Every family, either small or large, shares a unique family dynamic, I think. Growing up, I lived in a large family, but currently, I am living with my smaller family of 5, which includes my husband and I and my three kids. You see, I have tested the two kinds of family size, and in this post, I will share with you my experiences living in both kinds of family and my preferred choice if money wasn't an issue.
My experience living in a large family back then was fun. There are indeed different perks of living in a large family. My dad's younger brother didn't have a house of his own, and so his family lived with us, and also my dad married two wives. My siblings and I are 7 in number until one died; my dad's brother had four grown-up adults, plus my stepmom. In fact, my house then looks like extended family living together. Luckily enough, my dad built a very big house, big enough to accommodate the many people living in our house.
What I enjoyed most those days was the shared chores, both farm-related chores and home chores; it's simply easier to finish my little chores assigned to me because everyone gets their own shares, making chores easier to attend.
There's this beauty of having a full family house where we gist, laugh, and lean on each other. Funny enough, we didn't have a clash much except my stepmom, who was always making troubles out of nowhere. But it's expected; there's no family, even the smallest family size, without a single clash because we are all different humans with different personalities. The only thing is that managing conflicts seems easier with a smaller family.
Still on my perks of living in a large family back then, it's always super lively, especially during celebrations. Everywhere is sparked up with full and positive energy. Most of my family members have some unique skills that they display, especially during the festive season, and it's always fun together. The memories and stories shared amongst us can hardly be forgotten, but I wouldn't deny the fact that my dad had financial challenges carrying everyone along. There were also things my dad would see and overlook for peace to reign, not that it was okay for him. I learned to compromise and accommodate people's weaknesses back then, living with my large family.
However, I have been having the experience of living in a small family with my kids and husband. I feel a stronger emotional connection that should exist in family. Although there's conflict, it's easier to manage without attracting a crowd. My kids receive the undivided attention, moral, and emotional support from us, which was always interfered with back then with my larger family size. I still create fun and amazing memories with my smaller family, and understanding their lifestyle and nurturing them seems easier because, personally, I don't have the capacity to raise a large family. I feel there will be a lot I wouldn't control because remember, family shouldn't be all about quantity but quality.
If I desire a large family size without the capacity to raise responsible beings, then I am in to raise a kind of family I wouldn't be proud of. Again, it's not about size but the quality of love, values, and support passed down to these offsprings.
Overall, if money isn't an issue, I would prefer to stick with a smaller family size, creating a loving and peaceful home, a supportive family, and being there for one another, making nice memories.
This is my response to the #hivelearners community contest on the topic titled, A Kind of Family.
All images were taken from canva app*
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