The glue to your family

My father, without doubt. He had the toughest of life, mother died in her mid-thirties leaving Dad to raise four children alone. He did it too, He never went out socially, he cooked, cleaned and cared for us. His firm, where he worked, generously gave him leave of absence, meaning he would be off work until the youngest of my siblings was school age.

Dad went back to work when the youngest started school but he still had time for his children, raising them to be responsible adults. He lived to the age of 92, in his later years he lived with the youngest of his two daughters. I remember my father, who taught me what love means, simply by example.

Dad's devotion was an example to his children, none of us ever divorced.
 
At this point in time, for sure my youngest daughter is the family GLUE ā€¦. she always makes sure everyone, far and near, is included in any family news/activitesā€¦ always bringing together every chance she gets.

Before her, it was Aunt Marie, youngest daughter of my Maternal Grandparents. Her way of keeping everyone (in a very large family) all connected way amazing.


Must be a special touch that some people haveā€¦.
 
Not much glue between my family members. Dad's favorite was the eldest of the three sons......but that son disappointed and estranged him.
Mom & Dad tolerated one another but stayed together for convenience and fear of life apart.
The middle son lived in his own little world and kept a very low profile.
I managed a lot of household logistics when Mom's bi-polar depressions rendered her unable to function effectively.
The family dynamics were like a low level series of little problems that were coped with in a marginally successful manner.
We weren't a paragon of functioning success.........but without any dramatic crises either....mediocrity on the wrong side of the mid-range,
that was us.
 
When thinking of immediate family plus all extended family, my female cousin on my mother's side had big family reunions and invited everyone in the family through all the years. Had it not been for her, most of us would not have stayed in touch. She was more self confident and friendly than anyone else in the family. She passed away 6 years ago and I still miss her. Picture of her in her twenties.

rita.1960s.jpg
 
I used to think it was my mom but when my grandparents passed the extended all scattered... then my mom although very capable never was good at making plans or boundaries in family things.... things always fell apart. we were very different people. i am fascinated by large families that seem to get along I always wonder if there is behind the scenes drama.
 
My maternal grandmother.

@MACKTEXAS your cousin was beautiful. You have the same mouth as she had.

That has to be a 1960s something photo of her. She puts me in mind of my favorite maternal cousin. Unfortunately, she passed from cancer when she was in her 40s and did not get to see her children graduate high school that was a big heartbreaker. As with you and your cousin, I still miss her and she passed many many years ago..
 
That would be my great grandmother. She was less than 5'. A mini dictator in a flowered house dress and an apron.
Ruled her dominion with a wooden spoon. With age she became fragile and she mellowed a lot.
So I didnt get the full experience like some. Did get spoon whacked a few times though. :D

Starting in high school I lived with my great grandparents and took care of them.
Every holiday everyone would gather at the house and there would be a huge potluck.
Also for every holiday gram and I would bake dozens of cookies and then there would be decorating parties.
And I do mean every holiday. You name it we had a cookie cutter. :D

My great grandfather passed in my senior year. She passed shortly after I got married.
After she passed everyone just kinda just went their own way. No more potlucks. No more decorating parties.
I used to have all the cookie cutters till my SIL borrowed them and I havent seen them since.
Dont get me started on the husbands family.

After a while I guess that would have been me as everyone aged and I became their caretakers.
More like duct tape than glue though. :D
 
C50 said:
I guess there's no glue in my family, we've always been broken.
Click to expand...
I'm going to add to my earlier post.

Emotionally my family has never been close, I'm speaking of my parents and my siblings. Even tho I am the youngest I also became the family go to guy, so whenever problems happened I'm the one called on for help. I guess in the respect I may be the glue.

I'm divorced but my kids and I have good relationships, we speak often and they speak often with each other. I would say we stick together without much glue.
 
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