Lessons In Family Life From Literature’s Largest Broods
The ingredients for a healthy, warm family life are a perennial topic of conversation, and literature can be an untapped source of inspiration for building those sound relationships.
Below are four examples of delightful, large literary families and the lessons they offer us.
01 | The Austins: Togetherness
Madeleine L'Engle’s Austin family is introduced in the humorous and heartwarming Meet the Austins and returns in four more books of the Austin Family Chronicles. This somewhat idealized but certainly appealing and winsome family consists of the parents, physician Wally and homemaker Victoria; their four children: brilliant, science-minded John; artistic, sensitive Vicky; family beauty and future vet Suzy; and lovable little brother Rob, as well as various dogs and cats.
The reader notices almost immediately how integral routines and togetherness are to the Austin home: family dinners and open conversations on all manners of subjects are daily happenings in their household; they sing together, led by Victoria, who plays the guitar; they have a bedtime routine of reading and prayers.
As the children grow up and have more homework and evening commitments, everyone isn’t always able to participate in these family rituals, but during summer vacations, these special times are often renewed.
The reader gets the sense that these traditions of togetherness create order and rhythm for the family, particularly the children. They cement the family’s bonds with one another. The Austins teach us that in order to build strong family ties, we must carve our time to play together, to pray together, and just to be together.
02 | The Vanderbeekers: Cooperation
Karina Yan Glaser’s charming family, featured in her series of middle-grade books, makes for enjoyable reading for all ages.
The biracial Vanderbeeker family is made up of Mr. and Mrs. Vanderbeeker, their five children: twin girls Isa, who plays violin, and Jessie, who’s a science whiz; son Oliver, who loves playing basketball and reading; daughter Hyacinth, who’s shy but talented with sewing and crafts; little Laney, who’s outgoing and loves to give hugs, and several cherished family pets. They live in a brownstone in Harlem and are on such friendly terms with neighbors that they could be extended family members.
The relationship between children and parents is refreshingly positive for a contemporary series, showing a family dynamic of mutual love, respect, and fun. In each book of the series, which will number seven in all when the final installment is released in 2023, there’s a problem or a project for the characters to tackle. The kids invariably face these issues with enthusiasm, care, and creativity, holding “secret” sibling meetings where they plan strategies to solve the problem at hand.
Some of these challenges include convincing their reclusive and misanthropic landlord, Mr. Beiderman, to renew their lease, organizing a community garden in honor of their beloved upstairs neighbors, Miss Josie and Mr. Jeet, helping their mother open a bakery/cat cafe, and planning a surprise birthday party for their father. Amidst their adventures, they frequently employ the aid of friends in their endeavors and often utilize each other’s unique strengths and gifts in support of the common goal.
It’s not only in the big obstacles and projects of life on which they cooperate. They also willingly lend a hand at home, doing chores and cleaning up after family meals. They’re supportive of their loved ones, be they family members or neighbors in their enviably tight-knit community.
The Vanderbeekers exemplify the truth that a strong family needs to recognize each member’s gifts and to cooperate and work together generously for the common good of the family and its loved ones.
03 | The Weasleys: Hospitality
Everyone’s favorite red-haired family from the magical Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling includes father Arthur, mother Molly, and their seven children: handsome and brave Bill, dragon-wrangling Charlie, twin pranksters Fred and George, wayward Percy, Harry’s best mate Ron, and little sister Ginny.
The home is called The Burrow, a moniker that in itself connotes safety and security, a warm refuge. Yet, it isn’t elegant or fine. The Weasleys aren’t rich; the kids often wear well-worn hand-me-downs. Their house can be crowded and loud and the garden often needs “de-gnoming”. But it’s also a place filled with love and laughter and home-cooked meals.
Arthur and Molly Weasley unfailingly welcome Ron’s pals, orphaned Harry, who is scarred literally and figuratively by his past, and brainy Hermione, whose parents are Muggles (non-magical humans) and who’s therefore considered inferior by some in the magical community.
The Weasley parents take charge of ushering Harry and Hermione, along with their own kids, onto the Hogwarts Express for the annual trip to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Particularly for orphan Harry, the Burrow is really the only true home he experiences and the Weasleys consider Harry a part of the family. They worry and fret over his safety and aid him in his battles with the villain Voldemort. They attend the Tri-Wizard Tournament in support of Harry, and Harry always receives one of Mrs. Weasley’s famous (or infamous) knitted Christmas sweaters during the holidays.
Rowling establishes the Weasleys in marked contrast to Harry’s relatives, the Dursleys, a “respectable” middle-class Muggle family, who neglect and abuse their nephew Harry because of his magical capabilities while spoiling and pampering their own lazy, oaf-ish son. In the wizard world, the Weasleys are contrasted with the Malfoys, a wealthy, “pure-blood” wizard family whose son Draco is a vicious bully, yet also an insecure, miserable kid trying futilely to please his father, who is in league with Voldemort.
The Weasleys demonstrate that having sound and loving family bonds is more important than material wealth, refinement or fulfilling every societal convention. Rather, an enduring family life is built on acceptance, love, and a welcoming sense of hospitality.
04 | The Gilbreths: Discipline & Order
The Gilbreth brood consists of father Frank, mother Lillian, and children Anne, Mary (who died as a child), Ernestine, Martha, Frank, Bill, Lillian, Fred, Dan, John, Robert, and Jane, all of whom are found in Cheaper by the Dozen, and its sequel, Belles on Their Toes. Both of these classic family comedy stories are written by Ernestine Gilbreth Carey and Frank B. Gilbreth, Jr. and are based on their childhood growing up in New Jersey in the early twentieth century.
The books were subsequently made into classic Hollywood films, but twenty-first century readers may be more familiar with the early 2000’s Steve Martin remake, which, other than being about a family with a dozen children, really isn’t like the originals at all.
And the originals are such delightful gems. In a family this large, discipline and order are of paramount importance if chaos is not to reign. The head of the family, Frank, is an industrial engineer and motion studies expert, meaning he evaluates how processes in the workplace and in the home can be swifter and more efficient.
He takes his work to a comical extreme in his own home. The kids have a chart they must initial when daily chores and tasks are complete. Not so unusual, even in a moderately-sized family – however, there are other humorous incidents of efficiency, like when Frank films his children washing dishes in order to determine how the process can be expedited by eliminating unnecessary motions
Then again, he invents a method for quick and efficient bathing, which he demonstrates fully clothed sitting on the living room floor. He wants the children to use his method so everyone will have time to bathe. He also buys the children language records which he instructs them to play while bathing so the “unavoidable delay” of hygiene isn’t wasted but instead is a time of education.
These are only a few of the hilarious and outlandish examples of the order and discipline expected in the Gilbreth household. Though life is regimented, laughter and jokes are also daily occurrences, and the children know they’re deeply loved by their parents.
The Gilbreths remind us of the need to be considerate of other family members and of the importance of self-discipline and organization in making family life run smoothly.
In short…
A stable and loving family is a universal human desire, and sometimes, we need only look to literature for helpful and fun examples of how to nurture our own familial relationships, whether they number three or twenty-three.
