Try saying that title five times fast! Another thing that may be tricky to say five times in a row is naming all of your siblings. Heck, it's tricky to say them all just once! In my opinion, having a lot of siblings is one of the best things in life. You always have someone to hang out with, you're guaranteed a solid group of lifelong friends, and you experience more love, in one day, than some people see in a whole week. However, growing up in a large family, in the South, is an experience unlike any other. Let's take a look at some of the highlights:
1. You eat red beans and rice almost every day.
AND. YOU. LOVE. IT. This is truly a win-win situation: Your mom can feed you and your siblings for a super cheap price, and it tastes like absolute heaven. Give me red beans and rice or give me death.
2. You are constantly asked if you are a religious byproduct.
Some random lady: "So, how many siblings do you have?"
Me: "9."
Lady: "Oh, BLESS YOUR HEART. Are your parents Catholic?"
Me:
I'm sorry you haven't noticed we live in the 21st century, where my parents are allowed to want a large family without any religious convictions. Bless YOUR heart, ma'am. *snaps fingers in z-formation*
3. THE FOOD.
Okay, I'm sure you're thinking to yourself, "but wait, didn't she just do a point about food?" Yes, dear reader. And I'm doing it again, because this is the South. In a large southern family, something is always cooking in mama's kitchen (or daddy's, depending on who cooks better), and it is amazing! Food is the main reason you come home. More than likely, your friends and extended family come to your house for the food. And then y'all sit around the big dining room table, enjoying a taste of heaven.
4. Your mama raised you on southern morals, and you are going to act like it, gosh dang it.
Going anywhere with your siblings is always an adventure. Every time one of you begins to whine or argue in public you turn around to face this stare from Mom:
There are very, very few times I have been scared to the point of tears. Every single one of those times involved my mother giving me one of these looks.
5. You go to church every Sunday morning...
And every Sunday night for family bible study. Monday nights are for Mom's bible study, Wednesday nights for youth group and Thursday nights to help with childcare while Mom was at her other bible study. Friday nights are for praise and worship. And Saturday nights help you get ready for Sunday mornings. The process repeats. Sure, it was stressful, but when you feel the love of Jesus because all of mom's friends are praying for you, it goes a little like this:
PRAISE. HIM.
6. Life with your siblings is always a party.
Honestly. Ain't no party like a sibling party because a sibling party just don't stop. Whether it's eating together, going to church together, or playing out in your front yard together, each day is better than the last. Growing up in the South, family is absolutely the number one priority in everyone's life.
7. Other times, life with your siblings is one big fight club.
In large families, it's literally impossible to always be in agreement with one another. I mean, there are so many kids, so many personalities. How can you always get along? Your mom will read lots of self-help books to figure it out, but the answer is simple: you don't.
8. But fights never last long because someone breaks them up.
Lots of siblings means lots of fights, but it also means lots of referees to make sure no one gets seriously hurt.
9. You gossip about your own siblings. To each other. In your own house.
If you're not from the South, this is probably appalling for you to hear, but it's pretty much second nature to us. Gossip is best served with sweet tea and a side of, "bless her heart". This has always been THE FUNNIEST thing to me about growing up in a large family. If you didn't grow up in one, let me explain it to you: You give your brother a black eye once, (BY ACCIDENT OK?). Your siblings will bring this up in conversations for the next ten billion years. Or, how about another example: Older brother #2 says something condescending to younger sister #3? THE AUDACITY. You talk about how much of a jerk he is when he's literally in the next room. Even better, you talk loud enough to where he can hear and get angry. But, when he finally does come after you, you're all like "GTGTGTGTG MOM PLS HELP" and you cannot run away fast enough.
10. You always have someone to stick up for you.
This one really speaks for itself. It doesn't matter if 8 out of your 9 siblings are against you, there will always be that one who is on your side and will tell everyone else to leave you alone. This puppy meme pretty much sums up how I look after one of my older brothers sticks up for me.
(Shout-out to that one sibling who backs you up no matter what. They're the real MVP.)
11. Waiting for an available bathroom is like waiting in purgatory.
Forget the Rougarou. Forget the alligators in your backyard. The real horror story is waiting for your brother to get out of the shower. He has been in there for two whole hours and you have to remind him HE IS NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS PLACES TO BE TODAY. God forbid you go back into your room for a few minutes. If you do, your younger sister will jump the line and take over the bathroom. Now you have to sit and wait for the next hour while quietly planning your vengeance on planet Earth.
12. Convincing at least one of your siblings that an alligator will eat them if they misbehave.
In the South, alligators can regularly show up on your street or even your back porch, so this is an easy thing to convince them of. When they behave badly, you give them that look, reminding them of their lurking punishment if they don't get it together.
BONUS: If you really don't believe me, here's a picture of my little sister with an alligator that showed up under my mom's van one time. #girlslikegatorstoo.
14. Bringing home your significant other for the first time, is as big a deal as the second coming of Jesus Christ.
Dating is taken seriously here in the South. This is not something you can do low-key. The second your siblings catch wind of the fact you're seeing someone, they are all over it like flies on honey and determined to find out every detail (see point #9). When you bring your significant other home for dinner, you constantly have to tell your siblings to tone down the questions. This is a nice dinner and not an interrogation session, thank you.
15. No matter how far you go, or who you become, one thing is for sure: the greatest thing about your life was growing up in the South with so many siblings.
At times, having a lot of siblings is definitely challenging, but absolutely nothing in this world compares to a house filled with people you love, and who love you just as much. Home is wherever these people are, where the food is, where the oak trees grow, and where alligators show up on your back porch.
