My Family

The other day I was trying to figure out how many adults and children were in my family when I came to the realization that the children out number the adults. That is only if you count my younger brothers as children even though they are 17 and 18 years old. So technically only one of them is an adult.

Growing up I didn't think much about having so many sisters and brothers. As I mentioned before I have 2 older sisters and 4 younger brothers. I figured it was kind of normal but apparently not. Most of my friends had 2 or 3 other siblings where I had 6. Now that I am with Charlie and he only has one other brother I realize how large my family is. I always knew we were a lot considering we can fill up many tables when we all go out together, but I like it that way. You can very easily disappear in such a big family but they also do know what you are up to, especially now that I live around them.

So here is a breakdown of my family:

First there is my mom that got remarried with C. He is about 12 yrs younger than her. She has had to overcome many things to get were she is at. Nobody has handed her anything. She has always fought for every thing most of her life. My mom has always been very strict with all of us which is probably why we are where we are in life. She has shown us how to be strong and not to give up. Many times we all thought she was unreasonable and unfair, but we were just kids. Now I can see that if it wasn't for her our family would not be as close. Through most of our lives she was a single mother, although my father was around sometimes, she was still the one that disciplined us and raised us. She does not have much of an education because she was the oldest of 11 children in Mexico and she had to leave school in order to help raise the children and work. Besides her parents couldn't afford to send her to school. My mom has what we would consider "old fashioned" views on life but this is what kept her strong and kept her going. There are many things she could have done differently but I believe there are many more things she did correct. None of us are perfect and she did the best she could with what she knew. My mom has been a great role model. Through her I learned that a women can be strong and independent. A women doesn't need to depend on a man to get her through life. For that I thank her. To this day I don't understand how she managed to raise so many children on her own. Recently she has spoiled my brothers but they are still responsible young adults. I guess she is getting tired but even through all this she is still going strong.

After many years of being divorced she remarried with C about 8 yrs ago. He has helped her raised the twins and A. He has been a great stepfather to the kids and helpful to my mom. He helps all of us even though we are not his children. He has shown how much he loves my mom by moving to Idaho with her and leaving his life behind and helping her with the kids. What is it about my family that people leave their lives to be with us?

Then there is my oldest sister Mar, her husband Bet, and her 2 daughters, Nat the oldest and Kar the youngest. We all go to Marlene when we need help. She has taken the reigns in the family. If anybody needs any talking to my mom tells Mar and she straightens us up. By being the oldest it has become her job to look after the family. You know how parents try everything on their first born and then adjust with their other kids, well Mar was the guinea pig. She got the worst end of the stick. My mom was very strict with her and made her take care of me, J, and Cla. Back then there were only 4 children. She also got into a lot of trouble because she was rebellious.

Then there is Cla and her three daughters, Jan the oldest, Kry the middle child, and Pri the youngest. She has always been very close to Mar. They are only 2 yrs apart. When they were growing up, and even now, they did every thing together. Cla has helped me a lot. I always went to her house in the summers and on the weekends when I was going to UCI. I am also currently living with her. She is the planner in the family. If the family wants to do something she is the one that finds out the prices, locations, and food. If someone needs to find out something you just tell her and she starts looking it up and finds it for you.

Then there is me and Charlie. I am more help to my younger brothers. When they need any help with school I am the one they ask for help. I am also kinda babied by my mom because I have lived away from the rest of my family for so many years and I have no children. Still kinda single but not really because I am with Charlie. We are still in the learning process since we have been together for 2 yrs. It is kinda weird because my sisters and brother J got married at such a young age. Most of my cousins my age or younger are married with children. I have been the one that has lasted the longest without getting married and pregnant. Which makes me the role model for my nieces and brothers. My sisters tell my nieces and younger brothers to take my example and go to a university and get a career before they get married and think about having any children. It's not easy being a role model but I have managed. Besides I have always managed to figure things out on my own. My family has encouraged me all the way but they couldn't help me with school because they didn't graduate from high school. They have gotten their GEDs but nothing beyond that. My friends and teachers helped me with school and my family stopped me from being another statistic. For that I am very grateful.