As the old adage says, "You can choose your friends, but you can not choose your family." Or can you? Surely you can't choose your parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. As a child, you're pretty much forced to be around those people, like them or not. But once you're an adult, you have more control over who you want to spend time with.
This weekend I had quite a few interactions with family. I spent Friday afternoon texting with my dad. Called Mom later that night. Sat close to Jim on the couch as he talked to his parents so I could hear the conversation and chime in when they asked about me. Got a Facebook posting from his Aunt Peggy later that night.
Saturday morning I woke up to an email from Jim's sister Jessica with a picture of his niece Hailey looking adorable in a spring dress. That afternoon, Jim's mom sent me an email and I sent her a few pictures of the wedding venue Jim and I went to see. Then we went to see my cousin Amber, her husband Mike, their kiddies Derek and McKenna, and my Aunt Sharon! 12 family members in less than a day!
I absolutely love going to visit the Le family. We all have such a good time together relaxing and playing with the kids. Saturday night we made cupcakes, colored eggs and had sushi and filet mignon/shrimp hibachi for dinner. Easter morning Amber made us cinnamon rolls before she, Derek, Jim and I headed off to church. Poor little Derek didn't make it through the service (he stayed up so late with us Saturday night) and we had to leave early because his snoring got so loud people started to stare. He got some energy back when he found his Easter basket though! After he showed us everything the Easter Bunny brought him, we went out in the backyard to find all the eggs that "Hop" hid! McKenna also learned how to "smile" at the camera, so Amber followed her around snapping pictures. (I will put up some of the winners when she sends them to me - they're hilarious.)
OH yeah - this is supposed to be about family, not just about my awesome weekend. Then again, this is my ADD blog so just roll with it.
Check out this adorable baby -
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| Hailey in her Easter dress! |
So back to being able to choose your family. Once you're a grown up, you start being able to make choices about who you want to be around. Or who you don't want to be around.
As an adult, you can opt out of large family gatherings, citing work or other commitments. (Like the movie Four Christmases where they skip out every year to go somewhere exotic.) Doesn't fly when you're a kid. Totes okay when you're a big kid. Not a fan of your sibling? Just stop talking to them. Creepy brother-in-law? Come down with the flu when its time for a family dinner.
These days its becoming easier and easier to spend time with the family members you do enjoy. Cell phones, texting, emails, Facebook, Skype, the possibilities are endless when it comes to staying in touch. (Modern Family father Phil, "I text. LOL: laugh out loud, OMG: Oh, my god, WTF: Why the face?") A few weeks ago I got a request from Jim's mom to share her location with me on Google Latitude. And Jim didn't think she knew how to use her new Droid to email!
I'll skip the part where I go on and on about how important family is - we all know that. But remember to share with your family how important to you they are, whether you decide to call them or text them. Because they're the only one you've got!!!
Happy Easter everyone :)
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