“In a way I can relate to this post, and I feel I can relate to many of them although sometimes in a completely different way!
I grew up in a family of 5; Mom Dad Older Brother and Younger brother. Looking back on my life, my family was perfectly imperfect.
Growing up I always had my mom around. She was a stay at home Mom until I was in about 4th grade. She was around for all of my activities (girl scouts, cheerleading, softball, basketball...) including those for my brothers as well. We always had a nice clean house, our beds were always made, food on the table , and we always had clothes.
Growing up I always had my mom around. She was a stay at home Mom until I was in about 4th grade. She was around for all of my activities (girl scouts, cheerleading, softball, basketball...) including those for my brothers as well. We always had a nice clean house, our beds were always made, food on the table , and we always had clothes.
Despite the necessities, a lot of my friends growing up lived extravagent lifestyles, and often I felt left out.I never understood why I couldn't go the mall and get a brand new wardrobe when school started, and a new backpack every year. I often found myself angry because it took so much from my parents to get the things all my friends had. Sometimes even going to the movies was too much to ask! My friends took really awesome vacations every year. Always somewhere exotic and warm. We took a couple family vacations, but I never got to go with my friends.... and I didn't understand why. Now mind you, we weren't poor by any means. But depsite our money situation I now find my family to have been rich in love.
I didn't realize that the things I had growing up were the most important until my parents became alcoholics when us kids got into highschool. During the years that were supposed to bring me into a new chapter of my life, things at home slowly started to tear apart....”
Anonymous, First off I’m very sorry it has taken me so long to respond to your posting but I really appreciate everything you have shared with all of us. I like that you gave us all a different way of looking at things and that is to really appreciate what you have. It sounds so simple but it’s the truth-although you didn’t get to go shopping every week or go on tropical vacations with your friends you had a family that genuinely cared about each other and that is hard to find. Nobody has a perfect family by any means, but to know that your family was “rich in love” is priceless. I agree with you absolutely that the things you had growing up were the most important, because there are kids out there who don’t have any of those things (parents, a home, love etc.). I’m sorry that things turned out the way they did when you were in high school, but sometimes that’s just the way the cookie crumbles. It’s not fair at all, but at least you still have a family and people who care about you...that is much more important than any materialistic item.
Did you see any warning signs at the time, or looking back at it, that would have made you think your parents were alcoholics? Sometimes as kids we are really oblivious to the signs, and I know I definitely was with my mom’s situation for a few years. I didn’t really want to admit to myself that my mom was in fact an addict-it was much easier to lie to myself or ignore all of the signs.
Thank you very much for posting and again I’m so sorry to everyone for my absence with the blog. I’ve been in sort of a funk since getting back to CO from the east coast. Now that my semester has started, and I’m organized I promise you will hear from me more often! Please continue to share your stories and pass the blog on to anyone who you believe will benefit from it. Thanks everyone-and I hope you are all having a great New Year :)
