How to cope with family

I more often than not presumed that the different phases of my life would evolve and flow peacefully like a silent river, the one without any whirlpool, the one without any strong currents. At sub-conscious level, I failed to understand the reason for this presumption. At the conscious level though, the reasons were quiet obvious. Being born in a typical middle class Indian family in Mumbai, where parental support forms the bedrock of one’s very existence, I never made a conscious effort to analyze the nature of my relationship with my parents, especially my mother. As any other kid born with my background, my life was scripted and I played the part. I never imagined that the script would have twists and turns; that the script would have drama, the script would force me to make...

Dear Little Brother, I saved you last night. I drove to you. I found you. I kicked in someone's door, who was just as far gone as you. I stood up to that KID. I got you out of there. And for a moment, you were safe. For a moment, I was able to protect you. But it was all a dream. I woke up, in tears, and cold chills, thinking about where you could be. Did I do this? Is it because I wasn't here? Did I do this? Is it because you needed a friend, and your big sister was off in college trying to make a life for herself, and wasn't here to keep you straight? Did I do this? Did I forget to tell you that I love you? Did I do this? Blaming myself becomes easier and easier as I lay here and think about the empty bed in the room next to me. I just want you home. Safe. We had...

Today is my one year anniversary with my husband, and there are a few things I have heard over the course of this year and the months leading up to our wedding that I would like to give my thoughts on.  I’d like to start by saying I don’t understand in the least bit some people’s opinions and thoughts on marriage. So many times my husband and I have heard negative remarks on how hard marriage is. They talk about arguments and other things that don’t make sense to me. For example, the other day we had someone say to us, “Wow! You guys have almost made it a year and you are still together! That’s awesome!” I didn’t know what to think. Is being married a year really so shocking? Didn’t we stand across from each other, promising, “till’ death do us part?” Does that mean nothing anymore?...

Dear Joey, I've wanted to do something like this for awhile but I'm glad I waited until now because if I wrote it earlier I probably would've wrote "to my unborn daughter" (because I was so certain you were a girl. Sorry kid). I think the reason I so heavily thought you were a girl was because I assumed that would be easier. I don't know how much I'll reveal to you about your father, but I'm sure by now you know enough. I am terrified of raising you as a single mother. I don't know manly things, and I don't know what it's like to be a boy. I figured if you were a little girl, it would be so much easier because I know everything about being a girl, I've been one my whole life. The whole story of you coming about into my life is full of scary moments, I won't lie. January 19, 2016...