The Meaning of Family to Me

There are multiple definitions to what family is to a person, but family to me is the base foundation of who I am today. Throughout my life from birth to the age of 18 my family has always stood by me to steer me in the right direction. I never really knew what family meant to me because I always thought it was their duty to do what they are doing and took it for granted because they are some kids out their in the world with no families, but it all depends on how we define it. You bang your knee on something you run to mommy because she’s supposed to be your protector, to kiss your wound and make everything go away.

Family to me is my mother, because she has done everything in her power to keep me safe, to guide me, to make sure I have everything I want. I was born in Brooklyn but was raised in Haiti by my mother and I would see her waking up every morning by 5 to go to work to provide food for my little brother and I. She would come home so tired that she wouldn’t even eat she would go straight to sleep. She owns a pharmacy and she is a pediatric nurse. She is always working so by the lack of her absence I had to get a tutor for school to help me with basic homework. At the age of 10 she decided that she could no longer keep us in Haiti and my brother and I had to move to the United States. She had to give her legal right to my aunt so she would become our guardian.

As a child all I felt was betrayal and hatred for her leaving but she would always say it’s for the best. I did not understand what she meant to me, I knew she was my mom, she gave birth to me, but I did not understand the true meaning behind who she is. She is an example of family, the person who would do anything in her power to provide a good future for me, the person who loves me unconditionally by her actions and does not have to say it, the person who made an example of herself so I can strive to do better. She knew growing up in Haiti had no future so she sent her own flesh and blood to another country without her so we could be better than her. She’s an example of what family means to me and the reason I am who I am today. Sisters, brothers, cousins aunts, uncles are what a lot of people consider family because they are blood related, but for me family does not have to be my blood. They are a lot of people in my life who are my friends that I consider as part of my family because they have help me conquer certain things in my life.

When I was little my mom hired a nanny/maid because she was busy working or to tired. She would take care of my brother and I like we were her own kids even though she was so young. She was in her mid 20s. she loved me like her own child and I consider her as a mom/sister. Her days consisted as waking up at the same time as my mother to cook breakfast, then comb my hair for school and from that she would be at the house taking care if everything else such as making the bed, make sure everything was clean and cook dinner for later and when I got home she would take me to get tutored and wait for me and by the time we would get home it would be around 6-7 and sometimes even 8. I would have so much studying to do because in Haiti it’s all about memorization, it would be midnight and I will be at the table revising and memorizing things and while everyone was asleep, she would sit by the table and wait for me until I’m done studying and sometimes we both would fall asleep at the table. After her long day of hard work, she would stay by me through the night to make sure I am fine. Family does not have to be blood, family means caring for each other even when you can’t, to make sure I’m all right and for that I owe her everything I call her my family because she is one of my best friends and even after she quit/got fired I still stay in touch with her and now I’m her baby’s Godmother.