What My Family Means to Me
story allison rathey
et’s face it: family means a lot to most of us. have you ever tried to put a mon-
does all the stereotypical mom jobs, the cook-
l
etary value on that relationship? think of the all things your family does for
ing, cleaning, laundry, and all the dreaded fi-
you and how much it would cost under normal circumstances to pay for those
nances for our family business. now that i’m
services. here are just some of the services that my family provides me regularly free
older, relatively speaking, i realize how much
of charge.
my parents do for me and how much hard
personal consultant. Whenever i have a problem or my family thinks i have a prob-
work it is.
lem, they are there, with both good suggestions and not so good suggestions. although
looking at just some of the services my
my parents are perhaps a little old fashioned, their advice is usually good but not always
family provides makes me think about how
easy to take.
much they mean to me. then i think about
Physician. even if i just blow my nose, my family is there to offer their medical ex-
my banking account turning into a black hole
pertise. Why don’t you take some allergy medicine? here take garlic, vitamin C, cough
and swallowing me up if i had to actually pay
drops, Popsicles, cold medicine, Benadryl, water, chicken soup, humidifier, salt water,
for all those services. now i ask you to think
some vapor rub, and a family-size box of tissues. even though they don’t come near me
about your family and what they mean to you.
when i’m contagious, they show they care in all those “little” ways.
if you live away from your family, give them a
Fashion experts. Coming out of my room with a new outfit usually elicits various
call and tell them how much they mean to you.
unsolicited responses. My mom thinks i “look cute.” My sister would like to “puke on
if you’re living with the family you value the
my outfit.” My father jokingly asks why i dress up so much and “don’t just wear a bur-
most right now, don’t forget to tell them how
lap sack.” Usually Mom’s opinion is best, although on occasion, my outfit may really be
much they mean to you. in times of economic
causing visual distress for whoever is looking at it. For the record though, i have never
stress, it’s always important to reflect on how
worn a burlap sack at my dad’s suggestion.
much you have, starting with the most impor-
tant thing: your family.
Providers. Since i am a young person, i don’t pay for much of my bills or necessities.
My parents have sacrificed themselves for years to provide for me, and yet they don’t
Allison Rathey is currently a senior in high school
and has lived for 10 years in Boise. She enjoys
ask for much back. My dad is the one that brings home the bacon (although he does
writing, designing, and participating in religious
work at home, so he just needs to bring the bacon downstairs to the kitchen). My mom
activities as a Jehovah’s Witness.
Tuscan inspired decor
Small Plates | Wine | Beer
the old Wild West Bakery
same owner, new name
83 e state st.
eagle, idaho 83616
(208)939-5677
may | JuNe 2009 27
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