My Family What they Mean to me
Posted: Monday, October 17, 2011
by David Tanguay
I was born and raised in a large family I was the 10th child of a family of eleven children. Our family has always been close knit i.e. we have always shared our ups and downs with one another.
I remember as a young child my older brothers and sisters rather spoiled my younger brother Mike and me, my older sister would buy us clothes and toys being the two youngest in the family we would receive all sorts of surprises.
We had no idea what was in store for us but we each got a brand new bicycle that day. Wow, this was a happy day for my younger brother Mike and me.
Yes, our family was always close when one of us would get sick we would all share in the suffering that accompanied the illness. We would feel the pain our siblings endured and feel the joy they felt at different intervals.
I remember just how much of a thrill it was around Christmas time. When we would decorate the tree and wonder just what was in the gifts wrapped up snug around the tree. Christmas of ‘67 was my first Christmas away from home; I spent that Christmas in Vietnam.
Of course my mother also went through a lot raising us kids. Preparing meals and keeping us all healthy and well fed. Doctoring us when we got hurt playing in the back yard. Yes we were a hand full to our mother but we never heard her complain.
Families are the backbone of our nation for we are strong when we are a united as a family. All sharing common needs and deeds with one another.
“To put the world right in order, we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, we must first put the family in order; to put the family in order, we must first cultivate our personal life; we must first set our hearts right.” Confucius
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Top-level comments on this article: (6 total)Beautiful writing! You are so fortunate to have such a close family. May God bless you and your family ALWAYS!!!!!!!!Please log in to respond to this comment.Thank you for commenting JessiePlease log in to respond to this comment.
A very timely article, Dave. That Confucius guy knew what he was talking about.Please log in to respond to this comment.Thank you for commenting Bruce, yes Confucius was a wise philosopher.Please log in to respond to this comment.
If everyone would feel the same way as you do about family, than maybe we could finally take out the dysfunctional in family. I always said that a close knit family had to glue to keep the family intact. You are truly blessed to be surrounded by a large loving family.
Iris S.. TaubPlease log in to respond to this comment.Thank you for commenting Iris, yes, I do consider my self luckyPlease log in to respond to this comment.
Your soooo lucky to have such a close family !! I didn't have that growing up and still don't, and the closest person I had was my mom. I see people here where I live and some families are close and some are not, and the ones that are not close are still closer than mine. Your very lucky !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wish I knew what that was like, but I find that my family is in my FRIENDS...so I am lucky to have them. GREAT ARTICLE....it tugged on my Heart, thanks for sharingPlease log in to respond to this comment.Yes I do consider myself lucky Kathy, thanks for commenting.Please log in to respond to this comment.
David I'm always blown away when I think of how big your family is! But it's wonderful to read that you were happy. I think your mother must have been an absolutely incredible woman. Well, your father also, to have provided for you all.Please log in to respond to this comment.Thank you Jennifer, yes my mother and father were incredible to put up with so much.Please log in to respond to this comment.
hi david,
when i was really young, i wished there were 10 kids in our family. i had to settle for 4 :)
your home sounds cozy and kind.
i'm sure sharing and patience and trust and love went into all 10 of you.
thanks for sharing,
my best,
suePlease log in to respond to this comment.Thank you for commenting Susan, yes I consider myself lucky to have such a family.Please log in to respond to this comment.
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