Pros and cons of having a small extended family
Most people have a large extended family that stretches beyond to some relationships that you probably didn't know existed. This wasn't the case for me, as my extended family is quite small. So let's take a look at all the blessings and curses it brings.
PROS:
1. LESS AWKWARD FAMILY GATHERINGS
We all have those family occasions where you have to make mandatory small talk with people who claim to be your family but you've never seen them before. Then there is that moment when your mom just introduced you to a bunch of aunties and then started enthusiastically gossiping with them while you just stand there like a houseplant. Having a small extended family means having very few experiences like this, and eventually, you will actually get to know some of your distant relatives beyond the "Hello, how are you?" level.
2. FEWER NUMBER OF COUSINS TO BE COMPARED TO
When it comes to their children, Bangladeshi parents are extremely competitive. And if you have academically successful cousins, you can be sure your parents will express their disappointment by pointing out how you are not like them. Having fewer cousins means your parents can only compare you to only a couple of people, instead of pulling out a list. Just make sure you're doing better than your neighbour's kid.
3. LOWER CHANCES OF BUMPING INTO A FAMILY MEMBER
Aunties like to snoop, and it's even worse if that aunty is of your own blood. Having a smaller aunty-based spy network in the city is always a good thing.
CONS:
1. LESS EID SALAMI
Coming to the cons, the lack of people to collect Eid Salamis from is definitely a blow. Not having a huge chunk of cash at the end of Eid hurts, but it's even worse when have to endure some immature spoiled kids posting pictures of money on social media, bragging about how much Salami they received.
2. FEWER COUSINS TO HANG OUT WITH
Fewer cousins have both pros and cons. Personally, I find this con to outweigh the pro. Cousins are basically the very first friends we make. We share a bond created by both friendship and bloodline. So it definitely feels bad to not have a lot of cousins.
3. FEWER GIFTS FROM FAMILY MEMBERS LIVING ABROAD
Who doesn't love gifts from relatives coming back from abroad? They can range expensive electronic devices to entire cartons of chocolates. If you have a small extended family, you basically have fewer opportunities of receiving such gifts, so you just have to rely on getting good grades and hope your parents keep their promise.
Extended family members can be a nuisance at times, but they are family nonetheless. The bonds created by blood are special. So no matter how things go, it's always best to appreciate their company.
Mushfiqur Rahman Shanto is an undercover wizard who spends his days quietly observing muggles. Send him new magic spells at mushfiqshanto1234@gmail.com