Top 10 Favorite Things About a Large Family

Today is National Sibling day.

I have been privy to numerous long looks and plenty of jokes due to the fact that I have 10 siblings.

But the absolute joy of a large family makes all the comments well worth it.

Here are my top 10 favorite things about having a big family.

1. Competition. When you have people all around you who give you a run for your money, you can’t help but grow. Sometimes the competition gets a little stiff, but then is the opportunity to learn good sportsmanship!
2. Tribe. My siblings have always been my best friends. It’s a great feeling to dress up in boots and jeans and take over the party wherever we go!
3. Perspective. There’s no skill more valuable than the ability to hear another’s point of view without getting defensive of your own. When you are constantly around a dozen people with varying opinions, you learn quickly how to assess an argument and find the good in other’s opinions.
4. Relationship skills. We have at least one of every personality type in our large family. I understand almost any personality because of this. When you learn from a young age to get along with the people most unlike you, all your later friendships become easier.
5. Adventure. There is never a dull moment in our family. That’s not an exaggeration. Always, someone has a crazy suggestion that gets everyone else’s creative genius going.
6. Ideas. The only reason you get bored with 10 siblings is because you are being anti social. Someone always has a new idea of something to do. If you can’t help, you can at least tag along. We talk constantly about new theories, and bounce bizarre thoughts off each other’s minds. There’s always fresh fuel for ideas.
7. Humor. This is huge. We are always laughing. It’s also a great opportunity to be okay with others laughing at you. I personally stopped taking myself seriously long ago, and can enjoy a joke at my own expense as heartily as any other.
8. Learning Opportunities. Each individual has his or her own expertise. It’s awesome to learn from the projects your siblings have completed.
9. Teaching Opportunities. They say you don’t know something unless you can succinctly explain it to someone else. This concept is real in a large family, and each of us emerge with the ability to easily pass on information to others.
10. Love. Some people don’t know what it’s like to have 10 people that will always be your biggest fans. Even though we have our disagreements, we never stop loving each other.

Really, it’s awesome. I’m overwhelmed by the beauty of our team. I would never trade my family for anyone else!