My siblings raised me

My mother has a mental disorder and my father is an alcoholic. The story starts where my grandmother despised my father’s choice of a wife… hilarious don’t you think, should our choices not be our own?

Growing up with a huge family; five aunts and seven uncles - not to mention their life partners and children- you would think that somewhere there would be support, but no such luck for my siblings and I.

My mother disappeared when I was eighteen months old - gone from the face of the earth - leaving four children to the devices of a chronic drunk. Of course, my grandmother needed to step in and seize the responsibility, with a twist of course…

My grandmother had the knack of trying to classify children as mentally disturbed in order to get money from our then-white regime government. Needles to say I was deemed a mentally disturbed child at the age of three. With no support, a mother gone and father unaware due to his lack of sobriety, my eldest sister who was then fifteen, needed to jump in and be the savior of the situation.

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My family - ever closer

The best part of my family is the way we suddenly pull together in a time of crisis. We will drop whatever we are busy with to assist each other.

I come from a family with 4 sisters and wouldn’t change it for the world. Each one of us has our own individual personalities and that is what makes our family whole.

My mother never let any event go uncelebrated. For our birthdays, Christmas and Easter we were always spoilt with something special – she would wake up early in the morning to wake us up with a special surprise. What wonderful memories I have of camping with my family when we were young. Having no brothers, we had to put up the caravan tent, unpack the car and when it was time to make a braai all the girls made the fire together.

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It is the excitement of discovering magical places, and the vibrancy and diversity one encounters every step of the way that has me addicted. I was fortunate to have married a man who shares my passion for travel and in our 11 years together we have journeyed to many destinations around the world, frequently opting for the road less travelled. Our children began travelling with us shortly after they were born and love it as well.

Often we discover that some of the most beautiful places are right on our doorstep and we alternate our local travels with international destinations. One early morning last year, we bundled our kids into their car seats and set off from Johannesburg to Cape Town along the N1. Armed with our copy of “On Route in South Africa” which provided interesting history and entertaining anecdotes about the places we drove through – and some snacks and DVD’s to keep the children happy - we proceeded on an interesting journey of discovery.

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I would suggest that we look beyond our preconceived notions and glance further down the same page to an alternate definition: A family is “a brotherhood of persons or nations united by various links”.

In a changing world where differences are celebrated, where boundary lines which once separated us are now diluted by globalization and where human equality and respect are being advocated; we are begining to realise the all-inclusiveness of the word “family”.

My true family consists not only of my immediate family, but also of my colleages, my acqauntinces and of the total stranger. My parents have provided me with their knowledge, gained from their past experiences and also their deepest love.

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By Chervonne Marescia

Me & the future member of my family, my fiancé

My family has been there and seen me through thick and thin.

I believe they are God’s gift, and I’m proud of them. Through the hard times and the good they stand and support one another no matter what.

For the 27 years of my life I have never doubted them one bit and I give thanks to the old, young, mature, talkative and quiet because they all contribute in every way possible to making a family a family.

We have our disagreements, but we learn from them and make ourselves stronger. Chatting and socialising is key and always important in my family and by growing up with such a awesome family, from generation to generation they have passed on good  ethics to live life by.

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By Unathi Nyama

...a hike up an endless mountain...

It won’t be wrong to say that my world is quite different from most other people’s. My world can be justifiably described as a hike up an endless mountain in which each step has brought something new to me. I have fallen and risen again many times but never let myself stay down. I do not know where I will end for the experiences to come are never-ending. Though to reach the top is never possible because of humanistic characteristics, I am sure I will end up in a respectable way.

I was born and raised in a small town of East London - a beautiful city. I was raised by my grandmother, a really hard-worker used to low economic living. She had an inadequate salary but despite this financial fragility, she brought us up with not only a healthy education but also healthy minds.

“What are the really significant features that influence our personality?” I asked my grandmother. The answer was sensible. “Family characteristics (I know she meant genetics), upbringing and most importantly the environment and the experiences.”
It is obviously true that one’s dreams and aspirations are greatly influenced by the environment he lives in and the experiences that he encounters in this journey.

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By Robyn Pieters

Family - the scaffolding of life

As I watch the buildings around Cape Town progress in preparation for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, I am reminded of the vital role support systems play in the growth and ultimately the final structure of a thing.

Scaffolding for instance, is a support system we’re all familiar with. These metal poles surround a structure during its building, from the very foundations in the beginning, to supporting and shaping it until its completion.

Family is much the same, with the ability to shape a person’s life, while it maintains and supports them.

My Family, or “Scaffolding” consists of my blood-related family, as well as my friends, all of whom have supported and shaped me, as I grow into the person I one day hope to be.

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Phindile Mloyi

My name is Phindile Mloyi and I live in Alexandra Township in Johannesburg. I am 20 years old - soon to turn 21 on the 5th of June.

I live with my mom, sister, younger brother, my son and my sister’s two daughters.

My mom and my sister are such amazing people, they would never turn their backs on me and I had a baby at very young age with a guy who told me to abort the pregnancy, but with the help of my mother, my sister and my friends, everything seemed easy even though it was hard sometimes.

My family knew how to balance things even though my mother was a single parent, having to raise and feed all of us with the little money that she earned.

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By Nicola Barbour

Most people have Grannies and Grampas. I have Goggies.

Most people have Grannies and Grampas. I have Goggies. Goggies are simply not like other grandparents. At no time is this more evident than today as we travel from Port Elizabeth to holiday in Sedgefield.

Goggie Boy is driving his new 1988 tusk coloured Toyota Corolla. He is very pleased with this car. It has 5 gears and he makes a big deal about double de-clutching in it. (Whatever that is) He doesn’t seem to notice that tusk is possibly the worst colour ever inflicted on a motor vehicle and that together with the sand/tan upholstery and the dark brown carpets, it completes a sort of holy trinity of ugliness.

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By Val Hamann

...my family is sprinkled like stardust all over the world...

I love my family because they are scattered like sprinkled stardust all over the world! Two of my siblings live in Brisbane – one sibling in Johannesburg – my parents in Amanzimtoti and my aunt in London, while I live in Cape Town. So, if I ever decided to go on a holiday, it could be almost anywhere I choose and it would basically cost me airfare!

Besides that benefit, I also love them because they are caring, go out of their way for others and have instilled some sound values in my life from an early age. These values I can now use in my adult life to impart to others, which benefit many in my community.

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