The Large family books are currently a favorite in my household. And there’s nothing like reading a book multiple times a week to really assess the characters involved.
And one character I’ve been thinking about a lot is Mr Large from ‘Mr Large In Charge’ (Large Family) by Jill Murphy
The premise of this children’s book is that Mrs Large isn’t well at the weekend and Mr Large takes charge and it’s a comical read about how he manages the day. At least I think it’s meant to be comical, but it always leaves me feeling somewhat despairing for Mrs Large.
Let’s review the story and score up his efforts.
#1 Spread: 0 Points
Mrs Large wakes up one morning feeling unwell. The first warning sign is that she drags herself downstairs to the kitchen where ‘Mr Large has kindly started the children on their breakfasts’.
I’m baffled as to why the word kindly is needed, as surely a father giving his children breakfast is just part of being a parent? Read likes this is unusual for him, and very kind of him to take on Mrs Large’s job of giving the children breakfast.
#2 Spread: 0 Points
Mrs Large is ill and he tells her to go to bed. Point to Mr Large, although I feel that’s generous to give anyone a point for telling their spouse to go to bed when they’re not feeling well. But realistically, I don’t think every spouse would do that.
So I would give him a point, but quickly need to take it away again because he says ‘It’s the weekend, so I’m in charge’. Appreciating he works in an office during the week, still to say that he’s only in charge at the weekends is a bit of a disappointing father figure statement.
#3 Spread: 1 Point
He gives all the children jobs to do, and he takes the worst task and puts some music on. He’s not put them in front of the television and we know that getting children to help out with jobs is very beneficial to them, so well done Mr Large.
#4 Spread: -1 Point
Minus point because Mrs Large is woken up by ‘the astonishing amount of noise blasting up through the floorboards’. I appreciate that 4 children do produce a fair amount of noise, but if Mrs Large is sick, Mr Large should be managing the noise levels more actively.
#5 Spread: -1 Point
Minus point because he’s not keeping an eye on the children – the baby wakes up Mrs Large by dusting her, then screams when she is pulled off. This wakes her up and probably makes her feel guilty that the baby is crying because she’s not there.
#6 Spread: -1 Point
Mrs Large loses her duvet because the baby has pulled them off and is now screaming ‘WANT MY MUMMY’. Not a restful experience for any mother. Minus point Mr Large (and he doesn’t seem to come up and sort them out).
#7 Spread: -1 Point
There’s a loud noise downstairs and the hoover stops working. Lester and Luke go to their mum’s room to tell her the hoover is fine. Minus point again for Mr Large who again isn’t watching what the children are doing and seems to have failed to tell them to not interrupt their mother (especially with non news like ‘the hoover is still working’)
#8 Spread: -1 Point
Mrs Large finally gets off to sleep and then ‘Mr Large crashed open the bedroom door’ to tell her they’re going to the park and then doing the shopping’. Minus point Mr Large – he could have left a note.
#9 Spread: -1 Point
Mrs Large is ‘woken by the smell of burning’. It turns out Mr Large was making lunch but then ended up watching the football and neglected the food which burnt so he had to switch to cheese sandwiches. Minus points here Mr Large.
#10 Spread: 0 Points
‘The door crashed open again and all the children came charging in’ to tell her they’re going into the garden to play football with dad. Baby again starts crying for mummy. Point for Mr Large for again not putting them in front of the TV but minus point for again clearly not telling the children to interrupt their mother (or failing to get them to obey that).
#11 Spread: -1 Point
Lester ‘burst into the bedroom’ asking where the bandages are. Minus point for Mr Large for not knowing where the bandages are. It’s his house too, has he never put a bandage on his children? Mrs Large is woken up again and it’s stressful to wake up hearing a family member is hurt.
#12 Spread: 1 Point
Point for Mr Large who brings in tea and cakes for Mrs Large, although he brings in all the children too which i feel could be slightly guilt inducing.
#13 Spread: -1 Point
Mr Large tells all the children to leave (then why did he bring them in) but Mrs Large (quite passive aggressively) says she’s had a very restful day and she’s feeling better so they can all join her for tea.
Grand Total points tally for Mr Large: -6 Points
It ends with a delightful scene of everyone on the bed telling Mrs Large about the day she’s missed (although it feels like a touch of irony seen as how she was updated throughout the whole day).
Room for Growth: Mr Large’s Attempt at Parenting Falls Short
I conclude with minus six points to Mr Large. Whilst I feel he has probably bested the average Boomer Dad who would probably say he wouldn’t know what to do with 4 children all day, I think dads are being held to higher standards now.
If you want to be a dad, you need to be able to know how to look after your children and how to care for your wife properly, and I feel Mr Large has displayed quite a few shortcomings throughout the story. Whilst he’s not done terribly, there is definitely room for improvement.
Mrs Large Deserves a Break: Why Modern Fatherhood Calls for More
I feel sad for Mrs Large who is so essential to the family she can’t really get one day off totry and recuperate but is constantly interrupted by the entire family.
So like many people, Mr Large is in no way a villain, but neither is he a hero. He’s a father who is trying, but I hope he reflects on the day with Mrs Large afterwards and decides to work on being a better husband and father.
I like to think that Mr Large then puts all the children to bed so that Mrs Large can keep resting and then gives Mrs Large the following Saturday a Spa day so she can properly rest. I live in hope.
Do give it a read and decide for yourself about Mr Large – https://www.waterstones.com/book/mr-large-in-charge/jill-murphy/jill-murphy/9781406320961
You can also watch the full book being read out on YouTube:
