our lives. As we prayed for her healing, we also entrusted her completely to Christ.

On 21 June 2026, after God restored her to us, we joyfully presented her before the altar. It was not another Baptism—the sacrament had already been validly celebrated—but a beautiful opportunity to thank God publicly, welcome her into the worshipping community, and ask for His continued blessings upon her life.

As Catholic parents, we believe Baptism is far more than a family tradition. It marks the beginning of a child's life in Christ. Through Baptism, a child is cleansed of original sin, becomes a child of God, receives sanctifying grace, and is welcomed into the family of the Church. What greater gift can parents give their children than the gift of faith?

Yes, Montse is our sixth child, and we are deeply grateful for every one of our children.

Every child is a blessing, not a burden. We have embraced the vocation of marriage and parenthood, remaining open to life while responsibly discerning God's will for our family.

The size of a family should never be a cause for ridicule or discrimination. Every family is called along its own path. Ours is to joyfully welcome the children God entrusts to us. Whether our family remains as it is today or grows in the future is something we will continue to discern prayerfully before God, not according to public opinion.

Please join us in thanking God for preserving our precious daughter and for His countless mercies to our family. May every child be welcomed with love, nurtured in faith, and raised to know, love, and serve God.

Intentional Parenting in Nigeria of today

Parenting six children in today's world requires more than good intentions; it calls for purpose and perseverance. Through my Intentional Parenting Platform, I share practical, faith-filled guidance to help families build homes that become schools of virtue and instruments for transforming society.

On the platform, we explore the everyday realities of family life, including:

• Faith Formation and Prayer: cultivating family prayer and passing on the Catholic faith.
• Marriage and Fatherhood: strengthening the marital bond and highlighting the indispensable role of fathers.
• Virtues and Discipline: helping children grow in self-discipline, respect, responsibility, and compassion.
• Practical Homemaking: budgeting, organisation, managing sibling relationships, and fertility awareness.

Our aim is to provide parents with practical tools to raise children who know, love, and serve God in a culture that often draws them in the opposite direction.

When school holidays begin, our home adopts an intentional weekly rhythm. In a large family, routine is not about rigid control but about creating peace, stability, and opportunities to grow together.

Our summer schedule seeks to balance faith, learning, work, rest, and recreation through simple daily and weekly habits: Faith at the Centre: beginning each day with family prayer; Scripture reading, and Holy Mass whenever possible. Responsibility and Work: involving each child in age-appropriate household chores, simple budgeting lessons, and cooking, helping them grow in diligence and teamwork. Intellectual and Creative Growth: setting aside quiet time for reading, creative activities, and educational pursuits. Rest, Recreation, and Service: enjoying outdoor play, family meetings, acts of charity, and one-on-one time with each child.

This rhythm helps keep our home peaceful, prevents the aimlessness that holidays can sometimes bring, and reminds our children that every day offers an opportunity to grow in love for God and service to others.

The Home, a domestic church and school of virtues

Our family is our first mission field. We have discovered that evangelisation does not always happen from a pulpit. More often, it takes place around the kitchen table and in the ordinary moments of everyday life.

We seek to proclaim the Gospel by welcoming each new child with gratitude; by praying the Rosary together as a family and by sharing meals, offering hospitality, forgiving one another, and beginning again each day.

Every lesson taught, every correction given with love, every sacrifice made for one another, and every act of generosity within our home becomes a quiet proclamation that Christ is Lord.

Our prayer is that our family's story may encourage other parents to embrace their vocation with confidence, to treasure every child as an unrepeatable gift from God, and to build homes firmly rooted in faith, hope, and love.