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Tuesday, March 17, 2009

If I Had 11 Siblings

Ok, Heidi set down a bit of a challenge and I guess I will rise to the occasion. Here's what she wrote:

Heidi has nothing to blog about, either, but feels the need to run at the mouth like me. So I'm giving her an assignment. Heidi? This is your topic: On this day in 1751, our 4th President, James Madison was born. Madison was the oldest of twelve (12) children. What do you think would be the advantages and/or disadvantages of having eleven (11) siblings? Would you like to have eleven younger brothers and sisters?

I would totally love to have 11 siblings. I don't know if I would like to be the oldest because that would involve a lot of responsibility but in those days, the oldest probably would have been out of the house before the youngest was even born. Unless the mother had them in consecutive years or lots of multiples. I grew up as an only child and I was always miserable. I wanted a little brother or sister so much. I did finally get one but it was years later. He's a college freshman right now so we didn't grow up together or anything. I think households with lots of kids are always loud and fun and full of things to do. I used to play games by myself because there was no one around to play with. With that many kids running around, there would always be someone to play with. There would also be lots of people to share the chores around the house with.
There would also be disadvantages. No privacy. You would always have to share your stuff and probably your room too. Younger sibs would mess your stuff up and take it. If money was an issue, there might not always be enough food for everyone to feel full. You would probably very rarely be the center of attention and the younger kids would have to be looked after and taken care of.
I love hearing stories of my husbands family about when they were growing up. It always sounds like so much fun was had. They knew everyone in the neighborhood and hung out and played and had a grand old time. I know it wasn't always perfect but it means something that the majority of their memories are happy and fun.

I just want you to know I have a bone to pick with you, Heidi. You are now my husband's favorite Heidi blog. He loved this writing assignment you gave me and told me you are now his favorite. I have warned you about this in the past. If it keeps up, I am going to have to pull out the big guns. You will have to keep him. Don't say I didn't warn you.

3 comments:

Orah said...

I know lots of large families. This past year, my sis-in-law gave birth to her 12th child. Her oldest is getting married in a couple of months. I think, mostly, ppl with large families really have a few small families all growing up together (or apart). Cliques form and sometimes you never feel like you have more than three or four siblings. Either way, unless your name is Duggar - it's probably chaos.

Jen @ tatertotsandjello.com said...

Good post! Wow - that sounds like homework!

I think it would be really hard to have 1 siblings growing up, but once you were grown it would be a blast. I always wanted to belong to a huge, boisterous family. Think of how much fun holidays would be!

Have a super day!

XOXO
Jen

heidi said...

Nicely DONE! I think it would be fun AND irritating be one of 11 kids. I think that kids of larger families are more able to share and give then onlies. No one throw anything at me. I'm making generalizations, here.

People always ask "WHat's WRONG with the kids of today?!" ANd I think part of what is wrong is that we give them EVERYTHING and tell them they have to give NOTHING in return. Their shirts proclaim it, loud and proud 'It's all about me!'. WE further foster this misconception by making everything all about them. I think children in larger families are forced, by the sheer fact that there's no other option, to see that it is NOT all a botu them and that there are other people whose needs sometimes come before yours.

I could go on and on about the subject, but I'll stop now. LOL

I'm flattered that Dan likes my blog. :-) I think you're still his favorite fanny-pack wearing Heidi, though. ;-)