I knew nothing about difference that comes into our thought pattern as we age.
We were two sister and one brother. Our brother was most tough adolescent. He was 8 years older than me . I really don't know what made him like this but he was completely off track.
He was angry with us and with parents. According to him he was left alone in village at aunt's house .It happened when my elder brother was suffering with t.b and hospitalized in Jamshoro city . Parents left my eldest brother with aunt's because he was difficult to handle specially when both parents were on run to hospital in other city .They feared that he could harm us with his behavior. He stayed there almost for few months . We moved village after my younger brother could not survive and died at age of thirteen.
He was problem child in school so hardly could study till five grade. Parents would always run to his school as complains about him were never ending.
My mother would often try to cover his mistakes but father was unforgiving .It is sad when first son disappoints you completely . As mother i can understand it now. We both sisters went school fondly . Brother hatted us for that.
In short we could only wish that we might have had him like an actual brother who love and protect their sisters .There is though one incident i could remember about his care for me. Once i was expecting first child .Mother had to take me hospital immediately . The lady doctor to whom we were in contact since months , did not show for some reason . I was in pain and mom started to cry .I remember that my brother picked up the stone and threatened shoutingly that,
"if no one came to see my sister i will break out the windows of hospital building ". Staff immediately arranged ambulance and we moved to hospital further within city.We were mostly afraid of him. He would pick any tiny thing and start to argue.Still we loved him .And in life later we proved it time to time.
He is not the same person of course .He is almost 58 old Many times got serious injuries but recovered .No big health issue though still he is Problem man of the house. His family is unhappy with his attitude .I still wonder why he was , is like this? I wish he was a normal person with normal psyche ,so we could have relationships like normal siblings.
When as mom i think about my own mother i can realize why she loved me more than other .I mean she often said that she is so happy to have me. Now i know why was so, I was easy to deal with as child or adolescent . If she would forbid to do something i would not do .When i was between 7 to ten i probably tried to break her rules sometimes because outings with friends were most tempting and hard to obey the rules related to forbade .
But as i grew i became more close to my mom. Her stories ,her house work ,her troubles ,her sorrows and regrets ,her grief about my dead brother and her cold war with father,her dreams about her daughter and above all her lament for her son who failed her completely ,everything is heard numerous times and is absorbed in my bones so deep!
So the more i knew her the more i followed her words.She was sky above my head and ground under my being.My world was orbiting around her.I thought this was my life and all my aim was to bring happiness to her life somehow.
She called me special girl as i was always desperate to give her surprise through my little chores and efforts. We both were source of energy for each other.
My Sister was bit different .She was almost well totally opposite to me.It was hard for mom to deal with her as teenager.She was beauty with brain .People who got brain are always hard to convince aren't they? Mom loved her so much ,so did she though her ways of expression were different .
I can never ever thank enough for grace of God that he blessed me with my first son who was astonishingly understanding teenager.Those were hard times financially and emotionally too.Our marital life was facing many problems at same time. I think this made my eldest son mature earlier .He was not demanding at all. He had rich friends at school but never tried to compete in anything.They are still good friends. Sometimes it hurts me that he could not enjoy his childhood as much as his both younger brothers can!
When i said that i had no idea about teenage problems before, it was till the birth of my second son .
He was really cute and smart since beginning .Born after ten years of gap so was waited and welcomed warmly ,specially by my husband who never say no to him. He got bit restless soul.He is only naughty kid as my youngest one is truly an innocent soul. He reminds me of my teenage self,so easy to convince and always trying to make parents happy.
Younger one is tough one though . No one can convince him until he is in mood to listen. If he listens ,he takes no time to agree though.But special occasion is rare :(
How were you as adolescent ?
It is astounding how people can be different. This is even true of people who were raised in near identical ways. Adolescence can also be such a difficult time for some. It is all part of the diversity that makes life interesting.
ReplyDeleteWe are all unique in our own way. And we change in certain ways as we mature. Both my daughters were not difficult as teenagers and I'm so grateful for that. They do have strong personalities but I never had a hard time with them. I was very rebellious in my youth, but I feel that it was important to be that way. I grew up in a very oppressive community and if I didn't stand firm, I wouldn't be the person I am today and neither would my girls.
ReplyDeleteI love people woth strong personalities dear Martha
DeleteI was strong too as individual but when it comes to family i like to be flexible
I was always and still am like this
Sorry to learn of your older brother, life has difficult challenges.
ReplyDeleteYes it has certainly Christine
DeleteChallenges are something that discover true of us :)
I verbally challenged everything as a teenager, but I would usually do as I was told. My own children, all different, were good kids, but like most teenagers, they had their own thoughts and were trying to become independent and we sometimes butted heads. Those are not easy years for parents or their children. It has always been that way and It will be that way.
ReplyDeleteThank you for dropping by my friend!
DeleteThis is amazing that your kuds were easier to deal with otherwise teenager of newer generation are jeard to be more difficult
I think the less will be the generation gap between parents and kids the more it will be easy to cummuniucate
I was a studious child, quiet, musical and a good girl, as my parents said. Children in the same family can be so different.
ReplyDeleteyour teenage image sounds fascinating dear Marie :)
Deletei had some shades you mentioned here yet there bits of complexities added by circumstances and environment
difference between sibling is always amazing ,rising from same blood and being shockingly different surprising to me
my grandma used to say that a child can inherit his nature to his twelve previous generations ,some say it can be seven back to his parents ,he can be any of them or blend of those who existed before him ,how weird
Your last question was a very surprise ending to your post. I was not a warm fuzzy teenager. I wanted to be liked but wasn't and acted out...not badly but still was a bit difficult.
ReplyDeletethank you for reading my post to till it's end ,could be challenging lol dear Red
Deleteit seems you that you had someone around to compete with and find adoration :)
i bet you got what you wanted :) as you were adorable child i believe
difficulties related to teenage psyche can be different ,some are confident ,some over confident ,some shy ,some daring all is good but parents children friendship can solve the most of problems i believe
once a child is abundant emotionally he starts to look for others whom can he trust and share ,keeps secrets from parents and life get complicated for both parties
Our families of origin so often shape us for the rest of our life. But of course, innate personality plays a role too.
ReplyDeleteso true dear Debra
Deletewe mostly are mixture of our ancestors and only our parent can know this ,what we adopt from life we shape this learning in the angle fixed by our own perspective
I was what I would consider normal. I loved and admired my parents. I usually obeyed their wishes and lived as they wished me to do. But I had my moments of misbehaving. At times I was a real trial for my parents. Often I have said that I am amazed at how much alike my children are and at the same time so different.
ReplyDeletehow blessed you were to be "good girl " for your parents dear Emma :)))
Deletei can only imagine that how such teenagers can make life of their parents easy and less stressful :)
i bet you were as amazing mom as were a wonderful daughter ,and your lovely kids are reward to your beautiful being
When I was teenager, I had a bunch of school assignments and extracurricular activities, so exhausted :)
ReplyDeletehaha
Deletehow exciting to live such incredibly active life during study years dear Evi :)
i laughed because it reminded me some of my seniors in school who were always on top when it came to extracurricular activities ,yet they were great in their studies mi was fan of them :)
I was a determined student. If I could not get a scholarship, I would not go to college. I earned one, thank you Dear Lord!
ReplyDeletei believe you will always be proud of yourself for this achievement dear Susan :)
Deleteduring such tough and disturbing period of age it needs an unshakable focus and steadiness to do so :) gratitude is product of faith indeed your's was strong in him and in yourself :)
I think I was less trouble than most, but my folks might not agree. Teenage years are often horrible years for parent and child.
ReplyDeletethis must have been relief for your parents dear Joe
Deletei agree that teenage is most delicate and challenging period of life ,it determines mostly what a person going to be in future because most part of his belief and attitude develop meanwhile
closeness among kids and parents can lessen the probability of more damage though
We each have our own way and personality, and sometimes finding our way through life can be challenging, but it is the web of life. It can sometimes be quite beautiful while at times complicated … if we all went smoothly along some may find life a little boring.
ReplyDeleteTake care, my blogging friend and enjoy the rest of your week, the days seem to fly by.
All the best Jan
i agree that hardships come to explore our true version dear Jan :) they not just teach us great lessons about life but bring maturity and flexibility in our approach towards life
Deletehope your days are filled with grace of Lord either my friend :)
Interesting reading about your family.
ReplyDeleteAs a teenager as far as I recall was ok, happy and enjoyed what I did.
that is what important dear Margaret ,because when whatever we do we enjoy it makes us happy :)
DeleteI was a nice guy (still am).
ReplyDeleteAnd my two lovely daughters are my dream come true.
i believe you were and are dear Pedro :)
ReplyDeletehow peace to have daughter who can make your dreams come true ,such a pride :)
Thank you for sharing your story. It isn't so different from others around the world. We may have different cultures or dress, religion, food etc. But we still deal with sons, daughters, sisters, brothers and mothers and fathers. That is the same.
ReplyDeleteNo one really has the answer of what to do. We all do our best and learn as we go along.
Thank you for sharing such a personal, heartfelt post:)
ReplyDeleteAs a teenager, I was alone. Always alone.
It is sad that your elder brother's behavior has always made life difficult for those around him. As a parent I always wanted my children to get along because after my husband and I are gone they will only have each other from their family of origin. But they are not much alike and it seems they do not share much closeness. Still, my brother and I are also not much alike and as we have aged we have drawn closer, so there is hope. It is strange, isn't it, that children born to the same parents can turn out so differently.
ReplyDeleteI was a quiet child who liked harmony and I have grown into the same kind of adult. My mother had high expectations for my brother and I, and in general we tried to please her. She was our dominant parent; our dad didn't have much to do with our upbringing but he was still a big influence on me. Or maybe we were just so alike in personality that we understood each other better than my mom and I did.
A very interesting post and you have made me think.
Dearest Baili...oh thank you so much for sharing your own personal story. It seems to me, too, that whatever country or culture we are born into...it makes no difference at all in our experiences of growing up. We are all individuals, with our own strengths and weaknesses. We are just human.
ReplyDeleteMy own teenage years were fraught with insecurities and fears. My mother never wanted me, and often expresses her disapproval of me. On the other hand, she practically worshipped my brother. I used to feel so hurt and rejected...but...I now view the situation as a learning curve. It did teach me to become more self-reliant and less dependent. I do believe that everything we experience is for a good reason...and that we choose our parents before we incarnate, in order to have the circumstances and experiences we need for our spiritual growth.
I know...rather radical ideas to some people...but I believe with all my heart.
So sorry to ramble on, my dear friend...I really didn't mean to bore you...but you have set me thinking again.
Your posts are so therapeutic!😊😊
Thank you so much.
Lots of love and hugs ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
That was a heartfelt story of your family Baili. We were five kids. I was the second. I never really fit in with the others. I became a rebel. My old sister was a witch lol, took after my mother...very jealous of everyone, second sister became a recluse, didn't want anything to do with anyone around her, brother was an angry a-hole just like my father, youngest sister was sweet. But we had a horrible upbringing. I am no longer in touch with any of them because it was the best thing for me to move on.
ReplyDeleteI honestly don't miss them. I feel BLESSED that I was able to leave them all behind! I really believe that just because a person is labeled as "family" doesn't mean you have to love them or be with them forever. Sometimes the lesson is that leaving "family" behind is the best thing for a person!
Family dynamics are endlessly fascinating, Baili, and often perplexing. Siblings can be very different from each other, and it's hard to understand why. It's tragic that your brother died at 13 from TB. I can't imagine how your parents dealt with that. I feel sorry for your brother who is mean. Something must have happened to him to shape him that way. But we all face challenges and what counts is how we rise above them. Sadly, it seems your brother has not learned that.
ReplyDeleteYour older son may not have had as easy a time as your younger sons; but he is making the most of his opportunities, and it is obvious how much he loves you and his father. Perhaps a bit of hardship has taught him gratitude and appreciation for all that he has been given.
My mother's father never recovered from being separated from his family when his father died and left his wife a widow with several children. The priest convinced my grandfather's mother to send him from Nova Scotia to relatives in Boston in the US. He grew up in Boston and returned to Nova Scotia as an adult. He refused to let his wife and children (my mother for one) out of his sight. He was extremely possessive and jealous. I don't know how many times my grandmother, his wife, told me "Never marry a jealous man!" when I was growing up. My grandfather left the Roman Catholic church and became a Baptist. He changed the spelling of his name because he was so angry.
My mother was considered pretty and not smart. Her sister Louise was considered smart and not pretty. Mom grew up pretty, but wanting to be smart, and Aunt Louise grew up smart, but wanting to be pretty. In truth they were both pretty and smart! Families!
I'm fortunate because my brother, sisters, and I are very close, but we had epic battles with each other in the past. I vividly remember my sister Donnie and I in quite a fight. We had a tiny bedroom that we shared, and we drew a line down the middle of it, forbidding each other to cross into the other one's space. We got in a fight over our clothes in the closet we shared and started throwing each other's clothes out the window. Our parents came home from school to see clothing sailing out the upstairs window and floating to the ground. They were not happy ~ LOL
I love your post, Baili. I was the "good" daughter like you. My mother and I were very close and talked about everything under the sun. I miss her and my father every day! I'm watching the next generation of kiddos in our extended family. They are all so different, yet wonderful. I think unconditional love is so important.
Hugs to you!! And lots of love!
There were only two children in my family, my younger brother and myself. I believe I was the good child and got into less trouble than my brother, who is 3 years younger.
ReplyDeleteI might have answered this question differently when I was an adolescent, but now I would say miss taught, confused, afraid.
ReplyDeleteOne person goes one way, another goes in another direction. Why? What pulls us?
I know a person can change. Your brother can. Though probably everyone will say a man can't change at 58, he can.
Blessings, Baili.
I guess we are all different and each of us face problems and deal with them in our own ways. Adolescence is especially a difficult time for many.
ReplyDelete