I saw this show on TLC called "Kids by the Dozen". Each episode is about a new family and each family has around a dozen kids...maybe more or maybe less. In this day and age it seems so weird for a man and a woman to have that many biological children...no step-children, especially since the average family has 2.4 children. Coming from a large family (nine children), I am not surprised at the way of life for these families. Most of the families lived on larger pieces of property, kind of a country-ish setting, the older children helped out with the younger children, and meals always looked like feasts. Growing up I thought it was normal for people to have large families, it seemed that everyone I knew had at least 5 brothers and sisters. In fact, I did not realize that people might only have a sister or a brother and only children were rare. Anyhow, the children in the families were very disciplined and knew how to work together. There were definitely rules in place and the children followed them...for the most part. I point that out, because it is a common misconception that large families always live in chaos.
I kind of laugh that there are shows, talk show appearances and even book deals for large families. To me it was normal to have that many children in a family. Sometimes I think about what it would have been like if I only had a sister or brother...even just two of each, but I think of each personality and everyone is so different, so it is difficult to think about that too long. Each brother and sister brought something new and unique to our family. There was always someone to play basketball with or we could play wiffleball in the back yard. We were supposed to always have a buddy with us when we went on bike rides (remember Bunker Creek Road bike ride?). Sometimes we would play different imaginary things like 'house', 'restaurant', and even 'architects'. Basically, there was always someone who would play or join the fun if you asked. Some of the greatest memories of a large family are just being together as a family. The best thing about a large family...it is ALWAYS a party when we get together.
4 comments:
AMEN sista! Those were the days, eh? And it IS always a PARTY when we all get together!
I totally understand that! I have 5 older brothers (so we're only half a dozen, I guess), and there was ALWAYS something to do. I'm 6 years younger than my next oldest sibling, so I was more or less the tag-a-long little sister. But I rememeber some fun times!
Not that I feel that we are to have that large of a family, we still get raised eyebrows now that we have 2 kids and tell people we want to do this again, a few more times. I remember Amy telling me once that she always wished for a sibling and loved to come over because she could be a part of our large family. That's something that has always stuck with me and something I recall when people start to judge.
oh how i can relate!!! big is great :)
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