I have friends with 4 brothers and sisters, 25 cousins, and12 aunts and uncles; some of whom they’ve met only a few times or never at all. From what they’ve told me, they spent most of their childhood with their siblings and with a couple of their cousins; never really getting to know each family member. My family is a completely different story. I have one brother and four cousins, who I am extremely close with.
I was welcomed into my family with wide smiles and open arms. As the second baby (and first girl) to be born into my small family, my grandparents, aunts and uncles, and my oldest cousin adored me. My birth was quickly followed by another one of my cousins, which was followed by my brothers a year later. Two more babies came soon after, eventually completing our family.
My cousins, my brother and I were all so close in age that it was easy for us get along. It made it easy to bond over whatever was going on in our lives, whether it was going to the fish hatchery when we were in elementary school to talking about all of our high school drama the past few years. There’s so many reasons that I’m thankful for my little, close-knit family.
I’m thankful for my cousins because, although there is only a few, they are some of my best friends. I will never have to question whether or not they will be in my lives because I know they always will. They’ve been there through my ups and my downs, all my stages and my phases, and they’ve never judged me for any of it. They were born my cousins, but became my friends. If I need someone to talk to about anything, I have each of them.
I’m thankful for my aunts and uncles for treating me like their second child and for making me always feel at home in their house. I’m also thankful they never got (that) mad at my cousins and I for all the stupid ideas we had or the crazy things we did. All the times they drove to come visit and hang out with my family and I when we moved made all of us really happy.
I’m thankful for my grandparents for being the hosts; for giving us a place for us all to call home, even though it’s technically just yours. I’ve never had a doubt in my mind that I wouldn’t spend a Christmas with my entire family at your house, opening our stockings and presents around the tree. I’m thankful that my grandparents were the glue that held us all together from the beginning.
I’m thankful for my parents for never denying my brother and I the opportunity to spend time with our family. All the drives, cookouts, birthdays, and get-togethers were worth it. They brought our family closer than I could have ever imagined. I know the closeness didn’t always come easy and there were times when we all got a little annoyed with each other, but I’m grateful for every second that I’ve had to grow up with an awesome family like this one.
No matter how big or how small, a family is a family, but I feel extremely lucky to call this little one mine. The love that we all share for each other is unquestionable and I’m fortunate to share such strong bonds with every one of them. As we grow older I know we will probably see each other less and less, but the bonds will always be there. Each time we see each other, everything will feel the same, and I’m so thankful for that.
