Victoria Week 6: My Little Cousin, Lyla
Some people aren’t close with their cousins or don’t talk to them at all. However, this isn’t the case for me. A close extended family has always surrounded my siblings and me, and I consider my cousins to be my built-in best friends.
It was summer 2015, and I was about to depart for sleep-away camp. My mother received a call from my uncle, who was calling to share the news that my aunt was pregnant. At the time, the youngest of my cousins was seven years old. Naturally, we were all shocked as we could not believe we were about to get a new addition to our already close family. My cousins, siblings, and I made up 11 people at the time. Nine guys and two girls, with the two girls being my sister and me. With that being said, my sister and I greatly anticipated a girl. I was tired of hearing about boxing, video games, and football all day when I visited my cousins since all of my cousins were boys.
I will never forget the day my cousins and I found out my aunt was pregnant with a girl, Lyla. My sister and I were exceptionally excited for our first girl cousin. Even though my cousins, filled with boys, were upset the baby was not another boy, Lyla turned out to be such a gift that added to our family for the better. I can vouch for all my guy cousins that they take back the disappointment that evolved when finding out the baby was a girl.
When Lyla was born, everyone was obsessed with her, and we all wanted a chance to hold her even if she would crawl away to her mother crying 80% of the time. Even though she is the youngest by seven years, she adapted to being a part of my cousins and me before we knew it and even sits with us at annual cousin reunions. Lyla is six years old now, but she will always be seen as the baby in our family.
Lyla not only fulfilled my want of having a girl cousin but also placed herself as the younger sister I have always dreamed of having. I love babysitting her, introducing her to my favorite songs, and watching her grow up. At only six years old, she is very intelligent, funny, and truly one of a kind. I am so thankful that she made an addition to our family.
Do you have any extended family members you are very close with?
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ReplyDeleteThis blog post truly resonates with me because I always talk about my cousins and all that we do since we are so close, but most people don't understand the bonds we have developed. Growing up, it was extremely important to my entire family that we stay connected and always make time for each other, because, well, we're family, and family's one of the most important things in life. I also found it kind've ironic that most of your cousins are boys because it's the opposite in my family.
ReplyDeleteThis was very sweet to read. Many people have stories about when their loved ones were born, but this one truly resonated with me. Even through your writing, it is very easy to tell that you love your cousin, and it is so nice that you are able to write about her in this way.
ReplyDeleteWhile I don't see my little cousin much since we live in different states, whenever I do, I have a similar relationship to him, as you do to your little cousin. It is those kinds of bonds that are the most valuable to me.
ReplyDeleteThis is so sweet. I completely agree with what you said about the bond between cousins. Personally, I have always enjoyed visiting my cousins, whenever I'm with them, they honestly feels like another sibling to me. It doesn't matter how much time goes on between our visits, whenever I'm with my cousins it feels like no time has passed.
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