Steppin' Out with DWNTWN: The Joy of Big Families

I come from a big family.
Not a big family like the Duggers on the show 19 and counting. And not a big family like Jon and Kate plus 8,
Oh I guess it is just Kate plus 8 now.
I come from a somewhat big family of 9.
I am number 2 of 7 siblings;
4 girls and 3 boys.
My parents had a big family primarily because they loved kids, especially my dad. I remember on numerous occasions hearing my mom say, "If your father could have had babies, we would have had a dozen kids."

I am happy to say that I love all my brothers and sisters and wish I could see them all more often.
We get along well, laugh often, and love much.
Oh sure...     As kids, it was a different story.
There was the normal amount of bickering, arguing, and fighting that goes on between siblings. But mom and dad told us everyday to love each other.      So we did.
But in spite of my happy childhood, I did not plan to have kids of my own. I wanted to be a photojournalist, get my pilots license, work for National Geographic, and see the world from behind the lens of my camera.

My plan wasn't meant to be.
And for that I am extremely grateful.
While I did NOT set out to pass my parents in the number of children I had, somewhere along the way I did. I have 8;
6 girls and 2 boys.
And I get to live the adventure of raising them.
Everyday I tell them they love each other, and while this love is not always visible in their every day interaction... it is there.
We share much joy & laughter when we all gather.
Recently #6 Caroline graduated from high school and all my kids, and my mom were here for the celebration. Time was taken off from work, money was spent on travel, child & pet care had to be arranged, extended family shared the burden while others traveled, and sacrifices were made so we could all share in the joy.
My 8 children, my mother, 1 son in law, 1 boyfriend, my husband & I, as well as 2 dogs all under 1 roof. It was noisy, chaotic, crazy and a whole lot of fun. I was just missing another son in law and my 2 grandsons. I don't know where they would have slept had they been able to join us, but I know we would have made room. We don't get together often enough. It has been 2 years since all the siblings were together. So obviously I had my camera at hand, even when I was cooking. I guess in many ways I AM seeing the world from behind the lens. It just happens to be my little world.

Out of the over 500 photos I took in the course of 5 days, my favorites are becoming the ones I took of Caroline as she 'posed' with each of her siblings. I was struck by how the individual relationships seemed to be captured between Caroline and each of her siblings.

Melissa the oldest, and part time mom brings a look of "Oh No!" on Caroline's face as if she was caught doing something wrong.

Brad was in my mind a terrific babysitter. We called him the 'enforcer' because he always made sure the kids followed the rules.
Because of this they often butted heads.

Aimee has been able to spend many Christmas breaks and some summer months with us the past 5 years giving Caroline an opportunity to grow their relationship as young women in addition to that of big sister/little sister.

I wasn't sure Lindsey was going to be able to make it with her new job, but thankfully she was able to steal away some time and join us. Its always a party when L. A. is around.

Alex and Caroline are 18 months apart. They were thrust together and referred to as the "2 little kids" before Jacquie and Laura were born. They have shared a lot in their 18+ years including the same Godparents.

Leaving family and friends while in junior high and moving half way across the country isn't easy for kids. But my girls handled it quite well largely because they had each other.

I suppose anyone who is the youngest in their family has stories to tell about how difficult it is to be 'the youngest'.
And anyone who has a 'youngest' in their family will have a different version of those same stories.
It is the same with our youngest Laura. The family she has grown up in and will continue to grow up in is very different from the family that Melissa and Brad remember growing up in.
I know that is true because I am a different parent now with only 4 teenagers in the house than I was when my kids were 17, 14, 12, 10, 6, 4, 2, and 6 months.

I am so thankful to have been raised by 2 wonderful parents that taught me how to deal with all that comes with a large family.

I wish dad was still with us, but his spirit looms large in all of us...especially when we all gather together.

Growing up in a large family taught us there is always room for more.
We didn't have a lot of money, fancy clothes, or extras of anything, but we always had enough.
And we always had enough to share.

It is the same now with my kids.

They make room for more.