Ok, so I have to admit, I've been slacking off on the whole staying in touch with family thing. It's very easy to get stuck in the everyday rut of work, kids & home and miss out on the whole call your Gramma or Uncle thing. Since most of my family live an 8 hour drive away (I'm originally from Cincinnati) my staying in touch usually has to happen over the phone. However, when I am in my hometown, I try to go see as many family members that I can in the short time that I'm visiting. It seems, though, that I am never in town long enough to see everyone that I meant to or wanted to see. I believe in staying grounded and keeping balance in my life (it's cheap therapy for a single parent) and family definitely helps me do that.
Recently, I took a 3 day visit to Cincy, to go get the kids. You see, I have the BEST PARENTS EVER! They keep my girls for me over the summers to save me the cost of daycare. Plus they love spoiling their Grands (that's what my parents call their grandkids); and since mine are the only ones that they see regularly, they get an extra heapin of spoilin from Granny and Paw-Paw! This was also 2 weeks before our bi-annual family reunion (of which I missed the last 2 installments).While I was there I had a list of people that I wanted to see. The only permanent people on my list are my Parents (of course) and my Grandma. After those folks are taken care of I try to get in the peeps that I missed the last time around. Just so happens that a lot of family was in town that weekend. Many of whom came to visit me at my folks house, so that knocked out a lot of driving. Then afterwards, I was sure to visit the peeps who were vexed with me for not coming to see them last year. The squeaky wheel gets the grease ya know. I also went out a couple nights to par-tay, which made me sleepy as all get out the next day, and cut down on my time-window for visiting. Long story short, there were still some peeps who were missed and who are now mad at me. In case you all are reading this: I love you very much and am sorry for not getting to see you while I was there. I will definitely add you to my list for the next visit. Forgive me? Please? :(
But (for all you grammar buffs out there, I know I should never begin a sentence with but, sue me) the time that I did get to spend with family really refreshed me. Even though I didn't get to have a very long visit with them, I truly enjoyed every minute. My family is always so great at making me feel loved and missed. It doesn't matter how long it's been since our last visit, I always feel right at home with them. I guess it's because I am. The moral of the story is this: take time to spend with your family, elder members and younger members. Those you are used to keeping in touch with and those you rarely see or talk to. Take your kids around them and introduce them to family members that they aren't very familiar with and help them know how important family is. I promise you they will continue the tradition when they are older. Keep in mind that when they are older, you will be the elder relative that they will be coming to visit. Karma is a thing that rhymes with itch!
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