Coming from a family of six, I can attest to the fact that growing up in a big family is an entirely different world from your average small family’s. Everything from vacations to family dinners to babysitters are an entirely unique ordeal. As the oldest, I often got the better side of things, although there are absolutely some downsides. Overall, however, the dynamic of my family is something that I wouldn’t change for the world

In reality, this list is just a small snippet of all of the distinct happenings a big family will instantly recognize. But it’s enough to give those who can relate some nostalgia and those who can’t a little peek inside of our often hectic lives. So without further ado, here are some things that kids who grew up in a big family just get:

1. Your clothes are constantly stolen.

This is more for those who had sisters, but for me, I couldn’t walk out the door without expecting at least one sibling, or sometimes even my mom, to be donning an article of my clothing. It was expected.

2. The incessant fighting.

The amount of times that I have been wrestled, hit, kicked, or bitten, as well as returned the favor, is absurd. Sibling rivalries are real, people.

3. Not being able to take one car, anywhere (unless it’s the dreaded minivan).

The minivan was a staple for my family, we were instantly recognized for having the huge gold Honda with a bike-rack on the back and full of kids. For those times when two cars had to do the trick, you could expect a brawl over who got to go with which parent.

4. Assigned seats in the minivan

These became unspoken rules of driving. The oldest two got bucket seats, and the youngest two got the backseat. As you became old enough to ride shotgun, oldest to youngest got to call shotgun in that order, and nothing else. Perks.

5. Hand-me-down everything (unless you’re the lucky oldest child).

Another one of the few upsides to being the oldest child, big families are notorious for passing everything down. Clothes, toys, you name it. I might’ve been the lucky one to have the new items first.

6. The nightmare that is packing for vacation.

This is, for me, one of the most dreaded aspects of all. This involved our mini-van bringing out the huge luggage carrier on top of the car, and stuffing bags into every single open crevice of the car that wasn’t occupied by a human. These car rides were brutal.

7. Family dinners are an event

The table looks like a Thanksgiving feast each time we put in the effort to hold a family dinner, just based on the sheer amount of food on the table.

8. The house is always packed with at least a handful of friends and neighbors.

This is personally one of my favorite aspects of big families, as the house will always be buzzing full of friends, neighbors, and family alike. Until they steal your snacks, then you get frustrated.

9. Someone always takes the wrong lunchbox to school.

This is inevitable; I can’t begin to count the number of times my mom had to drive out and drop off our lunches because someone either forgot theirs or took the wrong one. Yes, of course, nobody likes the same lunch food.

10. Labeling, or sometimes hiding, your favorite pantry snacks.

Maybe this was just me, but my favorite snacks were sacred. If your mom brought home your favorite kind of cereal, you better believe that was hidden immediately.

11. Holidays are insanity.

Christmas. Was. A. Nightmare. But the best kind of nightmare there was, everything from the Christmas card to Christmas morning was a makeshift whirlwind, and God bless my parents for coordinating it every single year.

12. Mom’s special calendar she uses to keep all of the activities straight.

The calendar is iconic, full of different colored writing to keep track of practices, games, concerts, vacations, and everything else.

13. Most likely a few minutes late to everything.

Maybe this was just my family, but we had to even set our clocks back so that we could be more on time to things. We were always a solid 5 minutes behind.

14. Babysitter’s nightmare.

I now feel pity for the babysitters that had to come and attempt to deal with our hectic family for a few hours. At least they get paid.

15. Your childhood is, by far, made way more fun by your family, in the end.

Again, I wouldn’t trade my family for the world. Big families rock, I can’t wait until we can look back on this hectic childhood and laugh together at it. Thanks, mom and dad.