This Is Me

title: "The Power of Family"
slug: "power-of-family"
date: "2023-06-03"
author: "Eden Blackfoot-Hare"

excerpt: ""
featured_image: "/images/posts/555c710da81de8630d51081cd80867ea.jpg"
featured_image_align: center
status: "published"
categories:
  - inspirational
tags:
  - inspirational

content:
  - type: paragraph
    text: |
      Family.  For some, a refuge, a sense of belonging and a source of strength.  For others, the phrase "not so much" not only rings true, but isn't quite enough.

      I am extremely fortunate to be one of the former, where family is important.  My younger sister and I grew up with family all around us.  Cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and outside of the traditional family as we integrated into our friends families and they integrated into ours.

      Family should be important.  And I know this isn't every one's experience.  And I am sad about that.  We should be able to depend on our parents, siblings and other family members when we need them.  And they should be able to depend upon us as well.

      What brought this to *top of mind* for me was something my Mom said to my sister and I several nights ago.  Our Dad had a total knee replacement on May 25, 2023.  Now, there are enough of those done across the United States and Canada every day for that single event to be very commonplace.  Heck - my Mom, sister and I have all had both knees replaced.  Dad is finally catching up.

      My sister arrived one day before Dad's surgery and I arrived two days later. The night before my sister left to return home, as we were helping Mom and Dad get through their evening routines, Mom said to us 'How can we thank you?'. My sister said it best: 'Mom, you took care of Edie and I until we moved out, and then some.  Now, it is our turn to take care of you.'.  Of course, being the older sister I couldn't be silent on the subject, and added 'Just say 'Thank You'.

      This is just how it should be.  Parents look after us as we grow.  Eventually, we care for each other. And one day, the children are caring for their parents.  This is quite common in various cultures.  Sometimes not so in the Western cultures.

      I am thankful for my family; my heritage.  This played a huge part in deciding my name change.  I am proud of my 'family of origin' as my sister says.

      Thank You Mom and Dad: Love lives here.