I am Woman, Hear Me Roar!

I come from a family full strong-willed women. Sitting at the top is my 90-year-old great-grandma, followed by five generations of opinionated, stubborn, beautiful women. Five generations. These women taught me everything I know and continue to teach me every day. All of them.

My granny taught me that nothing is more important than family. No matter what someone says or does, they are still family and you love them no matter what. She spent time teaching me how to make applesauce cake (10/10, would recommend), while telling me stories about how wonderful my grandpa was and how much she loves all her girls. She also taught me that a “handful of Crisco” is literally a handful of Crisco, but that is a completely different story.   

I have learned a great deal from my grandma and aunts also. I have spent countless hours learning how to make pies, coordinate massive family dinners, and debating who makes better chicken salad, Grandma or Aunt TJ. They taught me to always extend a hand if someone looks like they need help, the importance of keeping family traditions alive, and that it’s okay to roll your eyes and tell your husband to just sit down and wait until dinner is ready. All four of them taught me the power of hard work while I worked next to them in one form or another. They have also taught me that it’s okay to speak me mind…and then sometimes I need to keep my mouth shut. (Always take the initiative to learn by example…)

My mother learned these things from these women as well, but also passed much more onto me. She taught me that family is always the most important thing, regardless of what they did or didn’t do. This she took directly from Granny. She’s also taught me that sometimes I do need to keep my mouth shut and respect those older than me, no matter how much I disagree. Only sometimes, though. She’s taught me how to make 98% of the dinners I eat regularly or use as my “show off” meals when someone comes to visit. She’s also taught me to be comfortable with being independent and loving myself for who I am. She’s showed me how to be a great mom and a wonderful daughter.

My sisters constantly show me how three individuals that come from the same two people can be so completely different. They teach me how to be strong, weird, and opinionated. They show me that we can live three totally different lives, but still be as happy as we are. They teach me that the greatest thing in the world is to have sisters (that live far enough apart to not hate each other anymore/ that have grown out of the fist fighting stage). They also allow me to have the best title I ever could have asked for: Aunt Em/Emmy/Mimmy.

I have approximately half a million cousins in this five-generation family and they have all impacted my life as well. They teach me how to be the “level headed” sister/daughter when times get a little rocky. They show me the importance of supporting my children in all their events and life moments. They show me that sometimes it’s okay to stick up for myself, but also that sometimes I need to forgive. They show me that raising my children to love God is just as important now as it was when we were young. They teach me that it’s completely okay to have different opinions from the rest of the fam, as long as I’m safe and happy. We may not get to see each other often, but they constantly impact my life, even when they might not realize it.

All of this comes to mind as I sit in my grandma’s hospital room, keeping her company for the night. Why am I doing this? Because I’ve been taught that no one should ever have to stay in the hospital alone and that my mom needs sleep more than I do. I’ll also be hosting Thanksgiving at my house this year. Why? Because I’ve been taught the importance of keeping family traditions alive and that sometimes the next generation needs to take over. I spend a great amount of time trying to be the best aunt I can be to my minions. Why? Because my aunts have shown me how to love my niece and nephews like they’re my own and to take care of them in any way I can.  I work to be the best sister I can be by constantly visiting or incessantly making phone calls. Why? Because my aunts and grandma have shown me how important a strong relationship between siblings is. I try to be a supportive, loving daughter even though I may not succeed all the time. Why? Because my mom has shown me the right way to care for the woman that cared for us when we needed it. I try to live my life in a way where I’ll have my own five-generation mob of strong-willed women one day. Why? Because Granny constantly teaches me how to love and care for so many people, despite all the good or bad they’ve done along the way.

To wrap this up in one sentence: Girls rule, boys drool.

Love you all J

Smile always,

e.