My Family

It seems like at some point or another everybody else has written about their family. Well, this week it’s my turn. Like most of you, I can probably go on and on about how much my family means to me and reflect upon all the fun times we’ve had. I don’t know where I would be without my family. They have always supported me in whatever I did, forgave me when I messed up, and loved me no matter what. It’s so comforting to know that I have that kind of support system always backing me up and helping me when I need it. On the weekends that I decide to go home, my mom or dad is actually always excited to drive up to Blacksburg from Roanoke to come get me because they just love my company and enjoy talking to me on the way back. Most of the time on the weekends I’m out with my friends and not at home very often, but when I am, my mom will make one of my favorite meals just for me. A lot of times, my mom will have gotten food for me for my dorm without even asking if I needed any just because she knows how much I go through. It’s even good to see my sister when I get back; we weren’t very close for most of our lives, but the last year or two we have gotten closer and I miss her a lot while I am here at college. I love my family and can’t imagine my life without them.

My dad is definitely a big hangout buddy of mine as well as a great father. We both share an interest in sports, so when we spend time together it usually has to do with that. Sometimes we go in the backyard and throw around the football or baseball while talking about college or professional sports or just anything really. If I come downstairs wanting to throw the baseball, he will go outside and throw with me even if he has had a long day at work because he likes to spend time with me. Probably the thing we do the most is play golf. Probably once every month or two we hit the links. I’ve only beaten him once or twice, but it’s still fun because I get to hang out with him which doesn’t happen very often. He is brave to still go out there and play golf with me because there have been many times in the past where I’ve almost hit him with the golf cart (when I was really little of course) or when the ball has ricocheted off a tree or the cart and he had to duck to miss it (shows how good of a golfer I am), but it’s always a good time when we play. One of my favorite memories with him is when we went to Baltimore for my 13th birthday. It was just the two of us spending a few days together which was a lot of fun. We went to my first Yankees game at Camden Yards, walked around town, went to the massive aquarium they have, and just enjoyed each other’s company. Besides having fun, he knows how to be an all around, good dad. Sometimes when we are in the car, he will randomly give me advice. At the time I’m like yeah, yeah ok, but later when I think about it, I know it’s something I should listen to because it will benefit my life and he is just saying those things to help me. Sometimes he will do something nice for me and, even though it might not be something big, it still means a lot to me. Once in awhile I will come downstairs in the morning and he will be making himself some eggs. Instead of eating them himself, he will offer them to me and make his eggs second. He is one of the most selfless people I know, and that is one of the many good traits that I could use to describe him.

My mom is probably my biggest fan. She bends over backwards to try to make me happy and to do what is best for me. If it is possible, she will try to make it happen because she likes to see me happy. That is not to say that she spoils me; she has still taught me to appreciate what I have, to work hard for the good things in life, and to be generous in sharing what I am blessed to have with others. Along with those things, she instills in me the importance of doing what is right no matter what. I have failed many times at doing this, but she always forgives me and keeps pressing me to learn from it and do better. She, like my dad, is a very selfless person. Before I could drive, she would always be happy to take me to hang out with a friend or drive me to a party and she drove my sister and me to school every day instead of making us ride the bus. She knows me very well; she often can tell when I am upset and asks what’s wrong and if she can help. My mom always tell me, especially with picking out a major and a career, that no matter what I decide to become, if I give it my all and do the very best job I can do, then she will support me 100%. That is very comforting to know that she will have my back as long as I do my best.

The third and definitely not the least important member of my household is my sister. Like I said, up until recently we haven’t been very close. We didn’t hate each other or fight constantly like some siblings, but we just weren’t tight like others are. I would say that the turning point of our relationship is when I started driving us to school every morning and back home in the afternoons. I would also sometimes drive her to her friends’ houses or wherever. During those rides we would talk more than we used to and over time we grew closer. I grew more patient with her than I was before, and it was good to have a better friendship with her. Now, I really enjoy talking to her and I love our car rides. When my parents do something that gets on my nerves or upsets me, I can tell her about it and she will always understand. I know she speaks and thinks highly of me as I do her. I look forward to seeing how much closer we become as time goes on. My family is so important to me and I am very thankful for them. They have helped shape and mold me into the person I am today, and they mean the world to me.