My kids are growing up near their cousins. It's priceless.

"I love the simple happiness my kids get from spending time with their cousins, and it feels like such a gift. In a world where it feels like everyone is trying to sell me something or make me pay for "fun" experiences for my kids, knowing that what they love most in the world is just being at home with their cousins feels almost too good to be true sometimes."

"Occasionally, when it comes up in conversation that I have five children, I'm met with surprise and sometimes, a little bit of shock. And while I understand that five may seem like a lot of kids in some regards, in my neck of the woods, it's really not that uncommon. In fact, my sister-in-law has seven children, so in comparison, my brood is the small one. All in all, with kids ranging in age from a few months to 17, my kids are a part of a close-knit cousin clan of 15 and counting."

"I will be honest with you: having 10 kids in my house at once does mean I have to do a lot of post-play cleanup (and right now, we're currently cycling through a stomach bug passed along over our cousin sleepover), but it's always worth it for how much fun the kids have."

The family includes five children aged from a few months to 17 and is part of a close-knit cousin clan of about 15 members. Nearby cousins enable frequent sleepovers and playdates that provide simple, home-based joy for the children. A sister-in-law with seven children often turns ordinary gatherings into instant parties for birthdays and special occasions. Large cousin gatherings increase expenses for celebrations and require substantial post-play cleanup. Occasional illnesses can spread during sleepovers. Overall, the close cousin relationships deliver priceless, low-cost entertainment and strong social bonds for the kids.

Read at Business Insider