Big Family Conundrum

I just got home from a two-day whirlwind trip visiting my sister-in-law, meeting with two brides and grooms to-be regarding their wedding photos, and an engagement session. On my way home, I stopped to visit two families I’ve known for several years. Both families have five children – now all grown – and they happen to be close friends with one another. The thing is, these are two of the closest, happiest families I know. Not in an everything seems perfect but you know something weird goes on when nobody is around kind of way…but in a real, honest, they all genuinely care for one another sense. When you’re in their homes, they make you want to be a part of them – to join in.

For these two visits (which happened one after the other) I had my two rambunctious, playful children with me, and we were made to feel completely welcome. During the first stop we were invited to join in for dinner, or come back later, but I had already committed to going to the second house. Then, during our second stop, we were fed and I was served coffee (liquid gold to a mother of two toddlers, I assure you) before our drive home.

The thing is, when I think about the happiest, most close-knit families I know outside of my own (because I truly may have the best family in the world, ok?) – nearly all of them are large. As in…more than the standard 2.5 children. I’m talking four siblings or more. That seems like crazy talk these days unless you’re in the agriculture industry. I’m not about to become a quiver-full follower, but sometimes I wonder if all that sharing and pitching in and absence of individual overattention in larger families has something to do with it.

Now to make this happen I would have to buy a minivan and have more children, which at this point sounds like one step away from institutionalization. I mean, have you been to my house lately? So if you find a way for me to have a large family without having to have a large family, let me know.