Before I start this, let me say that I love my family a lot. But ever since I was little I knew that I was different. I was quiet and secluded while they were loud and obnoxious. I never talked to anyone, not because I was afraid to but because I never really wanted to, and that’s not something you usually associate with children, especially a child that is of Puerto Rican descent. We are known as the loud, obnoxious, rowdy culture. We are never quiet, and my family proves it. But I was just different. I stayed to myself a lot, I only wanted to be around my parents and I didn’t really care to talk unless needed (and sometimes not even then… I gave the silent treatment a lot).
Because of this, many people in my family thought I was in a bad mood, when I grew older they began to think it was rude which I admit it kind of was (the silent treatment at least). When I grew older, I mistook these actions as a depression mainly because I was the only one in my family that never really enjoyed talking or hanging out with others so I thought there must be something wrong with me, right? Wrong. I realized that I just enjoyed being by myself when I tried to force myself to be around others. Don’t get me wrong, I love hanging out with my best friends and other people, but most times I need time for myself to regroup or I become frazzled. So to get on with this, here are some things I experience while with my family:
The introductions
Everyone knows that moment that you meet a new family member or friend that you have never seen before and your family wants to introduce you. I never enjoyed that moment, mainly because all I did was hide behind my parent. You’re probably thinking that most kids do that right? Well, news flash, I did that well into my high school years (shocker, right)?. I stopped when I realized that I needed some type of social skills to get through life, but I still dread those introductions.
The family parties
Another thing that I dread, mainly because I need to leave my house. Once again, I love my family, but I really don’t like socializing. I find that going around to say hello to everyone is draining, and by the end of the day I'm exhausted (and not the fun kind of exhausted).
The aunts and uncles
My aunts and uncles are my favorite part of my family. But I must remind you that my family is very loud and I’m very not. And when I say loud, they literally yell as they’re speaking (which I admit I do as well the rare times that I do speak). So whenever I would go over their houses, I would endure their constant attempts to make me talk and then hear the tone of defeat as they say “I forget she doesn’t like speaking to us”. Which I will say is not true, I just find socializing to be exhausting?
That one cousin that wants you to party with them
I will repeat that socializing is exhausting. That is all.
