My Family
Family, What does it mean? Family doesn’t always have to be by flesh and blood; my family and I are very close, and sometimes others seem to be amazed about how many there are of us and the closeness we share.
So who all is part of the Chavez Family?
In my immediate family, there are seven of us: my parents, Monica and Robert Chavez; my siblings, Hope, Leonel, Emilio; and of course, my brother-in-law, David. Can’t forget my nephew, little David!
I also feel like I need to mention my extended family members... there's so many that sometimes it feels like there’s 50 of us-- at least on my dad's side. Mom's, on the other hand, is much smaller. I like to think that I’m lucky to have so many siblings and cousins. They are my best friends, and true friendships can be hard to come by due to my disability (I don’t let that bother me, though)!
I feel very blessed to have such a big family, especially when it comes to the family traditions and things we like to do.
Like once you turn 15, we do a quinceanera. It's a big birthday party and it looks like a wedding without the groom and it's where the girl becomes a woman. Boys can have one too, but it's mostly just girls who do them. Another family tradition is when we make tamales for Christmas. Also, I can't forget my family's big parties, like Halloween and the Fourth of July! My Tia always adds another layer of fun by throwing candy on the roof.
My family is constantly changing and growing, so we like to create new traditions. Our new ones have been where everyone brings traditional Mexican food that they've made from scratch. This teaches us how to cook, and it's so fun! Another new one is Family Fun Day where we have a cookout and play games all day. If you remember from the 22q Podcast, my family can get pretty competitive at times.
I also love to just spend time with them at our family farm and love to sit with my mom and aunts and watch them play volleyball. Don't get me wrong, though-- we definitely have our moments, but family is family no matter what the situation is. That is something our grandparents taught us! I love that I can be who I am around them and know that they will support me in everything I do in my 22q journey.
Especially my big brother!
He was always my biggest supporter in everything I did. If you didn’t know, we recently lost him in a car accident. He was always supportive of everyone in our family and was always there to show up for us. We miss you so much big bro. Keep watching over us!!
Family means the world to me, and it’s so different now that he's gone, but that’s life--things happen. So enjoy your moments with family, because you never know what tomorrow may look like.