Growing up in a family of seven (two parents and five kids, in case you didn't figure that out), I quickly became acquainted with several difficulties that pertained to the fact that we were an odd-numbered family. Constantly pairing up with partners in elementary school and always hearing the phrase "sharing is caring," I learned that the world often revolves around even numbers and the concept of equality. It was a rude awakening when I didn't see this "perfect" world vision at home.
Now, this article is not addressing the only child with two parents, though I'm not ignoring the fact that that is clearly an odd-numbered family. I'm talking to those kids out there with multiple siblings, the families of five, seven, nine, eleven, or more (you should be writing your own article if you're in the "more" category!!!). I hope that we can relate with each other on these points, and that you will be able to see that you're not alone. We can help each other make it through these extreme difficulties.
Here are seven difficulties from living in an odd-numbered family:
1. The impossibility of evenly splitting food.
I vividly remember my mom trying to split five Sprinkles cupcakes between the seven of us. Despite her earnest efforts, there was always a remnant of cupcake left over that we inevitably fought over. It may seem trivial, but you would totally understand if all of your siblings had to split meals except for one lucky child (usually the youngest). You would be outraged, too.
2. Food is always packaged in even numbers.
This is just an addition to the previous point, but seriously, everything from hot dogs to Pop Tarts are packaged in even numbers. You either have to over-buy groceries, or someone has to go without a Pop Tart for a day. Cue more sibling fights.
3. Someone always has to ride alone on a 2-seater rollercoaster.
Think about your last family trip to Disneyland or Magic Mountain. Whether it's Thunder Mountain or Goliath, someone is always going to have to be a single-rider, enduring the melancholy solitude of sitting alone or awkward experience of sitting next to a bizarre stranger.
4. Family Four Packs are useless.
We've all heard it announced on the radio! "You win a Family Four Pack of...!" and we who are odd-numbered family members ignore the rest of the sentence. Who's to say a Family of 4 sets the standard, ideal family of society?
5. Family games are never equal.
From the board game of Life to beach volleyball, competitive games pose quite a few difficulties for odd-numbered families. The whole family cannot play the 4-player game of Life, and one team on beach volleyball will always have one more player than the other team. You're either left out of the board game, or fighting for a spot on the team with more players.
6. Someone ends up sleeping on the floor.
Do you remember that family vacation you went on last summer? There were only two beds in the hotel room, but your parents didn't want to buy another hotel room just so everyone could sleep on a bed. Yep, that means one lucky child gets to sleep on the hotel room floor. Talk about a vacation!
7. Life's not fair.
No matter how many times you whine, complain, or cry, proclaiming "That's not fair!!!" the comfort you will always hear in return is "Life's not fair." (unless you're the youngest child)
