"My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2" just came out and I found it hysterical and related it a lot to my life. Though I am not Greek, I do understand the struggles of having a super close family. And though sometimes it can seem like a death sentence, like the whole fam showing up to my game on a Wednesday afternoon, it has also taught me some of the most important life lessons.
1. You cannot be a sensitive person.
If I am in the room with someone from my family for more than three minutes without being made fun of, something is wrong. It's literally all we do and honestly sometimes we can be pretty mean, but it's all out of love. Because of it, I've grown some pretty tough skin so now little jokes from other people don't hurt. My grandfather tells someone new that they are his favorite every day just to watch us all bicker.
2. All holidays should be celebrated.
It doesn't matter if it's Christmas or Mother's Day or a random birthday, it will be celebrated as a family and we will go all out. With too much food, a lot of drinking, and even more fun. These holidays deserved to be celebrated and enjoyed as a family. My family celebrates at least two birthdays a month along will all the other holidays and yes they have to be separate parties.
3. Someone is always there.
It doesn't matter what is wrong or when it is you have someone (or 10 someones) to help you out. Your cousins will make you laugh, your aunts will give you advice, and your uncles will threaten to kill whoever caused it. But you are surrounded by people who want to make it better. My uncles death glared every teenage boy who walked by at my cousin's sweet 16 so they would have a warning if they ever hurt her.
4. The Family must approve of everyone.
It's a scary thing bringing someone new around, whether it's a significant other or event just a friend. You tried to avoid it as long as possible but eventually it has to happen. If they don't run screaming from your crazy family, its a great sign and if your family actually approves of them, they will be around for a long time. But if the family doesn't approve they are gone so fast. My cousin's boyfriend was approved by the family years ago and they are getting married next year.
5. Group chats are crazy.
We all have our group chats with our friends but my family one is way weirder. It's full of bitmojis because my mom and aunts are obsessed with them, weird memes and every other inside joke thing we find but are slightly too embarrassed to post on social media. And than randomly there is something serious or always the "What are you wearing today?" texts on event days where someone always responds "clothes." It's a mess but I'm never not laughing at it. I asked for help for this article in my group chat and my cousin said he learned, "we r lit."
6. Story time is the best time.
My favorite part of any family event is when everyone is sitting around and start telling weird stories from the past. Whether about you as a kid or what the adults were like before you existed or even some stories from grandma and grandpa's past. It's amazing to listen to the crazy things that happened and the things you still remember that you will talk about forever. My grandparents still tell the story of how they used to let the lobsters chase us before we cooked them on Christmas Eve.
7. You deserve support.
I could tell my family tomorrow that I'm dropping out of school and going to live on the streets and they would support it. It may not be what makes them happy but if I'm happy than they can be too. I have always had people to back me up on any decision I make so I have never been scared to live my life. I was so scared to tell my family when I wanted to switch majors but I was supported 100 percent and ended up finding what I loved to do.
8. Take a lot of pictures.
The adults in my family never understand why we take so many pictures, but looking back I am always so happy we did. I love looking at baby pictures and digging through grandma's old boxes to find pictures of my parents growing up and I want my future children and grandchildren to find old pictures of us. And I know there are a ton from years ago that I can still tell the story of and I'm hoping that 20 years from now I still remember that story when I find that picture again. My favorite picture is of me and my cousins giving the finger with big smiles on because my aunt told us too.
9. Tradition is important.
Continuing traditions is one of the most amazing things I have ever experience. When we do something and my Grandma says "We've been doing this since your dad was young" it makes my heart melt. Though it may not always be my favorite thing, I do it for her and I'll continue it with my kids so they can know how our family has grown. Every Christmas Eve we eat way too much food and every year we say we should cut back but we can't because it's tradition.
10. Making new traditions is important too.
You never really know when you're making a new tradition until long after it happens but it's so important to start new things because they make for some great memories. And years from now my kids will be doing it because it will be their tradition. My family stops at White Castle on the way home from Thanksgiving now every year because every year we eat too early and are hungry on the trip home.
11. Nothing stays secret.
If you tell one member of your family something, everyone will know it about a day, probably less but a few of my family members are still bad at texting. You don't even mean to make it gossip, you just tell each other everything and you happen to say it. And than it spreads and all of a sudden it's back to you and you have no idea how everyone found out. My cousin got asked to prom and our whole family knew before she could even post it on social media.
12. You won't live anything down.
If you do something even minorly embarrassing or dumb, you will be reminded of it for years and years. It could literally be 16 years after it happened but someone will bring it up and we will all laugh at your expense again. My mom made a big cake like five years ago and she was the only one who ate it and we bring it up almost every family party.
13. You're the lucky ones.
Most people barely know most of their family let alone talk to them every day. And I know they may seem over bearing and sometimes it sucks when you want to be with your friends on a Sunday but you have to go to see the family again but you are truly so lucky to have so many wonderful, crazy people by your side who share your DNA. You didn't get to choose this people but you would anyway and that's really special. My family is my best friends, my everything, I cannot imagine one single day without them because they make me the best verison of myself I could ever be.
