Timeless, Back-Home Principles of PoppaBob #1-Family
Posted by Sophia in Marriage, boys, home Life, parenting, values
In honor of Father’s Day, I wrote this tribute to my Dad. But we all know that behind every great man is a very strong and supportive woman. That would be GrammaBeth. I want to stress with an exclamation that she is just as much of a part of these principles and instrumental in our lives, alongside of PoppaBob.
Thanks Mom and Dad!
1. Family is indisposable.
2. Good memories ride out the storm.
3. Consistent kindness can soften even a wildcat.
6. Don’t walk in a cow pasture.
There’s nothing else in the world like coming home. I am not talking about where someone currently sets up residence, but a HOME that goes much deeper. As frustrating as it can sometimes be to get along with family, I still hope everyone has a blessed place like this to return.
Several times a year, we load up the boys, packing the car full of travel foods and pillows, and visit. We see parents, in-laws, cousins, siblings and catch a glimpse of the places in our past. Some good memories, some bad, but it all helped to make us who we are today.
I have lived in Florida for over 20 years. My husband and I have established ourselves in a community, a church, a profession, and a beach-lovin’, sandal-wearin’ lifestyle that would absolutely qualify us as Floridians. But since we both are from NC, we still refer to it as HOME.
These are the people that knew us when we were picking our nose or wetting our bed. Or both. They witnessed all the childhood stages we have gone through- Some we may still be going through.
Back when I whined, having to wear saddle-oxfords with striped athletic socks and a skirt to school (if we get these shoes for cheerleading, you WILL wear them to school). Back when I ran in the wrong direction, coming home at the wrong time. Back when I was so cool and embroidered a Freebird on the butt of my jeans and beads in my hair. (this was before lower-back, tattoos were in vogue) . Back when I was that person I can now barely remember.
They patiently guided us through it all, sometimes frustrated, sometimes just hoping we would live through it, but never ceasing to offer that unconditional love for even a moment.
That is exceptional. That unconditional love means they believe in me. They have hope in me. No matter what the present circumstances looked like, they believed that I was worth loving and holding onto. They loved us by welcoming us into their arms and home, with a home-cooked meal and solace, always offering support and hope.
In a world that is so self-seeking, I see so many people losing that acceptance when it gets hard, when it no longer seems profitable or beneficial for SELF to stay in the fight. We see it in marriages and, surprisingly, even among parents and children. When the relationship gets hard, or someone does not have the best people skills, or parents get older and need more care, their family may even choose to just stop coming around. Just check out. Relationships have become disposable. But PoppaBob and GrammaBeth always showed love and respect to us, to their community and to each other. Their love and acceptance convinced me that even when times were tough or I was not pleasing them, (or even downright embarrassing them) I was not disposable. That acceptance is like a light that will always guide us through the dark and back home again.
Hopefully we can pass that light onto our children. All of our family members in NC are a blessing in our lives. But I am writing this specifically as a tribute to my parents- PoppaBob and GrammaBeth, and the timeless, back-home principles that they have spoken into us without a word, but with the humble example of their lives and all that they cherish.
1. FAMILY IS INDISPOSABLE.
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