I think most of us can agree we have our dysfunctional families. It may be the entire family, or just that Aunt, Uncle, Brother, Sister, Mother, Father, Cousin, Nephew/Niece, Grandparent, Step-parent, Cousin twice removed… (you get the picture) That is causing pure and utter chaos for us.
I know that growing up I always had my share of dysfunction and chaos. If someone had told me during the ups and downs, that those situations would only help me become who I am…. It would’ve never made sense…but now being older, and being faced with different situations, it truly has made me who I am today.
Anyway, my family isn’t perfect.. it’s far from it. Sometimes they can be the biggest stressor in my life, and at other times, they are the ones I seek advice from and vent to.
I never grew up around newborns, or babies. I never had a younger sibling, or a niece or nephew that could show me the magic and love of a new life…. Until I met my baby cousin.
I never saw her at birth, in fact I don’t really remember what life was like, until she was maybe 6. That was when she began to change my life. I was lucky enough, to be able to spend time with her after school, while we waited for her parents to get out of work. We ate delicious snacks, and she put up one hell of a fight when we wrestled.
During some of the darkest times for our family, my little cousin was my light. Whether we were hanging out in the bedroom at my Grandmother’s house, and her noticing that “my best friend has curly hair, and I have straight hair, and that is why we are best friends”, or if she was visiting for Christmas… She continuously brought a light, that I never can explain. My sister didn’t have the same relationship with her as I did… so I felt a little more special knowing that the bond between my cousin and I, was one of a kind.
When our other cousin passed away 2 years ago, my little cousin was the one sitting between my family and I. She was the one I was crying with, and from that moment on, I truly realized how important she was.
How sad it makes me, to think I barely know who she is now. She just had her first formal dance, and looked so beautiful and mature. I only live 2 hours away, but life, work and the daily things consume my time, and I rarely have a chance to make it to my other home.
I spoke to my little cousin today. She’s going to the world cup! I get to see her in a week!
I’m so incredibly happy, and so friggin exicted to spend the day with her.
I wonder what she’s like now?
This is the world, as I know it.
It's the world, as I know it 