A House Full Of Love And Lessons

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My family is my support system, always ready to receive me with open arms, no matter the situation. They are my rocks, the solid foundation upon which I have built my life, my safe haven where I can seek refuge whenever the need arises. My family is loaded with love, support, joy and warmth. Of course, sometimes, we have little fights due to our differences or minor issues, among us, the siblings. Growing up, I often vowed not to ever talk to my siblings again. Ever again. But the next few hours, I’d find myself playing with them like nothing ever happened. It always seemed like I magically forgot what made me so mad at them. My siblings are the only people I trust. They are the only ones, who when I close my eyes and fall to the back, front, left or right, they’d be ready to catch me with strong hands.

Looking back, I'm reminded of the impact my family has had on shaping me into the person that I am. Literally every part of my life is a result of my family’s influence. As the last child of the family, I am their work of art. My mom taught me how to be generous and kind. My dad taught me how to set boundaries and always say no to people when necessary. My brother taught me basically everything a brother needs to teach his younger one. From teaching me how to play football, to video games and every other thing. My first sister taught me how to take my academic life seriously; she could spend hours reading. My last sister literally molded and sharpened my skills. In general, they all contributed to who Justfavour is today. This year has to be the most stressful in our lives. We were pushed, pulled, and tempted in all ways. Happily, at the end of this year, things started to go our way. Today’s edition of the Hive Learners’ prompts asks us if we come from a large family. What are the perks of living in such a family?

We all have different definitions of what large means. But, from my own perspective, I grew up in a not-too-small family. Really, it is hard for me to determine whether it is small or large. I grew up with my parents and 3 siblings- two girls and a boy. Two guys, two girls, and my parents, making 6 of us- just the right size for a family. Growing up in this kind of family is loaded with many advantages.

One of the perks of growing up in my family is that responsibilities were shared among siblings and parents. Well, they were not equally shared because they always made me wash the plates. It was my parent’s responsibility to put food on the table, while we, the siblings, took care of the house. My brother was in charge of washing the car and keeping the compound clean. Lucky for him, unlike me, his duties weren't an everyday thing. My sisters were in charge of cooking. They’d help my mom in the kitchen when she got back from work. And there’s me, the ultimate bee worker, the family dishwasher. If I was given a penny for every time I washed plates, I’d have been a millionaire by now. My duty was to wash the dishes and sometimes, sweep and arrange the house. The art of shared responsibilities made us know how to cooperate. Even though sometimes we had little fights about not wanting to wash the plates.

Growing up in a not-too-small family also built me in different areas. As I mentioned earlier, everyone in my family has an impact on my life. It is like learning new things from 5 different teachers and putting them together to become a whole. Growing up with 3 siblings whom you could run to in times of difficulties. My brother and sister helped with literature-related assignments. They taught me how to analyze poems and other literary works. My other sister helped me with science-related assignments. Unfortunately, none of them were good at math even my parents, so I was on my own in that aspect.

If I had the choice, I’d prefer a larger family. It would be so nice to have a younger sibling. Preferably a younger sister. My siblings would always taunt me, saying I never saw my mom pregnant. They’d cook up stories about how I am not a part of the family and how they picked me up on a lonely street. It would be nice to have a younger sister whom I’d train.

If money wasn’t an issue, I’d still prefer a small family. Keep my circle small.

Thanks for reading.