Last week I left you as I tackled my roller coaster life. Well, I’ve been so busy since then, but things seems to be getting better. With school visits, shopping and a day out at an inflatable theme park spirits have been lifted a little. Even though I’m a little exhausted too.
Hospital Memories
This week I will be in hospital for the first two days, so I may not be around much. Or I might be if I can get on the internet while in the hospital and I’m bored enough. The hospital is like my second home now, I don’t even have to give my name when I walk into the reception of my usual ward.
It takes me back to just a few years ago when it was the same for Star at the Children’s Hospital. It was Christmas 2013 when she was first fitted with a halo, how appropriate. She earned her nickname Star for all that she went through, she truly shone despite the pain and sadness. Now she has to see her consultant just once a year, but she still has to see a nurse every three months and has another appointment with the very busy geneticist next year. The good news is that she seems to be doing just fine, and she copes so well with her pain. Yes, she is a Star!
Family Memories
This weekend Graham’s brother came up to visit from his home in Dorset. He brought his two young children with him. We had Graham’s Mum come to visit too and they all stayed for the day. It was so lovely to have family around, the kids ran riot and made an awful mess, but I loved it. I do think that my kids are way to quiet and tidy sometimes. When my older two were little the house was never tidy, but they didn’t have laptops or phones to play on. They did have the Nintendo, but still liked to play and make mess. My kids, even when not on devices, will do quiet stuff like draw or read. The Little Man loves his Lego, but he always puts it away after playing.
Having family around brought back memories for both me and Graham. When we were young the house was often full of cousins and aunts and uncles. We used to have visitors all the time, or we’d be the ones visiting. My mum had five sisters and two brothers, so there were many, many cousins. Usually, me and my two cousins of a similar age would be on tea duty and be sent to the kitchen on a regular basis to make pots of tea for everyone.
These days it seems a rare occasion when we have lots of family visiting, or we visit family. Most of my family dissipated when my Nan passed away, but one of the main issues is the age differences in my own family. Two of my brothers are a lot older than me and their children are even older than my eldest children. So the only cousins my youngest kids have are Graham’s brother’s and, as I said before, they live in Dorset.
Families tend to be smaller these days and families don’t always live close together any more. I know that when I was little, four of my aunties and my Nan all lived in walking distance from us.
I do miss those family days though. Even though it meant more arguments, more mess, and definitely more cups of tea. It was never dull.
Do you come from a large family, or have a large family now? Do you get together a lot with family?
I’ll leave you with a photo of a tired out Christmas cat 🙂
Families and family relations are complex and times change. I miss the family members who are gone and think you’re right that some older members are the glue that holds the family close. #MMBC
I too miss family that are no longer with us. It was my Nan that held everyone together, but she’s been gone 30 years now. Even my Mum has been gone 10 years this Christmas. Times certainly do change x
I hope you enjoy the time with the family and create more memories. What a gorgeous kitty X #mixitup
Christmas cat does look very tired! Our family is spread far and wide, especially us! We moved the furthest away. We just enjoy the time we do have together and cherish the memories.
It’s funny here in Ireland how in one generation, families have shrunk. I am one of six and my wife one of eight. We have two kids, as is now pretty common, but one of my sisters has five kids, and they are sometimes seen as almost a freak show when all out together!! I so remember all those cousins and the stuff we used to get up to, but now our lads only have one or two around the same age, and it’s definitely not the same. #MixItUp
I have five kids! But the older two are now adults, so we don’t have to cart them all around together 🙂
I’m lucky that all my family pretty much live in the same place and we see each other a lot. My three boys adore their slightly older cousins and they all go totally crazy when they’re together – the noise is something else! #ItsOK
That is lovely, well, apart from the noise 🙂
I love those days when we have loads of family over. I have three kids but despite having two uncles and 2 aunts they have so far only accrued one cousin between them! #ItsOK
Hi Anne, treatment must feel easier in a place where everyone knows your name? And it sounds like Star is a very brave girl…. I come from an quirky family, if assesments were done I’m pretty sure Gregs isn’t the first with autism. Growing up I remember seeing family around Christmas time even though my Dads family were all in Exeter where we were ( I once sat on the bus to town next to a lovely lady, only to realise she was my Auntie & we found it the funniest thing ever). On the positive we always pulled together when it counted… My Mums family was all in Greece, so we only ever saw them every other year on holiday. I have three cousins in Athens I haven’t seen for years. Not for any other reason than it just never happens. I do wish it were easier to see my sister & her family, but at least when we see one another its like no time has passed… It must be strange growing up having family pop round for it to be different when you have children… How did you ever teach Little Man to pick up Lego? I swear I still step on pieces left from a time gone by!
Thank you for stopping by and linking up with #keepingitreal.
xx
It was different with my older kids, we had lots of family on my ex husbands side that were always visiting, but with my little ones their Dad has only a few family members and mine are all old fogies, lol The Little Man is an expert lego picker upper and I do appreciate his efforts. xx
I didn’t grow up with extended family, but now that I have 5 children, Christmas (although hectic) is a beautiful time for me. I love being with my family. I also have my mother in law and my husbands gran living with us. I love that my children get to grow up surrounded with all these special people. #itsoklinky