It seems that for most people being part of a large family is an annoyance; not that they don’t love their family members, but maybe they just wish there was a little less of them. I disagree; I adore being part of a big family. My family does not get along perfectly all the time – quite the opposite sometimes. However, this has never stopped me from loving them all unconditionally.

There’s a lot of reasons that I love my family and wouldn’t trade them for the world. I know that I’ll always have at least one person there for me whenever I need them. I’m lucky and I always have multiple people ready to help me should I need it. I also know who to go to for what problem. Do I need help with math or a ride somewhere? My grandfather is the person to ask. If I have an artsy assignment due and I’m lost, I go to my aunt. If I need my hair French-braided, to my grandmother I go. I want to gush about books, TV shows, or anything else nerdy and wonderful, I call my sister and her husband. Any other problem, I typically go to my mom. She is my favorite, after all. There’s a person for every question, comment, or concern I may have right there in my family, usually hanging out in my grandparents’ living room.

Being part of a big family means not being an only child, in my case anyways. I am one of four children but I was raised so closely with my cousins that I’m one of six – seven, if you count my sister’s husband, and I do. I love each and every one of them more and more every day. My younger siblings are twins and I was jealous of them when they were first born. I was no longer the baby and there were two of them! Even though I’m no longer jealous of them and we tend to argue more than we get along, I couldn’t imagine life without my little sister’s humor and my little brother’s interesting facts. My older sister is ten years my senior and I was practically glued to her side when I was younger. Shout out to her then-boyfriend-now-husband for trading in his truck for a car so that I could go with them literally everywhere they went. Thanks, Cube. We’re even closer now then we were back then, even though I’m away at college and she has two kids of her own to worry about. My cousins and I practically lived together when I was younger. If I wasn’t at their house, then they were at mine. We’ve shared many crazy nights and I can’t wait for all the ones that are to come.

Now, let’s talk about babies. I adore babies and I adore the babies that are in my family. Admittedly, all three of them are four or older, so maybe I shouldn’t call them babies; but I can remember the day they were born, so they’ll always be babies to me. These children add so much love and warmth to our family that just thinking about what a blessing they are makes my eyes water. I’m just their aunt and cousin! I can’t even imagine how their parents must feel. I know that I will never have the same relationship with them that I have with my siblings, but I love them unconditionally. I hope that as they get older they know they can come to me for anything, even though I know I’ll be the uncool aunt. Until then, I’ll just have fun spending as much time with them as I can.

While, for some, having a big family is the stuff of nightmares, I can wholeheartedly say that I would not be the same person I am today if it wasn’t for my big family. I am eternally grateful for the family that God has given me and I pray that I never see a day without them.