I'm Finally Getting It!

This winter has been fairly pleasant- temperature wise. 
It's been a relatively warmer winter and we have now passed the coldest part. 
In terms of health and wellness however, winter hasn't been too kind.
We've been hit with croup, colds, infections, diarrhea, and sore tummies. 
We would get sick, get better, and then get sick again with something new. Not fun. Not fun at all. 
But over the long weeks of caring for the runny noses, high fevers, and painful cries for comfort and relief, I've miraculously had snippets of quiet time where I could meditate and think. 

 Recently my thoughts have been of my parents and how I was raised.

 I've been on the earth for 27 years
I've lived under my parents roof for 17 of those 27 years.
I went through my single/college/carefree phase for a few years and now 
I've been married for 5 going on 6 years. 
Over these past 5 years of marriage I have learned so much being a wife and parent. Not only have I learned about myself, but I feel like I've learned more about my parents in the past 5 years than I have ever known my whole life (which now that I think about it, hasn't been that long).
Life would happen and I would find myself having these moments where I would just think...

 Oh I get it!

I get why my parents worked so hard. 
Goes along with having to make hard decisions-there's no substitute for it. 

I get why they emphasized education in our home.
 My family has been blessed because Aljay and I have received an education.

I get why everything Church related was top priority.
Church, seminary, mutual, ward activities, callings, meeting...etc
We NEED God. 

I get why they always wanted to be on time to everything. 
Not just on time but early. For some reason I feel like we were always late though lol

I get why they keep telling us to eat right and exercise. 
Our physical state affects our spiritual and mental state.
 And we got kids to live for!  
And medical costs are ridiculous! 

I get why they get up early and go to bed late. 
And why 5 hours of sleep is a luxury. 

I finally understand why they get "dramatic" when we miss a weekly phone call.
I miss my kids after a few hours of not being with them.
 Can't imagine what will happen when they leave the nest.

I get why they dance the way they do :) 
Wave your hands in aayyerrr!!! Wave em like you just don't cayyeerrrr!!!

I get why they walk super fast.
 I think it's just because they live in a fast pace environment. 

I get why they walk soooooo slow. 
Only on their down time...like when we go shopping at the mall...they just walk slowly and look around.

I get why they wanted us to stay home when we were teens. 
Like if we went to a friends house one weekend we couldn't go the next weekend. We'd get the "you don't like our home? you rather go live at your friend's house?" speech. lol I get that way when Leila asks us to go to people's houses hahah.

I get why they wanted us to play piano. 
I should've stuck with it.

I get why my Mom was, and still is, a stickler when it comes to having a clean house.
Nothing feels better than coming home to a clean house. 

I get why my parents always keep a tight budget.
Live within your means.

I get why my Mom writes everything down and has a series of notepads/planner/address books in her purse. 
I'm the same way.

I see why my Dad wears a fanny pack. lol
It's all about convenience. 

I see now why FHE would start off fun and then turn into a long scolding/counseling session.
Parents: "Anyone have something to say?" 
 Kids: *silence*
 Panrets: "okay we have some things we need to talk to you about...." 
*then they proceed to talk /scold/lecture

I've always understood these things, but I'm only now really getting it now that I have a family. I would not have come to these realizations if I didn't have the blessing of being a parent, and for that I am eternally grateful to have our three beautiful souls in our lives. 

 Through raising Leila, Iosefa, and Vi'iga I have gained greater insight to why my parents did some of the things they did and why I do some of the same things. It makes me extremely grateful for everything my parents have done and the sacrifice that they've made so that I could be where I am today.

 Some of these things seem obvious and even miniscule, but for me it triggers a ray of emotions and feelings....Gratitude, appreciation, love, humility, respect, empowerment, encouragement, rejuvenation, motivation- just to name a few.

There's still 5 million gazillion things I need to learn about being a parent and wife. Things I need to change, improve on, and perfect. I'll get there. For now I'll continue to take it one day at a time and work on being the best version of myself. 


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