Sorority Life

Perhaps I'm not in the best frame of mind to write this next blog, but life with 7 children (8 because we have a friend with us here) is much the same as it is in a sorority, I've discovered. Different personalities all following a different agenda, occasionally working towards the greater good, but because we are all human, mainly looking out for "number one". Food for example; I make a big dinner, trying to encompass each persons likes and dislikes (to a point) and there is so much coveting going on it is ridiculous! "I will get all I can because, 1. there might not be any left and 2. I wouldn't want my sister to have any!"

When I was in college, dinnertime at the sorority was served "family style" complete with the elbows, shoving and shoveling of food because if we didn't get some the first go round, there may not be any left in the kitchen. I find having a big family is just like this. Hence the term "family style" I guess. At what point do children learn respect, not only for the food but for themselves and each other. It is almost humorous, almost. Patience is the key I guess. I must always remember to count my blessings, not how many biscuits my 9 year old has on her plate at one time. Or how many spoonfuls of eggs she has despite the fact that eggs are not her favorite food.

I say this tongue in cheek, but also with a little bit of wistfulness that things might someday be different. I dream of a day when my family sits down to eat together without arguing, without bargaining with each other, without tears. I know the minute it happens it will be because they are all gone from me dealing with their own families, so I shouldn't be so quick to wish away the present. But it would be nice, if only for a day.