Family. A word synonymous with noisy, crazy, weird, and chaotic. Especially if you come from a large one like me. As the oldest of five kids, I know what it’s like to have constant commotion in the household. On the rare occasion that every single family member is actually home in-time for dinner, we often have additional guests. “Family dinner” turns into our parents, five kids, 3 friends, 2 neighbors, and one boyfriend or girlfriend. This increasing number of people directly correlates with less personal space. My sister would end up wearing my clothes, and my brothers would take my soccer balls. And with younger siblings, you can kiss sleeping in on the weekends goodbye. If I did attempt to sleep in, my youngest brother would dive bomb my bed shouting “Play with me, play with me” until I angrily woke up. Those left overs you put in the fridge two hours ago? You better believe someone else will eat them, if he or she hasn't already.
After high school, I was ready for my independence. To me, college was an escape from the constant hustle and bustle from my big family. I would not have to drive my siblings anywhere or make food for more than one person, and best of all, actually sleep in for once. I thought college would be the freedom from my big family I was long awaiting. Don’t get me wrong, I was going to miss them. But the chance to be self-sustaining and free from additional responsibilities sounded like bliss. However, to my surprise, I proved myself wrong. Within the first month of school, homesickness racked my brain. I actually missed being needed! I missed my goofball siblings and their crazy antics.
Since being away at college, I have grown to appreciate my big family abundantly more. I have always loved and cherished them, but the distance made me realize how special they really are. With a big family, there is always something to do. Whether it is watching TV or playing a board game, life is never boring. At home, doing chores meant blasting music in the kitchen and chasing my brothers with a mop. Moving from home to my small dorm by myself, I felt like I was missing out on all the shenanigans, the memories. Going home for break is often the only thing that gets me through finals week. Before college, “home” meant responsibilities, no sleep, and compromising to do whatever my siblings wanted. Today, “home” is my favorite place. Home is where my best friends are, the people that wake me up at eight am on a Sunday to go bike riding to a new park. I get to help my brothers with homework and bake cookies with my sister. The things I originally saw as work, have turned into things I enjoy doing, because it’s with the people I love. While the idea of independence seemed nice at first, it quickly became lonely. Your family members are like instant friends that are forced to like you. So whether or not you want to believe it, you need them, and they need you.
