What is ‘Family’? #ThrowbackThursday

16 Nov 2017 71 Comments

by Ritu in Challenges, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: , , , , , , ,

An old post I wrote a while back that I felt like giving an airing to!

 

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Over my life time I’ve seen many different types of family, and I’m lucky to be part of a huge, crazy parivaar (Punjabi for family) where there is no lack of love and laughter. But where you get a great amount of people, there are always going to be fallings out, and that one person, or maybe more, that you cant stand!

I think we can all relate to that!

As I said, I have been blessed with this gigantic extended family, and they took up most of my childhood,  every weekend we were together, be it at a wedding, a party, or just at each other’s houses for dinner.  It was character building to say the least, I was the youngest girl cousin on my Pops side out of a good 20, or so, cousins so was spoilt by many, but there were the odd ones who may not have liked the attention that being the youngest afforded me… still, I was brought up well, and wouldn’t make a fuss, I just got on with life.   Then on the flip side, I was the oldest grand child on my Mum’s side, so I had a different stature there!  The ‘Big Sister’ role!

But it’s my immediate family who I will always be thankful for.  A father who did everything for us, to provide us with a stable upbringing, and still catering for the other families needs. A mother who was there for us, at every step of our growing up, she didn’t even follow her chosen career path, choosing to be a full time mum to us, supporting us, helping us, bringing us up when we were down, grounding us when we were too big for our boots. A brother who was the biggest irritant of my life for the first 15 years, but then morphed into one of the most trusted individuals in my life. Then beyond, his wife, my sister-in-law, who is the sweetest person I know, who has also moulded the raw man that was my brother into a most amazing husband, and fantastic father too! And not forgetting my precious little bundle of laughs, my baby nephew!

Talking of husbands, around 14 years ago, I suddenly had a new branch grow onto my family tree, and I acquired new parents, another brother, and another whole new extended family, through my husband!

Hubby Dearest, well he is my rock, and thanks to him  (and a little bit of me) we created our own family, with the additions of Lil Man, and Lil Princess, and the ability to love unconditionally grew considerably in both of us. These two little people, here on Earth because of us, and looking up to us to nurture them, and hopefully encourage them to grow into strong, independent individuals with heart.

But is that all family is? Blood ties, and marriage?

I don’t think so, personally.

I seem to have little pockets of ‘family’ elsewhere in my life, my school ‘family’, my university ‘family’, my work ‘family’, my friends ‘family’, my WordPress Blog ‘family’…

Each of these groups of people have as much of a profound effect on my daily life, as my real family do, in their own way. They are all as important to me, and as essential to me being who I am today, as my parents were. The experiences I have shared with them over the years have also shaped me as a person, and made me the Ritu you see before you.

So, what is ‘family’ to me?

I think the true definition of family is those people who help to shape you as the individual you are today.

Written in response to RonovanWrites #BeWow writing initative.

But I Smile Anyway...

71 Comments (+add yours?)

  1. thereluctantpoet
    Nov 17, 2017 @ 22:26:53

    Yes, there is always one or more in every family which is why I love this quote, “Not everybody likes you! But not everybody matters.” Ha!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  2. Adventures of a New Floridian
    Nov 17, 2017 @ 06:38:18

    I love the way you wrote this. I agree 100%. I have little pockets of “family” all throughout my life, and each and every one of them mean the world to me!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  3. Jennie
    Nov 17, 2017 @ 01:38:02

    I love this, Ritu! There’s nothing better than family.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  4. indishe
    Nov 16, 2017 @ 14:33:51

    It is a blessing to be a part of such a loving family

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  5. susielindau
    Nov 16, 2017 @ 14:02:06

    Your family sounds wonderful, but I bet you have some stories to tell! thinks through comment Then you wouldn’t be able to show your face at the next gathering… 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  6. angelanoelauthor
    Nov 16, 2017 @ 13:05:41

    Lovely. I agree, family is made up of the people that shape you. More so, the ones we allow to shape us. There are those that want us to be a certain way because it serves their needs. The others, the true family, want what’s best for us and help us find our own way.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  7. OIKOS™-Redaktion
    Nov 16, 2017 @ 12:13:30

    Reblogged this on Die Erste Eslarner Zeitung – Aus und über Eslarn, sowie die bayerisch-tschechische Region!.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  8. Teagan R. Geneviene
    Nov 16, 2017 @ 10:43:31

    As they say, “Your friends are the family you choose.” Have a thriving Thursday!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  9. thebeasley
    Nov 16, 2017 @ 08:51:52

    Lovely post, Ritu. Yes agree family can come in lots of different forms. Family to me is people who support you, get you & have your back. Plus family is always sharing the same twisted sense of humour ha! I’m The youngest cousin on both sides of my family & the only girl! Needless to say I did seem to be bit of a favourite grandchild. I was very bless indeed (oh and I also have the older brother who was hugely irritating for the first 15yrs of my life haha) x

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  10. Carol
    Nov 16, 2017 @ 08:47:49

    I come from a big family as well and nothing like it is there? 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  11. Shailaja V
    Nov 16, 2017 @ 08:28:24

    The whole idea of family, as you say, is the concept of being there for one another. For me, I am blessed, like you, to have a wonderful extended family growing up and the same is true of husband’s family. My blog family is also extremely precious because they keep me grateful for the joys of writing. This was beautiful, Ritu 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  12. Trackback: The Mystery Blogger Award | But I Smile Anyway...

  13. Morgan Monique Byers
    Apr 29, 2016 @ 23:01:08

    https://uniqueharmoney.wordpress.com/2016/04/29/passionate-waves/

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  14. oxygen4thejourney
    Apr 29, 2016 @ 22:47:18

    What a beautiful post! Glad you aired it.
    Hope you’re well x

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  15. Rareity
    Apr 29, 2016 @ 17:18:26

    How do you like bloglovin?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  16. Erika Kind
    Apr 29, 2016 @ 16:56:37

    Oh, Sis! I remember that post so well. It touched me the first time and it touches me again. I agree, family is much more than only flesh and blood! Family is love! Whoever we love is family! I love you, Sis! 💖

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  17. syl65
    Apr 29, 2016 @ 15:34:58

    Wonderful post Sister and thankful to be a part of your blogily 😊😊😊 Happy Friday!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  18. charlypriest
    Apr 29, 2016 @ 13:05:08

    No wonder you are happy to be part of a huge familly, you are the dictator there so bossing ( or cutting heads who knows…)around everybody else

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  19. Prajakta
    Apr 29, 2016 @ 12:13:33

    Large families bring laughter, noises and unexplained jokes to my mind 🙂 And of course, there is also the family we choose in the form our friends and as you rightly said, blogging friends. Those few people behind the screens who manage to reach out and touch your heart. Ah! Beautiful 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  20. Hodgepodge 4 the Soul™
    Apr 30, 2015 @ 00:14:43

    Indeed, the blog family is a unique one, and one I’m happy to be a part of, too. I loved reading this…

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  21. Alan McDonald
    Apr 29, 2015 @ 23:14:21

    I realize I have one small foot in that door as you slowly draw me in with so many more just on who you are and how you are as a kind and caring person. When I see, “But I Smile Anyway…” in the inbox I know there is some form of real life waiting to be explored. Family, poetry, friends and of course the cats, bring your words alive and worth breathing. Keep up the great work Ritu! Your soul it is kind…

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Ritu
      Apr 30, 2015 @ 06:04:31

      Aw thank you so much Alan! It is so lovely to read that you enjoy what I write! 😊 I’ve always been brought up to be thankful, and to know that a smile can always make things better! So usually my posts will have a positive or humorous twist to them… If there is by some chance, a bad/sad take on a post, I must be having a bad day… And we all have those too!!!

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  22. sheldonk2014
    Apr 29, 2015 @ 22:59:34

    It’s always heart warming to hear how life goes with other people,how the seed was planted and how that seed grew,I am happy for you Ritu,if you are tasting the fruits of life and they are sweet this is what is so important
    As always Sheldon

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Ritu
      Apr 30, 2015 @ 06:00:45

      Thank you Sheldon. I know I was blessed to have been born to the parents I was… And to marry into the family I did… I really am lucky, and I do thank God for this all, every day! 😊

      Like

      Reply

  23. edwinasepisodes
    Apr 29, 2015 @ 18:31:32

    It is wonderful to be part of a large family, and have plenty of people to spend time with. It is also wonderful creating your own family and making your own memories and traditions.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

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