Growing up as the youngest in a family of seven, you learn to adapt to all sorts of different situations. From learning the need to hide some of your favorite snacks from big brothers, to giving up your youngest child status when your family decides to adopt. There are all sorts of lessons you learn growing up in a big family.
Some of the most poignant conversations and life lessons to learn, however, will come when you're no longer all littles running about, but, instead, all young professionals or about to be, for the most part, at least.
It's been a bit of a bittersweet transition. It is absolutely crazy to look back on, and suddenly realize that life has shifted. Some of my siblings are married, live in different countries, or have a baby. They're working full-time jobs. We don't all talk super frequently, but there are sweet moments and conversations to be had when we spend time together.
It hit me the other evening as we were all standing in the bathroom at our parents' house brushing our teeth a few days before my brother's wedding. The feeling in the room was tangible. A sweet childlike innocence was hanging in the air mingled with the life that we each individually have carried. It was a sweet moment in time that I will cherish.
One of those moments that really matter.
Growing up, you always want to fast forward to when you're older. You can't wait until you're 10, 13, 16, 18, 21. But once you're a bit older, you kind of miss being a kid sometimes. I love life, it's messy and confusing, and I need to constantly be checking my spirit to stay present in the current moment. But it's a beautiful adventure.
I loved growing up with all my siblings, and I love continuing to grow with them as we've all gotten older and accumulated different life experiences.
Some days, I feel like I should still be 12 and not allowed to ride the tallest roller coaster. Other days, I'm clearly strapped into that 95-degree drop coaster screaming empty screams as I fly downwards. My siblings have always been there for me in it all.
The days go by slowly, but the weeks go by in a blink. Looking back it's crazy to see the sum of all the different things that made up my younger years and teens. The realization that all of those things are still inside of me and I'm able to tap into that childlikeness whenever I need it, is sweet.
Though times have changed, my sister will lovingly still call me a kitchen monster... I think lovingly at least? I like to justify my storing of random bits of snacks in different spots as a construct of the family I grew up in. They still poke fun at my habit of leaving random bites all over, though... So I guess some things don't ever change with age.
