Growing Up in a Large Family

One good thing is that we always had someone to play with. My siblings and I knew how to create our own fun. Although we had our share of squabbles, just like any family, we never held a grudge for too long. Momma would always emphasize to us the importance of loving and looking out for each other.

Funny thing about us is that we could be temporarily upset with each other but on the other hand, we were each other's staunchest supporters.

Chronologically I am situated near the bottom of the family birth order. Because of that, I was always reminded from school teachers of what good students my older siblings were. The younger ones were expected to duplicate this behavior. That was sometimes a tall order.

We were poor. Wearing hand-me-downs was a common occurrence for us. Those hand-me-downs came from older siblings or from the local thrift store up the street. Because fashion trends had changed from the older siblings and the younger ones, their clothes were not always welcomed. If they fit us properly, we wore them. Practicality was the most important thing my parents were concerned with.

We ate together as a family. Of course the table was much too small. The older children and my parents sat at the table. The younger ones would place old newspaper on the floor in the next room and eat there. It allowed us to be in close proximity and share lots of stories and laughter.

My two older sisters had the job of helping the plates for the family. We always went to our second oldest sister because we could always count on her to give us bigger portions of food. To this day we still tease our older sister who was stingy in the distribution of our food.

Very rarely did we have birthday parties. It was just too much money to have additional mouths to feed. Sometimes Momma would bake a special cake if money allowed it.

I'll never forget when my older sister went off to college. Even though it was only about a 45 minute drive from home I cried uncontrollably. She was going to stay on campus. She encouraged me the best way she could. Eventually I accepted the fact that this was how it was going to be.

Although as adults we are located in different areas of the country, we keep in touch with one another. We communicate by telephone and e-mail mostly. Sometimes a handwritten letter may be received.

Next week we'll all be together in recognition of our father's 90^th birthday celebration. It will be a time of laughter and catching up on what's going on in our lives. No doubt memories from the past will be lovingly shared with those in attendance.

Being from a large one was a happy and special time. And I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.

SOURCE:

Personal experience