2 for 1 - Why Family is Important to me? and Funny Family Tale #3 - Grandchildren!

Well, today's post is two for one as I was very naughty yesterday and I didn't get to post my piece on why family is important to me.  Yesterday, I didn't get to bed until 2am.  I had been to Uni in the evening until late, and then hunted out the supermarket for a digital camera on my return to my home town. I then had a case to pack and I had to get up at 6:30am to take my daughter to school for 7am as she was going on a weekend trip to London.

Both posts are fairly short so there shouldn't be too much hardship (I hope), as I don't want to bore you guys!

It's a little ironic talking about why family is important to me today.  My daughter is ten, and has been away before for a couple of days on camping trips.  I know she is going to be having a great time and I am pleased for her.  Although I haven't had much time to miss her this evening as I have been working, I feel a little uneasy and emotional - a bit like something is missing.  When I waved her off this morning, I got goosebumps and tears trickled down my cheeks - those are the moments in life that I realise I am human!

My family is important to me because I love them and they make me who I am.  Through thick and thin, times of hardship, times of happiness or sadness, they are constant, they are there.  I'm not just talking about my children, I have a wonderful sister and Mum, a wonderful Mother in law and brother in law.  I also have a wonderful niece, and nephews that I love dearly.

My family - my husband, my daughter, and my two boys define me.  Sure they test me but I wouldn't be where I am today without them.  Before I had children, I would have worked any job really as I didn't have any plans or aspirations: as long as I had money to buy clothes, go on holiday, and go out and socialise, I was happy.

Something changed when I had my daughter ten years ago.  I aspired (not perspired but aspired)!  I wanted more - for me, for my kids, for our family.  I am probably the last person that anyone ever imagined ending up with a degree, and now I am working at post graduate level but I honestly think I wouldn't have the motivation without my family.  My husband is super supportive and he encouraged me to give it a go, and he supported me through it.  He kept the children entertained, shared housework and he worked 7 days a week at one point to help us through.

My family have given me the drive, enthusiasm and determination to go where I want to go and do what I want to do.  I am not the shy person any more that hides out of the way, I am the strong woman that has questions, that is growing in confidence and wants to be the best possible role model for her children, ever!  Everything about family warms me - I love watching them grow, them showing off their talents, hearing them read, and laugh, generally having fun.

If I was to sum it all up into one point I would simply say that my family is important to me because they give me reason and meaning.  I don't mean this in a morbid way when I say they give me a reason to live or they give my life meaning,  I just mean that they are the reason I am the person I am now, because I want to be the best I can for myself and my family.

If you have a fulfilling life, then nothing can stop you!


Funny Family Tale #3

Out of my three children, none of them remember their grandfathers.  My father in law died 2 month before my eldest child and my own father died a week before she was one years old.

I do have a step daughter and from the age of seven, she lived with me and her father.  She was very lucky and had a fantastic Grandfather in my father in law.  He was full of mischief and life - I had a strong bond with him myself as he was a great, and funny man.  He was very well liked.  My step daughter loved to sleep at her Nana and Granddad's.  We had been shopping and she had gotten a toy from the market and her father had picked up something too but he was always up to mischief and I just let them get on with their shenanigans.  Her father showed her how to use it and no one was really paying attention.  My husband and I went out on the night and were picking her up the next day.

She woke early in the morning as she was an early riser.  Her Grandfather woke to something cold slapping his face, arm, and forehead, and half a sleep, he wondered what was going on and sat up.  Around the same time, her Nana woke to and asked him what he was throwing at her as she felt something cold and wet hit her face.  They thought it was a possibly leak at first.  But when they checked the pillows and the bed covers had this soggy substance. Behind the door, was their dear little Grand daughter - with a spud gun - and one of their potatoes!

Needless to say - my husband was in trouble with the parents when we collected his daughter!  Getting shot with potato innids at 5am wasn't exactly the weekend they had in mind.


Have your children ever done anything embarrassing or funny to their Grandparents? Did you encourage them or was it your fault they did this in the first place?  I'd love for you to comment and share!

Laters, Janet

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