I grew up with cousins that were more like siblings, aunts that were more like second moms and an entire family that has no concept of boundaries.
1. Secrets
Nothing is kept a secret for long. This is both a positive and negative, depending on what the secret is. Super exciting when you get calls congratulating you on your newly elected position in your sorority, but not as exciting when everyone calls you asking for every detail of the minor car accident you got in.
2. Family vacations
Some people dread their family vacations because they are filled with awkward reunions and uncomfortable situations. Not with my family. There is never a dull moment when we are all together.
3. Opinions
You get an opinion from everyone, whether or not you asked for it. Everyone wants to chime in on your private life, but who am I kidding? I don't have a private life when it comes to my family.
4. Events
Everyone shows up to your events, invited or not. I was always looked at funny when I walked in with a 10 person posse for homecoming pictures.
5. Venting
You don't have to spend the first 30 minutes of the story explaining the dynamic of your crazy family, you can just jump straight into the punchline. They obviously know what it's like being from a crazy family.
6. Significant others
You don't stress over bringing your significant other to their first whole family event...at least not for the same reasons. Most people would be anxious about grandparents whipping out baby pictures of them, me on the other hand, I get anxious about one of them making up a story about me and everyone going along with it.
7. Peer-pressure
Your older cousins (and maybe some of your crazier aunts) always pressured you into having your "firsts" with them. And no matter how hard you try or how many times in school you were taught to not give in to peer pressure, sometimes it seemed easier just to take the tequila shot than listen to the torment if you didn't.
8. Fighting
Being close comes with some consequences. My cousins and I bicker over just about everything. It feels like an extension of siblings to fight about everything with.
9. Outsiders
Explaining your family dynamic to others is almost impossible. Even people who are also close with their families will never understand your unique dynamic. This is probably why I find myself ending all of my family stories with "well...I guess you had to be there."
10. Friends
Having a not so extended - extended family eventually leads to just an extension of your immediate family. This means additional moms, additional dads, additional siblings and an overwhelmingly large support system. After all, the best thing about family is that no matter how hard they try, they can't get rid of you.
