For those of us fortunate enough to have large families, you know that there are a lot of different things that come with that. There are good times and bad ones, fun times and sad ones. Family can make you go crazy and want to pull your hair out, and make you crazy happy at the same time. Large families, and family in general, are a blessing and a burden. At the end of the day, you still love each and every one of them.
1. Constant chaos
Living with a bunch of different people with different and similar personalities means lots of butting heads with each other. There is always something going on; whether it be soccer practice, a band concert, or theater performance, there is chaos. Life is constantly twisting and turning, it has just become the normal day to day routine, and any quiet time is rare and cherished.
2. Always loud
Along with the constant craziness, there is constant loudness. Sometimes you wonder how you haven't gone completely deaf yet. Dinner is the loudest time of the day, with everyone wanting to share their joys and grievances from the day….all at once. With 2 kids this is no problem, but 5 kids it is impossible to contain. Everyone must be heard at all times, even at ungodly hours of the night sometimes.
3. Huge reunions
Family here, family there, family everywhere. It's one thing to have a few siblings, but when both of your parents have lots of siblings, the amount of relatives multiplies quickly. There is always some new cousin or aunt that you've never met before. And lots of old people wanting to squeeze your cheeks and tell you how big you've gotten. But it is exciting to know that there is a good number of people you can call family.
4. Laundry mix up
Having a lot of people in one house means there is a crap ton of clothing. And all this clothing has to be washed, which is a chore that takes forever to do. Once it's done, it becomes a pile of mess to be claimed. Somehow, not everyone knows what clothes go to which person and it gets put in the wrong basket, meaning you might never see that cute shirt again.
5. Called by wrong name
Your parents gave you your name, so they should know it, right? Well sometimes that's not the case. Your dad goes to call for a kid and this happens: “Eliza...Kenzie...Jackson..boy! Come here!” It can be frustrating at first, but you get used to it and forgive them for their mistakes, and eventually figure out which of your siblings they are talking to.
6. Lots of food
Lots of people = lots of food. This can be a good thing and a bad thing. Good when it's your favorite meal and there is plenty of it…until it's all gone because everyone else likes it. Bad when it's all gone, and when nobody really likes the meal and there are tons of leftovers nobody wants to eat. Either way, there's always something in the fridge.
7. Sharing everything
You know the old saying, “Sharing is caring!” My mom knows this too and makes sure we live by it. Share the couch, share your room, share your clothes, let her borrow that shirt, share your car, share your whole life because there are no secrets. At least you might get the benefit once in awhile.
8. Drama
No secrets means there is always something being talked or screamed about. You get to hear about the mean girl at school and how soccer practice was awful. Then there is the problem of what movie to watch that night, or that shirt is actually yours and you want it back. This goes from just bickering to screaming and yelling, then storming off and not talking for awhile.
9. Explaining to others the relationships
Due to the multitude of people in your family, you are continuously having to explain who your siblings are, how that one cousin is related, which aunt belongs to which parent, and how life itself works. As boyfriends and girlfriends get thrown into the mix, there are more relationships you have to describe to others. Your family tree is at least a mile wide and confusing as heck.
10. Wishing you were an only child
Sometimes all the chaos gets to you and having fight after fight with your sister is more than slightly annoying. You go hang out with your friend who is an only child, and get to enjoy the peace and quietness of their home, wishing that you could be an only child too even for just one day.
11. Lots of fun
