There's no place like home

I often think how strange it is to be in my parent's house again. I'm an adult child, with two children of my own, invading another family. We have our ways; they have theirs. As I get older, and busier with my own children, I get better at not giving too many directives to my siblings. I have finally figured out that they may never see the therapeutic benefit of cleaning the house. I, in return, will never see the therapeutic benefits of giving endless devotion to Nintendo. So, we are sort of even.

People have often asked me what it's like living in a big family. My husband and I have speculated that if we set up a web cam in the house, people might pay money to see it all for themselves. It's not a bad idea. That ploy could generate an awful lot of college dough... I mean, how else could you find out the exact situation to utter the phrase, "Don't you EVER throw the cat again!"

Don't laugh. This could come up in your life. How will you know if you've gotten right? We can help. Along with this priceless gem, you can also find out what happens when a dog eats lo mein out of someone's bowl. and secondary uses for Febreeze. That's just today. Imagine the delights of tomorrow!

Being from a big family gives you admission to a special club. When I meet someone from a large family, there is a shared sigh, a knowing, "ooohh." Things that tiny, cute families don't really get. Like how it could be alright that 6 people are eating 6 different meals, while 2 others are westling to the ground, and 1 more person is demanding that whoever stole his socks be punished and the socks returned. And after the sockless wonder leaves the room, the least likely suspect sails the socks through the air, over the wrestlers, to the dog...

I know these things don't happen in every family. So I don't talk about those things. But every once in awhile, I meet someone from the club. And then, in that single sigh, we speak about socks, dog vomit, and wedgies. And then, we close up again. It's never nice to scare the innocent. It's just not good manners.