THE JOYS AND CHALLENGES OF GROWING UP IN A BIG FAMILY:

The world is shifting towards the idea of a small family, as per the research. However,
everything comes with a fair share of pros and cons. Growing up in a big family or planning to have a big family is not wrong at all. It teaches you a lot and prepares you for life's challenges.

After reading multiple blogs and comments, we have come up with the most obvious advantages and disadvantages of living in a big family. So, keep reading!

THE JOYS OF LIVING IN A BIG FAMILY:

This section will make you fall in love with the idea of having a big family- we can assure you that. Following are some of the most obvious advantages that no person living in a big family could deny:

1. YOU BECOME SELFLESS:

Sharing is a skill that kids learn later or once they get admission to a school. But that is not the case with kids living in a big family. They quickly learn how to share things and even their favorite candy. For instance, if your father brought some cupcakes, then it is obvious that the number would be divided equally among the siblings. So, none of them could be that "favorite" kid getting something extra while making the other siblings feel love-deprived.

Kids learn how to become selfless at a young age. They know that sharing something
won't make them less valued in their parent's eyes. Not only that, sharing things makes you less greedy. You know your sibling sitting next to you would suffer if you don’t share. You see? The consequences are quick, which makes the kids
selfless.

2. YOUR SISTERS ARE YOUR BEST FRIENDS:

Girls growing up with 3 to 4 sisters would agree on this. Sisters are the best friends one can ever find. They know each and every detail about you and won't leave you in the dark. Also, girls having their sisters as their best friends do not necessarily try to make good friends in school or college. As a result, there are fewer chances that an outside girl could break her heart or take her on the wrong road.

3. YOU HOLD YOURSELF ACCOUNTABLE:

When you live in a big family, your actions could impact others' moods. So, you automatically turn into an accountable person. If you are an elder sibling, you know you are a role model for the younger ones. Whatever you do will be adopted by them. Your favorite TV show, food, and how you handle things inspire the young siblings. So, you automatically become aware of your actions. You may have multiple parent figures like your parents and elder siblings if you are a younger sibling. So, whenever you think of doing something, you may have to ask your parents and your elder siblings. In this way, you automatically become accountable for your actions and decisions.

4. YOU ARE NEVER LONELY:

Living in a big family means being surrounded by people of different ages. Regardless of age, you will always have someone to support and cheer you up. You will have young siblings to play games with. As you get old, you become close to your elder siblings. Consequently, they become your good friends, and you end up sharing your matters
with them, such as asking for guidance and help. So, you are never alone in a big family!

5. THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE:

We love this one thing about a big family: They never run out of festivals, events, and special occasions to celebrate. So, you may encounter cakes or something sweet in their fridge almost always. Besides Christmas and Easter, they have tons of events to celebrate. For instance, birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, and much more! Isn't it beautiful? They never run out of days to feel love or to make others feel special. Such events gift you a lifetime of memories.

6. YOU LEARN TO SPEAK FOR YOURSELF:

Big families are usually crowded, so you have to make everyone sit at the dining table before making an important announcement, sharing an idea, or asking for permission.
You may have to give a PowerPoint presentation if your parents are strict. All of this practice makes you speak up for yourself. The result? You become good at public speaking. It helps you raise your voice and share your opinions without any hesitation.

THE CHALLENGES NO ONE PREPARED YOU FOR:

As mentioned earlier, there's nothing that does not bring consequences with itself. So, living in a big family may also make you face some challenges alone. For instance:

1) LESS MONEY:

Money issues always remain unless you are a billionaire's children. Raising and nurturing a big family in today's economy may get tough at times, especially if you are from a middle-class family. Sometimes, even managing movie tickets for the whole family could be a tough and luxurious. Also, you may expect to visit good food points on special occasions. Otherwise, a normal meal at a normal café can sound too much of a deal.

2) LESS ME TIME:

If you are an elder sibling and an introvert, then we know you love your me-time and hate that you get a few minutes out of a 24-hour day for your me-time. Living in a big family and managing to take out some time where you could be all alone is a
difficult task. You may have to wait for a couple of years when your sibling moves out for studies or just get married before you enjoy a calm, noiseless evening with a cup of coffee on your terrace.

3) LESS SPACE:

Space is always going to be THE issue in big families. And it is pretty obvious. We mean, how is it possible to give each sibling his room when your parents are middle class? So, most of the time, siblings share rooms and toilets. It has its pros and cons. For instance, the workload is divided among the siblings; you can sleep together or talk all night under a blanket. However, sharing rooms may deprive you of your personal space and a long time to relax and sleep. You will always have someone roaming around in your room.

5) MORE ARGUMENTS:

When multiple personalities are under one roof, there would be more arguments on almost everything. What's cooking for dinner to who's going to shower first could be a hot topic for argument. Also, there is a high chance that someone may feel left out while discussing something important
or asking for opinions.

6) YOU EAT FAST:

Have you ever seen a big family on a breakfast table? Everyone is in a hurry. Someone is getting late for school, while the other has an important office meeting. A big family means lots of people, which means a good amount of food. No matter how many
bread slices are on the table, they would vanish within the first few minutes. That is why eating enough and fast is the key to a full stomach in a big family.

Lastly, you may end up ordering food and eating it in your room with the door locked. Satisfying your cravings can become a big task when you live in a big family. You would have to ask everyone out if they need something to eat because you are ordering something, and you won't want to share your pizza slice with them, right?

7) LESS PRIVACY:

Privacy is a luxury in a big family. You can only expect privacy if your home is big enough. Otherwise, a newly married couple needs more time to interact and spend time with each other. Not to mention, you can't pee in peace as you would hear your dad knocking at the door repeatedly. Also, your matter may become a hot discussion topic for the whole family. So, privacy is the biggest concern in a big family.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

Planning a big family is not wrong as long as you have the required resources like time and money. It helps in character building of the kids, but just be sure to give each kid enough importance and time to nurture.

Happy parenting!