Loneliness in a house with ten siblings...not!

Loneliness in a house with ten siblings...not!

You're never lonely when there are ten siblings at home. There is always someone to talk to and always something to do. We had to share our rooms, the car, the laundry room, one bathroom, our clothes, our space and all of that sharing forced communication. Being eleven kids had other advantages too. I could bake a double batch of cookies a day without getting fat. The cookies were gone as I took them off of the tray.

I love having a busy house with people coming and going. My door is always open, and friends and family are always welcome. I realize, on a rare occasion, that this willingness to talk, share and have people just pop in is not shared by all. I have to remind myself that I am the oddball... I am the one with ten siblings.

This coming week my Mom, at age 76, still house her house full; the niece of one of my brothers, a grandchild, a daughter and maybe two more to come. Her house was full of life and kids when she was a young Mom, and now it is full of knitting groups, beading groups, kids, grandkids, our friends, their friends, distant relatives and just fun. A great place to get together and hang out. What a cool example she set. Message to take from this. If you are ever close by and want to stop by just do, I like a full house.

P.S. The picture is some of us, the social worker from Korea who helped place the two of my sisters and friends and some other ex-orphans from Korea. A reunion of sorts in our back yard.

—Allison Ochs Social Worker M.S.W. , Coach, Expat, Mother of three, Wife