The love that binds us as family

“Family, like branches in a tree, we all grow in different directions, yet our roots remain as one."

The past week was such an enjoyable one spending time with family. My niece (dare I say it “ my favourite one”), Ronelle, her husband and her three kids as well as her mum which is my youngest sibling flew from Melbourne to spend time at our home on the Gold Coast. Although we connect with phone calls, WhatsApp and other social media platforms, there is nothing like spending time with family in the flesh. It was sad to deliver them to the airport this morning for their flights back home.

I can only imagine what a wonderful time it is for all you grand dudes and glam mas out there who have grandies. Grandchildren are so delightful and far too clever the way they navigate their way in entertaining themselves on their own. It was too hysterical to see how the 9, 6 and 4 year-olds summoned Sirree’s help for downloading games on their electronic devices, putting on their favourite shows on TV or even asking Sirree for help to write the recounts that I set for them. As revered elders, we have become redundant as Google has usurped our time-honoured place of being the free flowing fountains of knowledge. With our own kids, we have high expectations and we rarely smile before Christmas but with the grandchildren, all rules seem to go out of the door. My usually fastidious house transformed into a veritable play school area overnight with books, activity pads, games and big soft toys and for the whole week, the chaotic, cluttered space didn’t seem to matter. It was such a happy place.

It was great catching up with my baby sister too as we reminisced about old times rehashing happy childhood memories and remembering special moments of our dearly departed parents. My sister, Babes, read long excerpts from my late dad’s diaries which he kept religiously and depending on the content, this brought on bouts of raucous laughter, moistened eyes or smiles of gratitude. Our daughters rolled their eyes collectively as they realised that the youth are no different from one generation to another as they heard of our escapades. Although our connection is mandatory because of our shared DNA, it is such a blessing to share the same wavelength as friends too. We are both sport fanatics and enjoyed cheering for the old guard like Nadal and Federer and barracked for bad-boy-turned-good, Nick Kyrgios, in the first week of the Australian Open tennis. Our only point of difference is she’s a Man United supporter( after all, she is human and has her failings) while I am riding the high waves with my Liverpool team at the moment. We enjoyed some alone sister moments and sister selfies by fitting in a road trip to Byron Bay, lunch, a massage session and a good movie(“Just Mercy”).

Very few people know us as our siblings do as they have seen us in our batty, most embarrassing, vulnerable and raw moments. Our shared childhood where we didn’t exactly enjoy life’s luxuries but grew up in a home with a lot of good, old-fashioned values and a lot of love ensures that we know and understand each other like no-one else does. There are indeed a lot of benefits of doing life with a sibling but perhaps the most important one is being guaranteed a supportive, life-long bond. As different as our lives are now, the threads of our blood, childhood memories and shared interests meshes together to create this colourful and artistic fabric of sisterhood.

It is always such a treat to spend time with my niece, Ronelle. Although we are in touch every week through technology, it is so heart-warming to observe at close range what an incredibly awesome mum she is to her three kids. Her kids are so well behaved and listen the first time - not sure how she learnt the art of positive discipline but she’s doing a fine job with her supportive, school teacher husband, Mitch.

The hustle and bustle of life usually gets in the way of modern living but it is important to make time to spend dedicated time with family. It nourishes your body, soul and spirit in a way that no shop bought luxury can. As I pen this piece, confirmed reports of the sudden passing away of basketball legend, Kobe Bryant, who has perished in a helicopter accident is filtering through. It brings home the poignant reminder of how fragile life is and to appreciate our loved ones, especially family, by reconnecting in the flesh regularly.

Many changes happen within family: marriage, children, deaths, achievements, celebrations, heartache, sickness etc but the constant is that we start and end with the love that binds us as family. Enjoy time with your own family and take time to pencil in a family reunion with your parents and siblings at least once a year. Have a fabulous week, Folks.