Cheaper By The Dozen: If I Was One Of 12 Children

"Nicole, since you're the oldest, you're in charge of cleaning the house while I'm gone!" my mother would order.

"No problem, it'll get done!" I'd reply, without complaint. Of course I don't like to complete my chores, but If I had Anne's role in the family, I could always get them done with 11 little helpers that lived in my house. Corey could dust the shelves, while Sandy vacuumed, and I'd put Josh to work washing windows. Doesn't it sound fun to be one of a dozen children in the family? You'd always have a brother or sister around to talk to, assistance on that huge project due Monday, or someone to aid in cleaning the house after dinner every night. However, I have taken into consideration an unfortunate flaw in this plan: the more people in the house to help you, the more there is to clean up.

Overall, a household full of brothers and sisters can be a satisfying environment.

Lillian Moller Gilbreth

Lillian Moller Gilbreth (1878-1972)

Half Siblings

For example, remember when you were little and unsuccessfully attempted to play freeze tag with your only sibling? Growing up with other kids around means activities like duck duck goose, Marco Polo, and cops and robbers that actually have enough children for the game to work. With any luck, you'll have siblings interested in different hobbies, so you'll acquire a taste of every sport over the rainbow. Unlike only-children, you feel like part of a team, aiding each other in the ultimate goal of growing up. Additionally, your parents would view each of you like equals, and it's seldom that offspring of large families feel smothered or overprotected.

On the other hand, children growing up with many siblings are subject to many problems. More than likely, there will be one sibling you simply can't stand. In Cheaper By The Dozen, this quite possibly would have been Bill, the prankster. Virtually endlessly, your home would be an opera house of day-to-day noises commencing at once. Loud thumping up the stairs, radios turned a little too high up, sprinting down hallways and colicky infants could have been enough to drive Mr. And Mrs. Gilbreth mad. Moreover, daily food preparation in large households resembles a cafeteria more than Sunday dinners delicately prepared at Grandma's house. At the Gilbreth table, this meant tons of food to serve every night and discussion kept to topics only of "general interest" to avoid being in earshot of all New Jersey.

Most parents with more than several children don't allow their brood to invite friends over; the amount of people occupying their house is already near fire-hazard level. A reoccurring problem in large families is recognition as individuals. With many children inhabiting your home that already have your same values, facial features, and habits, sometimes it can feel like no one notices you as a human being separate from others. The Gilbreth children sometimes felt this when forced to wear family uniforms; each was a unique individual and wanted to express their own style.

Considering all these dynamics of the large family lifestyle, I wouldn't mind giving it a try myself. As long as our parents were financially secure enough support the dozen of us, I'd enjoy the company. Cheaper By The Dozen is full of moments I'm sure the family would never want to forget, even if it meant 14 place settings at the dinner table. Since I already have multiple siblings and many frequent visitors at my home, I can comprehend the experience of having 13 other people around the house. Hopefully, I'd be able look past the annoying behaviors of my siblings and realize that each is an invaluable resource for advice, new experiences, and support.

Full Siblings

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