Family. There are many definitions as to what constitutes a family. Family can be the parents that biologically bore you, and the siblings that share your genes. But family can also be people that become so special to you that you couldn’t imagine life without them. Whatever type of family that you have it should be defined as people who love and accept you for who you are. In my case, my family is not only biologically related to me, but they are also some of my closest friends in the world.
I’ve been blessed to have parents that have tried hard to give my siblings and I a loving environment in which to grow up. Of course, like all families we’ve had our squabbles. There have been times when my parents argue or one of us kids argues with Mom or Dad. We’ve had arguments between siblings as well. But that doesn’t mean that we love each other any less. In fact, it has seemed to help us grow and learn more about each other as human beings. Sometimes when you are a family unit, you forget that you are really a bunch of individuals. Yes we all have our similarities because we are related, but we also have many differences. My parents have different backgrounds, different ways of handling stress or conflict and have different personalities. These traits have been passed down to us kids, but we still are different individuals.
My mom and I are pretty close. I’d say next to my husband and sister, she’s my best friend. We talk about almost everything. We share similar likes and interests. We also share similar personalities and looks. My dad is always saying how much I’m like my mother. And many people have trouble distinguishing us apart on the phone. I’m so thankful for God giving me a mother that I can be more than family with. I’m blessed with our friendship, and I’m not ashamed to say that I get homesick for her at times.
Like I mentioned, I’m also very close to my sister. It’s funny to think back to a time when we were much younger, and we got on each other’s nerves almost constantly. Now, we're pretty much inseparable. I am honored to call her my sister and my friend. I’m proud of the young woman that she’s growing up to be. When I called her a couple of days ago we talked about her classes (she’s a freshman in college) and a bit about how much life has changed for the both of us. I’m newly married, so I just left home. She told me how much she cried after I left the house and added that we’re probably a little bit of an unusual family. We girls especially cry when we have to leave each other. When I was younger, I sometimes would cry at sleepovers. And even while in college I cried when I had to go back to school.
But I have come to realize that even though to some this would seem childish and clingy, I would say that my relationships with my family is anything but that. Yes, it is hard to be without them, and it is hard to leave them. Still, I know that I need to become my own individual person, and now learn how to live with my husband. I am a capable woman because of them. And I am so blessed to be able to say that I love my family as friends. I am thankful to have their support, advice, and love. Sometimes I will cry because I miss them. But this just reminds me that I am blessed because I have been given an unusual closeness with the people that I happen to be biologically related to.
