Rules

Being the youngest of six siblings you get thrown under the bus oldest always goes first. The first person to open the Christmas present, ride in the car's front seat, get food first, and so forth. Safe the best for last the youngest. In growing up in a combined family things were different. Went back and forth with mom for a while then go visit dad for a week. Going to school and friends questioning why you have a different last name than your parents. I wonder why you look nothing like your siblings and dad because they are steps. Every family has a different family story and relation as we discuss in class. With that, every family has multiple different rules and structures for their home. I would like to share a few of my family rules from my perspective.

 

Number one if you it was yours like you bought it with your own hard-working money write your name on it. I love to eat out and still do. I also love leftovers. When I would go eat out with my friends and bring my food back. And put it in the fridge with no name on it. It was a free for all for anyone and everyone. Sometimes I forget and just throw it in the fridge and the next day I go to warm it up it’s gone especially with six older siblings. I would get so mad and frustrated I would start yelling and asking who ate my Panada Express. In the end, all they would say is there wasn’t a name on it. One time I was so mad I started crying it was a big deal to me when someone ate the food I paid for. I learned over a period of time to immediately grab the black sharpie in the drawer and write do not eat Kelli’s in big bold letters.

 

Number two you do not call shotgun. I know a lot of other families I was around it worked that way but not in my household. The rule was whoever got to the shotgun door first got the passenger seat. It was always a fight and battle to run to the car to get your hand on the door handle so you would get the front seat. For some reason, I feel like there is an underlying meaning for this rule. To get us up and moving so we could be early because my mom is all about that. Most time we would be standing there by the door waiting for my mom to come and unlock the car. Usually, if there was an agreement on who was at the door first or a full-on fight between two of the siblings the oldest would overrule. For that reason, I was always sitting in the back and absolutely hated it. I always felt squished and had no personal space. Welcome to the joys of being the youngest.

The last rule I’d like to inform you. I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and my family is as well. There are so many commandments and standards we follow to come closer to our Heavenly Father in the gospel of our religion. Every Sunday we attend church in the mornings. One family rule we had was to not listen to any music besides church music on Sundays. Every time we hopped in the car and headed to church; my mom would shut the radio off. After church, I would avoid putting in my earbuds and jamming out to some good ole country music. This rule has made a big impact on my life. I want to continue this rule and incorporate it into my future family. I have learned my life lessons from the rules that have formed throughout the years with my family. I am grateful for the rules we have as a combined family.