Siblings

[Janice]

Wow, 2l? I think that is the largest family I have ever heard of.....

[Miss Mary]

21 - wow, Debbie you win the prize here!!!

I'm speechless.......21.....there had to be a few multiple births in there. Twins, maybe twice or triplets? His mother spent a lot of her life being pregnant! I bet she had a maternity section of her closet that she never packed away!

Okay, so I'm not speechless but I'm still a little blown away by that. What is xmas like in his family? They'd have to rent a hall!

[Janice]

What were the bathrooms and meals like? I guess everyone just pitched in...

[Miss Mary]

Wait a minute. I re-read Debbie's post!

Correction - her dad was one of 22 kids!!!! TWENTY-TWO!!!

As if one more would make a difference....he he

Well, you certainly shocked us Debbie. And you certainly have the floor. I would like to know what it was like for him growing up too. Another good friend of mine back in HS was one of 10 kids. Her mom was pregnant with her last when we were Seniors. They lived in a small 2 bedroom house, one full bath on the first floor. The second floor was unfinished when they moved in and turned it into one huge room, dormitory/boarding school like. Just row after row of bunk beds. Several children slept by the open staircase, they didn't even have a room, it was more or less a hallway. They probably had to wait years to get into a room!

Okay, we'd like details......

Mary

[sweetpea]

My father will be 70 in a few weeks. He was born in Salinas, Puerto Rico at home. Back then there wasn't any running water or electricity. My grandparents split up after being married for about 25 years. They married when my grandmother was 14!!! My grandmother actually had 13 children, my grandfather had 8 more with his second wife. So 8 are actually half brothers and sisters. My father is the oldest and the youngest is an aunt she is 43. My father was actually born June 30, but they didn't register his birth till July 11th. So he celebrates it July 11th because he says it buys him more time. I always get him 2 gifts and have been teasing him that he is going to be 140!?!

Debbie

[sweetpea]

Sorry Miss Mary I should have said my dad was one of 21 kids. After my grandparents split up they lived right around the corner from each other. So the kids were always back and forth between the 2 houses. My father said that he and 3 of the oldest brothers used to sleep on the porch most of the time because it was much cooler. My grandmother's house was on top of a hill that led down to a waterfall and stream. That is where they used to bath. I have been there plenty of time the place is absolutley gorgeous. I actually disappeared once when I was around 2 or 3 years old had the whold family looking for me. My father found me sitting on a rock in the stream playing. My Mom said she knew right then and there that I would be the one to give her gray hair.

[Miss Mary]

Debbie - it's actually nice that you didn't mention 13 were from one wife and 8 from another. It did sound like they all had one mother, which is kinda nice, I can tell they were all closeknit this way. No step tags about it! Just one big happy family.......

It does make more sense now. The largest family I've heard of is 13 also, from one mother. I'm sure there are larger but I've never met them.

Growing up I would have given my eyeteeth to share my stuff with a large family. I wanted to be from a large family in the worst way...he he. But when I'd ask the kids from large families what it was like, they'd complain and wish for my small family!

I guess we're never quite content with our situation! Me? I wanted instant playmates. I used to dream of having 8 kids myself! Now that I'm a mom, 2 is just about right!!!

Mary

[CajunMama]

2 older brothers, 7 & 5 years older than me. I'm the baby and the only girl and i wouldn't change it for the world!!!

[george_r_1961]

I dont know if this is true with all families but ive noticed siblings that dont get along as kids generally dont get along as adults either. And its usually of some silly little thing that happened in their youth.

[Janice]

Well, my older sister and I were not close, but she is my best friend now. I rarely see my other sister and brother in California. We had different mothers and never got close.

[wxmann_91]

Only child.

[BUD]

Iam an only child, but my wife is the baby of six. There is only 4 of them now.

[Janice]

Wow, there are some large families here. I think it would have been fun to be a part of a big family. Two of my siblings are half, so we were not raised together. That makes it hard because we will never be close. We visit, but that is about all.

[alicia-w]

i have one brother and one sister. i dont even like to talk to her. i cant imagine having a family that large. OMG.

[terstorm1012]

I have a brother and a sister. We're all within 3 years of each other in age but I'm not as close to them as they are to each other. They even went to college together in the same city but not the same school.

[Janice]

I think it is important to at least try to be close to your siblings as you get older. After your parents die, you will need them more than ever. My sister and I were not close when we were young. She had her friends, she was older. Now, she is my best friends. Our parents are gone and I am so thankful for this relationship.

[alicia-w]

i cant imagine having a relationship with my sister. there is a perfect word for her but i cant use it here. my mother is gone and having my sister around didnt help at all. it made it worse.

[DaylilyDawn]

I have an older sister and brother and 2 younger sisters. The first 4 of us were in our teens when our youngest sister was born. The ages went like this 17, 16, 15, 13 and then the baby who was born 2 days after I turned 15. I am the middle one of this group.

[streetsoldier]

Two brothers, two sisters...I'm the fourth of five (brother, b. 1944, sister, b. 1948, sister, b. 1950, me, b. 1951, brother, b. 1953). There were two miscarriages (1946, 1947), and one younger brother that survived seven hours postpartum (1957).