Family

I have a blended family also called a combined family. My mom Amy and dad Dave got divorced when I was three months old. I have three siblings my oldest brother Nathan, Kyle the second brother, and finally my sister Megan. Yes, I am single and the youngest of the family. To this day they are all married. With that, I have two sisters-in-law and two brothers-in-law. Eden is married to Nate, and they have one kid Houston with one on the way. Whitney is married to Kyle lastly Andrew is married to Megan. I love them all dearly. "The home is the great laboratory of love. There the raw chemicals of selfishness and greed are melding in the crucible cooperation to yield compassionate concern and love for one another." -Elder Russell M. Nelson

That is not all I have a stepdad, Shane with three step-siblings. Sarah is the oldest stepsister, Emily the second stepsister, and Sy the stepbrother. With one stepbrother brother-in-law, Shawn is married to Sarah and has three little kids. Axel is the oldest, Hayden is the middle child, and Harper is the youngest. Saying that I have 2 nephews and 2 nieces. Lastly, I have a half-sister Camryn. My family is big and is not a traditional family, but I still grew up to love them no matter what the situation is.

 To all those combined families out there it's not easy to love your family sometimes. I have been in many situations and trials where I did not love whom I lived with. Siblings can be mean, rude, brutal, and bossy. Living in a house old of six other kids was a challenge. Lots of fights, yelling, roughhousing it was always a battle. But it has truly shaped me to become who I am today. If I didn't have the constant pushing, shoving, hitting, wrestling, slapping, scratching, and fighting I wouldn't be as strong as I am today. It taught me to defend and protect myself. I am now in college on my own, so I have learned what to do.

Along with that, I have learned to work hard. Being the youngest with six older siblings beating you up constantly you had to work for what you wanted. You couldn’t just be lazy sit back relax and receive it all. It didn’t work like that in my family. If I wanted something I had to earn it. I have worked since I was sixteen either full-time or part-time. I have accomplished paying for my education and living since I have been out of the house which has been for two years. Without my family, I would have never gotten as far as I have. I continue to learn and grow from my family.

Personally, my relationship with each sibling could be better. I am not super close with any of them it is just kind of hard when they are creating their own family with their significant others. By watching them, I have learned so much through them and their own experiences. My oldest brother Nathan went through a divorce. Relationships are not easy they require sacrifice and commitment as we discussed in class. I am currently in the dating stage of my life, and it isn’t easy. With classes, school, and friends it takes some sacrifice to take time out of my day to commit to going on a date. To succeed you need to make it a priority. Family relations aren’t always positive and sometimes people don’t care to have a relationship with that family member anymore. My relationship with my dad was not healthy nor there in the first place. My decision was not to continue. He did not step up into the dad role my stepdad did, so I consider my stepdad my real dad. I wouldn’t ask for a better dad. I am so grateful for my family and the relationship I have with them individually.