Sure, having a bunch of brothers and sisters running around can be annoying sometimes. But, at the end of the day, you know in your heart of hearts that you wouldn’t trade them for the world. Why is that? Because they add so much to our lives. Indeed, there are many things that only those with multiple siblings experience, such as…
1. Car trips are never boring.
When you have a couple brothers or sisters in the car with you, it’s impossible to run out of things to do, even when it’s a trip that lasts five hours or more.
2. Never running out of clothes.
Sure, the clothes might not fit, or they might be a bit threadbare, but you always have a supply of them ready-to-use (especially if you are the youngest child).
3. 24/7 competition.
This is especially true if you are a guy with multiple brothers. Who can play this instrument best? Who can win the most games of basketball? Trust me when I say that you’ll run yourselves ragged trying to find out.
4. Jealousy (that goes both ways).
Whether you’re mad that your younger brother is taller than you, or that your sister can run faster than you, there’s always something that makes you jealous towards one of your siblings. Luckily, there’s usually something they envy about you too!
5. Sharing everything.
Whether it’s your room, your toys, your video games, your favorite plate, or even your toothbrush, you’re bound to share pretty much everything you own with your siblings.
6. Having support, no matter what.
If you are a bit of a loner in school, or are targeted by a certain bully, your siblings will always be there to have your back and help you navigate the treacherous waters of life.
7. Family pictures are impossible.
Getting everyone looking their best at the right time is pretty much never going to happen when you have multiple siblings. Even when you think you have it, your youngest brother or sister will make some strange face that forces you to start over again!
8. You get to be a pseudo-parent.
If you happen to be significantly older than one of your siblings, you get the joy of being able to teach them about the world in a way that your parents could never do.
9. You will have a lot of acquaintances.
When you have tons of siblings, all of your social networks get muddled together, especially if you are close in age. Even if you aren’t friends with your sister’s or brother’s friends, they’ll know you (and will probably refer to you as “so and so’s brother/sister”).
10. Getting ready in the morning is an experience.
Most families will have one bathroom for the kids to use, which becomes a major issue when everyone is in school. Good luck figuring out who gets to take the first shower!
11. Food is a precious commodity.
If you weren’t on that box of Cheez-Its the moment your mom brought it back from the grocery store, then you could forget about ever getting your hands on that cheesy goodness.
12. Hiding your favorite snacks was a thing.
You and all of your brothers and sisters had a spot where they hid the good stuff. Luckily, this actually helped to prepare you for college and dealing with food-stealing roommates!
13. Dish duty inevitably fell to you most nights.
You don’t know how or why, but for some reason you were always cleaning the fifty dirty dishes left by your family at the end of the day.
14. Your Converses fit better.
If you were the younger sibling and got your older brother or sister’s Converses, they were usually stretched out and perfect for wearing by the time you got them.
15. Teachers judged you based on what your siblings did.
Even if you are a saint, Mr. Teacher will always distrust you all because your older brother was the class clown.
16. You had to be a walking encyclopedia.
Whenever someone asked you about your siblings, you were expected to know every detail about their lives.
17. People freaked out when you told them how many brothers and sisters you have.
People are generally amazed if you have more than two brothers or sisters, because it’s pretty rare in this day and age. Luckily, you get to tell them all about what it’s like for the umpteenth time!
18. Christmas shopping makes your wallet cry.
It’s hard enough buying gifts for your parents and friends, but add your several siblings on top of that and you’re looking at a hefty chunk of change! The good part is that you’ll get a lot of gifts in return (that is, if they remember)!
19. Board game nights are filled with drama.
And no, it’s not because of the game itself. It’s because one of you is always cheating, and another is always really really angry that they lost!
20. You have your own language.
Or, at the very least, you added several strange words to your language’s lexicon that only you and your siblings understand. If any outsiders hear your strange speech, prepare for some awkward stares!
How many of you grew up with multiple siblings? Would you agree that it could be tough, but that you also wouldn’t trade the experience for anything? Comment below!
Featured photo credit: Portrait of three siblings via shutterstock.com
