Pages

Friday, September 26, 2008

12: Reasons It's Great to Grow Up in a Big Family



1. You have to learn to respect other people and their property. Because other people and their property are everywhere you look.

2. You always have at least one buddy to hang out with.

3. You see your own strengths and weaknesses very clearly when you grow up around so many different people. And these strengths and weaknesses balance one another out and you in turn become a much more balanced person.

4. You learn to share.

5. You are very aware of the fact that there are other people in the world besides you.

6. You can't always get what you want, but you learn to work it out so it's best for the whole group.

7. You learn how to work well with, love, and have fun with a vastly diverse group of people. Sounds like wonderful training for the world to me.

8. You learn to work well even with almost constant interruptions.

9. It's impossible for your parents to take care of your every need and desire immediately. You have to learn independence and personal responsibility.

10. You learn selflessness.

11. Unless your dad is an astronaut, you'll probably have to get a job as soon as you can in order to have a lot of spending money, and you'll also need to learn how to save and invest some of that money if you want to go to college without racking up debt.

12. You learn to avoid wasting things.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

What a great list! And I am sure there are many more "perks" too!

I would love to have a big family, but my husband says he's done. So I am coming to terms with that.

A Crafty Mom said...

Great list Megan, I totally agree.

My number 13 would be lots of laughter every day!!!

Andrea@Sgt and Mrs Hub said...

I agree - it's GREAT to grow up in a big family!
But, I must say, I don't believe those characteristics are limited to occurring in a big family... My husband is an only child and I think he has learned or developed all of those qualities - excepting the one about always having a buddy to hang out with.
It may have taken a bit more time for him to develop but he carries those characteristics as an adult.

-Andrea

Ris said...

I agree with Julie, I bet there are even more perks! Awesome!

Anne Elizabeth said...

I grew up in a big family and I have to say I agree:)

Eva said...

You grew up kinda alone, didn't you? I mean, your siblings are older right? Do you wish you would have had a big family to learn these things like your kids are? I agree w/that though.

Robyn said...

AMEN SISTA!

But I'm curious - what's your definition of big?

For me: 1-3 is small, 4-5 is medium, and 6+ is big.

Lisa said...

Good list!

I too am curious - your definition of big. For me : 1-2 is small, 3-4 is medium & 5+ is big.

PSS - How many were in your family growing up? Jim's?

Tarrah said...

That's a great list. I agree with you. I met a lady today who had 6 children and she has 22 grandchildren. That sounds so beautiful to me. She was telling me how close they all are and even the grandchildren are really close and starting families of their own.

every simple day said...

great list... my husband is the oldest of 12. there is always fun to be had at the homestead! =)

amanda

Grammy Staffy said...

What a great list... I hope that my 4 kids learned those things...

unfortunately I grew up with just me and my mom... I had to learn some of these things after I got married... but I hope that I have learned them now.

Annika said...

Great list! Children bring such joy into a house.

Kimberly said...

I couldn't agree more. Justin has four sisters, he is right in the middle, and I tell you, those are some of the best adults I know. Other than having awesome parents, I think growing up with so many siblings helped to shape their character. I hope we are blessed with more babies in the years to come:)