I went home last week and I realize that now that I seldom go home, I treasure the time that I get to spend with my family. I only see them once a month but it becomes more special. Our conversations are more personal and meaningful. I miss spending time with everybody even with my brother whom I used to hate for all the misery and pain (he was a drug user) he brought to our family especially to Nanay .

When I was still living at home, I was filled with bitterness towards my siblings. I was the youngest of 5 and all of them are already married. Three of them have their houses built near my parents’ house inside the family compound while another brother lives in Manila. I, being single, still lived with our parents. My siblings always go to us everytime they have a problem and I felt my energy being sucked out by them. I often go home late so that I wouldn’t have to listen to their complaints. I guess absence made my heart fonder of them and I learned to accept them with all their flaws. After all, we cannot choose our family but we can choose what kind of relationship we want to have with them.