The family is both the fundamental unit of society as well as the root of culture. It is a perpetual source of encouragement, advocacy, assurance, and emotional refueling that empowers a child to venture with confidence into the greater world and to become all that he can be. - MARIANNE E. NEIFERT, Dr. Mom's Parenting Guide
Yes, I would agree that my family has influenced me a lot as to who I am now. Some will say, "you're so much like your mom". Little did they know that I have grew up to be a much different person that what they think. I could say I have never enjoyed my childhood much that if given a chance, I would gladly turn back time and be a kid again. Or if it's not too much to ask, turn back the hands of time up to the moment I was born. My parents are both hard-working. I could not say they did not do their best to provide for me but I don't wanna say they have done enough just to give credit for them being my parents. There are certain things in life that people fail to achieve. Maybe proper parenthood, good grades or excellent performance at work, you can never tell. I am not blaming anyone as to where and what I am now. Everything happens for a reason.
Of all our social institutions, the family is perhaps the one with which we are most familiar. As we proceed through our lives, our experiences within the family give rise to some of our strongest and most intense feelings. Within the family context lies a paradox, however: although most of us hope for love and support within the family -- a haven in a heartless world, so to speak -- the family can also be a place of violence and abuse. - MARILYN POOLE, Family: Changing Families, Changing Times
Family, for one, should be the source of an individual's strength. A family should actually help one another during hard times and not pull each other down or throw mud at each others faces. Unfortunately, these scenarios happen to maybe not every family but at least 4 out of 7 as to what I have observed. No matter how close you think the family is to one another. A time will come when someone sometime will betray everyone else. Sometimes, mothers or fathers fail to see what their kids really want! Parents would most of the time follow what they believe is true or correct without hearing their kids opinion. Some parents just plain don't know how to teach a kid a lesson without spanking or raising their voices. Kids nowadays are getting more and more rebellious and the more parents stop them, the more they hunger for freedom. I always ask myself, "don't the parents remember how it was as a teenager?". All I could say to the parents out there, never wonder as to what your kids has become, you maybe part of the reason why.
Family quarrels are bitter things. They don’t go according to any rules. They’re not like aches or wounds; they’re more like splits in the skin that won’t heal because there’s not enough material. - F. SCOTT FITZGERALD, "Notebook O," The Crack-Up
I have carried a lot of splits in my skin for 20 years now. When I think of it, I have forgiven everyone for these ugly splits but forgetting is a different matter. They say forgiving and forgetting comes hand in hand. Yes, I agree. You forgive someone but hey, forgetting a thing only happens if you have amnesia. What do you want me to do? Delete the memories stored in my brain? What? Am I a hard drive or something? So, now you're saying I really did not forgive them for all those misery. I tell you what, I did a long time ago. But the splits still exist! A painful reminder of what has happened. Man, the past is part of who you are. The past could haunt you, destroy you but if you're like me, it will make you stronger . It will keep you going, keep you fighting, keep you motivated. This is when an individual's perception matters. Big time.
If the family were a boat, it would be a canoe that makes no progress unless everyone paddles. - LETTY COTTIN POGREBIN, Family and Politics
To my beloved family, I love all of you, guys. Sincerely. You may have hurt me physically and emotionally, my heart still has room to forgive. You guys may not have given me enough courage, support, respect and love. It's okay, I would like to think that you did. Thank you for all the things that you have done, bad or good, I learned something and grew up with enough zeal to push through this long cruel struggle we call life. I might have said a lot of hurtful words as well. Might have gone overboard and did a lot of unforgivable stuff. But lucky as I am, family would always be family. Let's sail together into the restless ocean through this harsh storm. Hand in hand. Together we fight!
Time to meet my beloved family ...
Meet my Mom! Call her Gemma, please. Very well, I will describe her in someone else's perspective. Well, she is very intimidating and she doesn't talk to people she basically don't like. She loves political talks and talks about life in general. She loves to read historical books and any other educational reading material. She's got some strong will, ideals and principles that others might find absurd or not believe in. She doesn't care. That's what she believes. So, back off! HAHAHAHAHAHA! She loves to sing Air Supply songs and gets irked watching dumb contestants joining Pinoy Henyo. Bad for High Blood! LOL! Now, as a daughter. I love her home made spaghetti and macaroni salad. Her home cooked Sinigang and all other veggie dishes. She scolds me a lot and tells me a lot of stuff about life without hearing my side. But it's okay! It's my life, though I am her daughter. I am old enough to make decisions for myself. I am open for suggestions, though. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! :)
Meet my Dad! Call him Diego, please. Hiyaah! [i remembered the old radio drama, Diego oh oh oh xD] And yes, he basically served years for the masses, the marginalized sector in the Philippines but later decided to stop and took a different path. "The Road Less Traveled". HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! He knows a lot about guns and guerrilla warfare. He loves to sing Tom Jones tracks and the like while drinking some cold beer with friends. He basically raised me in a military discipline style. Yeah, you got it. Lots of physical punishments for each and every mistakes done. Oh, I have forgiven him long ago, don't worry. How could I not forgive him when I myself was forgiven for all the wrongs I have done to them?
Meet my sis! Her name's Geraldine, but you can call her by her pet name Jeje [ dyeh dyeh ]. I don't have any other picture of her but I assure you, she is very pretty. She looks sad in this picture, though. To think its her Graduation from the Vocational Course she took for Computer Programming. As far as I could remember, she loves to draw a lot way back when we were kids. She is also intelligent that she does not need to study. She even skips school sometimes and when she goes back from absence and took up the exam, amazingly she still passes it! Darn! Beautiful and talented. What more could you ask for? Well, yeah. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and sometimes looks can be deceiving. Anyway, there is this thing we call "benefit of the doubt", you might wanna give everyone you meet that in case you wanna know the reason behind their actions or words. :D
Here's my big bro, Dennis. Fondly called by his friends Dencio. :D And the kid? His son. My nephew, of course. He is a very talented guy, performed a lot in front of a huge crowd as vocals for his band and also as a hip hop dancer. Knows how to play the guitar and I have watched him practice with his electric guitar. HARDCORE !!!! Anyway, me and my brother WERE close when I was a kid. Whenever my sis Jeje fights with me, my bro Dennis is to the rescue! Well, when I grew up, not anymore. We had lots of major physical fights but that was a long time ago. Those were the splits in my skin that still exist, maybe healed but scarred the skin bad. I still look up at him as a brother. Maybe help him out soon with his needs and also with his family. Soon. :)
That chubby Missus is the eldest sister in the family. These two beautiful angels are her kids namely Aubrey [ in pink shirt ] and Pauleen [ in white shirt ]. Aubrey is kinda overweight for her age and a bit lazy with household chores where on the other hand, Pauleen is a very diligent, obedient, hard-working kid and a slim girl. Though both are honor students. And my Sis Jenny, their mother is a veeeery goood cook! YUM! She could make a meal out of anything in your fridge! WOOOOH! Makes me wanna visit them like right now and see what they have for dinner! LOL . :D
TADAH ! My favorite nephew! Rhyzen Genesis, fondly called RG. or Gie for short. :D Very active, very intelligent and very talented kid! Love him much! He's a constant honor student just like his Aunt [ me ]. HAHAHAHAHAHA! He loves to play with kids, very sweet and very thoughtful kid. Good heart, good-natured. Playful and funny. Lots of potential. Loves singing just like me! WUHOOOOO! Videoke! Videoke! LOL. He loves to draw like his mom Jeje and well, he was mistaken for a girl by many when he was a baby because of his long hair [ existent up to now ].
There, seems like you have meet all the family members! Love them all. Just decided to write about them cause I'm gonna go home this weekend to help out and bond with them as well. :D
~ More stories to come, pipz. :D
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