In lieu of St. Patrick's Day-- which in my humble opinion, should be a national holiday-- I decided to reflect on some of the trademark characteristics of my crazy, loving clan. In the past, I have tried to explain my family's ways to some of my friends, and they just haven't quite understood. So for those who aren't fortunate enough to have strong Irish roots, here are 6 ground-rules for my Irish family.

1. Irish means BIG.

My grandmother is the ninth of ten children. Dot and Leo Mackn-- my great-grandparents-- were crazy in love, and they have the children and grandchildren to prove it! To newcomers (i.e. significant others, fiancees, etc.), it can be overwhelming to attend the first couple (or dozen) family events. But if you find yourself in this situation, trying to remember names and relationships-- "yes, my godson is my second cousin, once-removed"-- don't worry, they probably won't remember your name either.

2. Big family means big food.

Coming from such a big family, I am convinced that my Irish grandma doesn't know how to cook for less than 20 people. So no matter whether its dinner for 5 or for our whole clan, there will never EVER be a shortage of food. Come hungry, or be prepared to eat until the point of discomfort. Anything else would simply be impolite.

3. Quiet? What's that?

With 10 kids, 40-something grandkids, and who-knows-how-many great-grandkids, family gatherings can get pretty noisy. Throw in their big Irish personalities, and dull moments are a thing of the past. On the bright side, we've never had an awkward silence.

4. There will be drama.

That crowd I talked about earlier, well they all have a bit of the Irish temper, so conflict is inevitable. While usually nothing major, family gossip makes its way around and occasionally people butt heads. The important thing is that no disagreement is worth more than family, so love always prevails in the end.

5. No one is ever alone.

This perk of having an Irish family carries multiple meanings. For one, there is always a cousin to play with or talk to. Loneliness at a family gathering is impossible. On the flip side, if you need a second of quiet, you are probably going to have to lock yourself in the bathroom to find it-- and even then it isn't 100% guaranteed. The most important part of this, however, is that there is ALWAYS someone to lean on. No matter what someone is struggling with, whether its a rough week at school or work, or something more tragic, a big Irish family knows how to support each other.

6. Every simple thing is a little more...

crazy. memorable. fun. It wasn't quite easy to finish that sentence. Bottom line is, my tight-knit family is something I value more than anything else. While sometimes we seem dysfunctional and chaotic, I know for a fact that if given the choice, none of us would change a single thing.