My Family

Ive been away, since the Thursday just gone.
Went up north with the family... my brother is home from England with his girl.
My Brother Scott came up from Wellington with his girlfriend.
My sister Tessa and her family came Damian, Oliver (9) Lachlan (5) and Charlotte (3)
My Brother Nick came too.
My Mum Linda
My Dad Steven

I have a big family... i was an uncle at 8 years old.
I have been to countless family gatherings, tangi, funerals, weddings, parties, Christmas's you name it Ive done it.
But..... only today... only now

Do i understand how blessed i am by them.
Blessed by my family
I realised how much i love them today
My Dad fought his way out of a home... an abusive home which would have had him on the same destructive path as so many of my culture are.
He promised himself he would never be like his father... never, ever
He promised my mother he would never be like his father.

My father left home at 15, was married by 18 and still is
My father... deserves nothing but the utmost respect
My father is strong, quiet, brilliant, loving and wonderful
My father is who i want to become, he may not have a university qualifications
My father is the smartest man I will ever meet.

My Mother is the strongest woman i know
My mother loves to garden
My mother cared so much about her kids that before they were born she decided, they wouldn't be raised as she was.
My mother did what by rights all of us kids should have been doing.
She cleaned everyone elses mess before she had the chance to make her own
My mother was married at 18 and still is

My sister is the oldest of 5 children
My sister helped raised me and still does
My sister will never ever stop defending me
My sister loves all her family
All her family

My Brothers
Are
My Brothers

They aren't perfect
They are Strong
They aren't always fun
They always care
They will never, ever let anything happen to those we care about
Ever

I

I am blessed to be a part of this family
I am so blessed to have their love
I am not the son i want to be for them
I am not the brother i want to be for them
I am not the uncle i want to be for them
I am not who i want to Be

But i will be
For my Brothers
My Sister
My Nephews
My Niece

My Mother

My Father

I promise myself, like my father did, like my mother did

I will be better