Introverted Being (2019 - Part 1)

[23] My family

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My family

My family is my treasure. They are my happiness. Nothing is greater than a complete and happy family. We might be destitute and struggling every day but we have that strong bond despite the hardships in life. I love them so much. I won't trade them for a rich family. I always want them to be with me and us to be together.

My mother is the best in the entire world. She is so selfless, caring, loving, responsible, thoughtful, generous, kind, and has a lot of skills. She is good at carpentry, sewing clothes, doing the nails (manicure and pedicure), cooking, dancing, doing the household chores, and taking care of us and my grandparents. She is the greatest mother, wife, and housewife. I idolize her. She might have some negative traits but who doesn't have them?

My father is the best in the world. He is so hard-working and kind. He's a good singer as well. We used to sing karaoke at home. He is a movie buff. (No wonder I love watching movies.) He has been so supportive in my studies. He never failed to attend (my mother as well) the school's recognition every year. I was always in the class top ten and awardee. I was an achiever and a good student because of them. I wanted them to be proud of me and I achieved it. He was the one who would give me the medals and ribbons all the time. My mother never liked to march on the stage. She's shy. (I always tell her no wonder I am shy.) I can say that I was once close to my father before he got a stroke. I remember how happy and smiling he is like all the time. However, everything changed after he survived the stroke. He got short-tempered and got angry in little things easily which resulted in heated arguments between my parents and sometimes me. They said the changes are normal but I want my old father back. People may not know that what happened to him was all my fault and my sister's. He worked so hard and got over fatigued, then the stroke happened. He worked hard for us, his children. He never failed to provide us no matter how low the wage a trisikad driver can get. I learned to accept his new attitude as years passed by. I love him and my mother so much.

My sister is kind, pretty (unlike me, we are opposite), friendly (she has a lot of friends than me), easy-going and optimistic. We weren't close as we grew up as she was closer to her friends. I didn't even know any of her boyfriends. She didn't share things with me. I only remember the petty fights we had and the scratches on my arms. I know I always helped her with the homework. However, as we became adults we found each other's comfort and slowly opening up to each other especially when she gave birth to my niece. I became more understanding as a sister. I love my niece so much. I am so fond of her.

My grandparents have been so supportive in everything. They are the best grandparents in the world. They are my mother's parents. My father's parents are dead. I didn't get to meet them. I am closer to my grandpa than my grandma. He has been so good to me. He has encouraged me in doing things I like to do. He used to spoil me with fave rice cake. He used to be the best ballroom dancer in our place. He used to visit us and drink coconut wine at home. For years, he hasn't danced and visited my family because he has problems with his knees and hardly walks. We barely talk as well because he can't hear well anymore. I need to shout for him to hear what I say. He just stays at home and I would visit him often to see him and grandma. I would weed their yard and help them with the chores. I want to pay them back by helping them with the good deeds they have done to me. They are so generous to people no matter how small it is, they offer in kind to them. When you visit them expect them to be so hospitable and offer you some snacks. They are so helpful. My grandma is a good adviser to me. She is so thoughtful and caring. Whenever I want to vent something, I would always go to her. She never fails to give some advice and suggestions. Whenever I feel something in my body, I would tell her. It's just good to know that someone listens to you. I remember she told me about them dying and I would be in America already. She said they might not be able to see me before they die. It saddened me. I've never wanted to leave them in the Philippines but my fiance is an American and I have to leave them to start my family. She was teary-eyed when she said that.

I love my family so much more than my life. I always pray for their health and safety at night before going to bed. It's the only content of my prayer. I'd rather die first than to see them succumb before me.

Yuchae Moon