I have a big family. To be honest, I don't think you could fit all of us in a room together (we don't try because we just know it would be too many people), but what I have learned in the last three and a half years, is that my partners family is literally massive. Being an outsider in his family is fun, amusing, and sometimes challenging. But honestly, I have come to learn quite a bit.
1. We literally cannot go anywhere...
At least not without seeing someone who he is related to. And I am not exaggerating. Yesterday, we went to a restaurant, and literally had a 45 minute conversation with the waitress because they were related but didn't know it. Not to mention I always get dragged into the conversation. If I had a nickel for every time we met someone that he is related to in public...I would be rolling in the dough.
2. I'm a little too comfortable pretending to know people who my boyfriend is related to.
I have mastered the "I totally know you!!!" look. I am very confident in my abilities to pretend that I remember all eight thousand and twelve of his relatives. Sometimes, I even say hi to them first.
3. Family reunions are actually crazy.
If cooking breakfast and dinner for 75-150 people wasn't enough, they all hang out together...all. day. This year we literally took up half of a KOA. The worst part about this? I actually am starting to get used to being surrounded by that many people at one time.
4. I actually have a small fear I have dated one of his relatives.
He is literally related to so many people in our small town (and everywhere else in Idaho) that it wouldn't surprise me if I meet a cousin one day that I have actually dated. That would be mortifying, but it also wouldn't surprise me.
5. I have a lot of really wonderful people to fall back on.
To be honest, family are the people who I can always rely on, and his family being so big, just means that I have A LOT of different options for people to rely on. Not even kidding, I could probably remodel a house for free because of how many of his family members do different random tasks.
6. I am absolutely positive that sometimes I am the dumbest one in the room around them.
There are a lot of his relatives that are engineers, pharmacy techs, or who have had a ton of life experience. I swear to you that sometimes I open my mouth, something comes out, and they all just look at me like "........" So, yeah, that's fun.
7. They bring out my inner crazy.
I literally cannot say no to them. Not to any of them. And neither can my boyfriend. And that makes me crazy. Between the lot of them, there is ALWAYS something going on in my life.
8. They all have to be right. all. the. time.
I have nothing to say about this because I would probably be wrong.
8. Most of them are just like Phil from "Modern Family" and it is honestly my favorite.
They are so goofy and fun. I love every single second of it, including the dad jokes that I have to suffer through.
I'm not going to lie, I have never laughed as hard as I have when I am with his family. I have never had so much fun or gotten out of my comfort zone as often as I have with them. And truthfully, no one irritates me more than them (I'm kidding!!! [mostly]). But I wouldn't have it any other way. I am so fortunate to be with someone with such a huge family, and I am so fortunate to have to deal with them for the rest of my life.