If multiplication is really a form of addition
Not really!!! Multiplication by itself is an "Operation" which has its own rules. Rudimentary multiplication like 3 * 2 = 6 can be equivalent to addition - but more complicated operation like (-3) * (-2) = 6 cannot be that easily explained. So my opinion is to "delete" the equivalence of multiplication and addition.
and numbers get larger and larger when you add them, why do fractions get smaller and smaller when you multiply them? For instance, 3/4 + 2/3 = 1 5/12, but 3/4*2/3 = 1/2.