This Levittown mom has 10 children. What has it taught her about life on this Mother's Day

When Tyronda Majors speaks her voice is cashmere on clouds forcing listeners to lean in to hear the wise words of a woman who is a mother of 10 children.

Just because a tree may look beautiful doesn’t mean its fruit is sweet.

Keep what is in the teacup for yourself. What spills onto the saucer you share.

Your children are a reflection of you.

Over 17 years Majors, 50, and her husband Dwyane, 54, a mechanic, grew their family one kid at a time filling a seven-bedroom home in the Stoneybrook section of Bristol Township.

The Majors family is a rarity in American households today. In a Gallup Poll last year, only 2% of Americans surveyed believed five or more kids was the ideal family size.

But larger families may be making a comeback.

Americans’ belief that the ideal family size includes three or more children has been rising steadily in recent years, according to Gallup. In the same 2023 survey, 45% answered that the ideal family has three or more children, up four percentage points from 2018 to its highest point since 1971.

As her family grew, so did Majors.

She earned an associate’s degree in nursing while pregnant with her seventh child, then later her Bachelors of Science in Nursing in 2012. Today she is thriving in the health care career she put on hold for nearly 25 years.

The family’s blessings have kept coming. Six of her children have college degrees, seventh is pursuing a bachelor's degree and two more graduate this year. Three of her children have followed her in health care careers.

Her youngest child, born on Mother’s Day, will be a high school senior in September.

She has five grandchildren.

Two of them belong to her fifth child, Dominique, and her fiancée. Growing up, Dominique always said that she wanted 10 kids. But after two, she has reconsidered those plans.

“I don’t know how she did it,” Dominique said. “And I don’t wanna know.”

It was no easy journey, Majors said. But in recent years she has learned the importance of setting boundaries and embracing gratitude.

“The main thing is being honest to yourself and just genuinely loving yourself.”

Read on to learn more about what it is like to raise 10 children.

Did you always want a large family?

I never thought I was going to have a big family. It just happened. They just kept coming.

Did you or your husband come from large families?

She was one of five children, but her husband has only a brother.

Who are your children?

Cinquetta, 33, Kirrye, 32, Corey, 31, Courtney, 30, Dominique, 27, Devon, 25, Dwayne, 23, Christopher, 22 Colin, 19, and Cayla, turns 17 on May 11.

What did you give up for 10 children?

I gave up a lot. Opportunities. A lot of business opportunities

What is the greatest reward of 10 children?

All of them. My biggest inspiration are my children. I am happy when I'm looking at the fruits of my labor, I did a good job with my children. I'm not saying they’re perfect children, but when they go out, when you see your children really persevere in life, that's when you know you did a good job. When my kids go out into this world, I always say they have favor, and they do, they have the favor of God.

What is the biggest challenge of having 10 children?

Money. It was really hard. I still have children in college. I'm still paying for college. We are still doing all these things. It's just got a little bit better, but it's still not "Oh, we got it under control." I have some downfalls in this walk with my children. We actually went through something. That is why I tell my children, don't judge a book by its cover. You don't know what people went through. Don't be jealous, don’t covet.”

What is the typical reaction from people when you tell them you have 10 children?

You have 10 children? I don’t believe it and they always, ask what are their names and ages, and do they have the same father?

What have your children taught you?

All things, God. There is nothing but God. This is true with God all things are possible.

What do you hope for your children?

I want them to do everything better. I want the best for my children. I must say I cannot complain, like I said, it’s gratitude. I’m very humble when I say that.

Reporter Jo Ciavaglia can be reached at jciavaglia@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Bucks County Mother's Day: Levittown mom of 10 shares her journey