Kathleen Morsching knows what it means to have a full house. As the youngest of twelve siblings growing up in St. Clair, she was an aunt before she was even born. Today, as a mother of six and a brand-new grandmother, her home in Janesville has become a central hub—the safe, comfortable spot where kids, friends, and family gravitate.
With Mother’s Day approaching, Kathleen sat down to reflect on a motherhood journey that has spanned over two decades, multiple life chapters, and a ton of heart.
Kathleen’s story begins with her own mother, Carmel. Despite having an interior design degree from MSU, Carmel focused her talents on her twelve children. “She was fantastic,” Kathleen recalled. “She made great meals, was a wonderful mom, and made others laugh.”
Because her older siblings were often already married and out of the house, Kathleen found mother figures in her sisters as well, particularly her oldest sister, Luann. These early bonds formed Kathleen’s core belief in motherhood: “Just be there for your kids and support everything they do. Try not to go a day without talking to them.”
Kathleen’s own transition into motherhood came earlier than she expected. At 18, she found out she was expecting her first son, Brayden. “I was shocked,” she admits. “It’s not everyone’s goal right after high school, but I worked really hard to make sure he had a good life.” Despite the challenges of being a young mom, she pursued her education to become a dental assistant—a career she still enjoys today at Highland Dental. Her mother’s advice at the time was simple and steadfast: “Be there for your kids no matter what. Don’t give up.”
Life brought more surprises and joys for Kathleen in the forms of two more sons, Eli and Rylan. Then, in 2013, Kathleen’s path crossed with Jeremiah Morsching. The two met while their children were in the same daycare, navigating similar life circumstances.
When they married ten years ago, Kathleen transitioned from a mom of three boys to a stepmother of two girls, Macy and Ellie. “Going from three boys to now having two daughters in the mix…it was a little scary at first,” she laughed. The family eventually added the sixth member of this blended family, Ayla, to complete the Morsching household.
Managing a household of six children required logistics that would make a general proud. “We did have more than one bathroom, thankfully,” Kathleen said. “Our days would start at 6:30 AM. We encouraged them to be in activities and we attended as many as we could.”
This year, Kathleen’s motherhood journey came full circle. Brayden, the “little stinker” teenager who grew up to be a police officer, welcomed his first child, Wesley into the world in early March. “I’m so proud of Brayden for taking this next step into adulthood. He and I have such a strong friendship that I know he will want the same for his son.” Though Kathleen expressed astonishment at being a grandmother in her early-40s, it was something to expect given her early start at motherhood.
The newfound responsibility as Grandma Morsching has been met with complete pride and enthusiasm, “Becoming a grandmother has been wonderful…it’s impressive to see just how far the parenting gadgets have advanced since my first child. Stepping into this new role has been amazing; I just want to smother Wesley with love as often as I can.”
This Mother’s Day is particularly poignant for the Morschings. The house is about to get a lot quieter. Two seniors are graduating this year: Rylan, a fitness enthusiast considering a trade in welding, and Ellie, who is headed to the University of Minnesota to study law. Meanwhile, Eli plans to move out in the coming weeks. “I’m gonna cry my eyes out when they leave the nest,” Kathleen shared. “I’m scared but so excited for them. It will just be me, Jeremiah, and Ayla soon. We might even consider moving to better accommodate the three of us.”
When asked what advice she would give to the new mothers celebrating for the first time on May 10, Kathleen’s answer is grounded in the presence she has maintained through the years. “Just take each moment as slow as you can,” she noted. “Really talk to your kids and spend as much time with them as possible. Love them fully.”
As for her own plans? She isn’t sure what the kids have in store, but a large family meal is the typical Mother’s Day tradition. Whether it’s a day of pampering or just a day of controlled chaos, as long as the hub is full of her children’s voices, Kathleen Morsching will be happy.
