Family Traditions

No, not the Hank Williams Jr song; although it is one of my all-time favorites. Now I will have that song stuck in my head for the rest of the day. Anywho, its seems we have started a family tradition of sorts. For the past 5 weeks, we have somehow ended up eating supper at the home of my sister and brother in law. It is usually the result of my husband, my son, and my sister's husband working on the farm well past the average household's supper time. So we began combining our supper plans and eating together. After the first few Saturdays, it became a given that the 5 of us would gather to eat supper together. The boys would hang out at the grill drinking their adult bevarages and tending the cooking burgers (Gavin being one of the boys, but drinking juice of course), and the girls doing some cooking in the kitchen and doting over baby items. Oh, yes, I forgot to mention, my sister and bro in law are expecting their first bundle of joy. Sixteen days to go!

Back to the tradition. It is so much fun! So relaxed. Just sitting around in the warm evening air, talking and just being. Just being together as a family. The guys joking and poking fun at me and my sister to get a rise out of us (the antagonists). We strike back at their comments (the fire fuelers). Gavin runs around catching lightning bugs and asks a bajillion questions. I couldn't ask for a better tradtion.

Last night was no different as far as the traditional Saturday-night-get-together goes. It was quite a bit later than our normal late supper; we sat down to eat at 10 pm. I know, I know--How awful! But it just happens sometimes. Our men were out farming all day and into the dark hours. And yes, our 3 1/2 year old son was still up and about. Its just the way of our farming life sometimes I guess.

Our night was different in one way. My very pregnant sister. She was an emotional wreck. I helped her fold towels while the boys were grilling. She burst into tears and ran off to the bathroom. I waited for her to come back out and gave her a hug asking what was wrong. She is afraid she will go into labor and her dear husband will be under the influence of the adult beverages our men were partaking in out at the grill. I assured her that no matter what, someone would be able to get her to the hospital and that her hubby wasn't outside getting sloshed. I got her calmed down just in time for the boys to bring platefulls of meat into the house. I watched my dear bro in law look at his preggo wife's red and tear streaked face with a puzzled look on his own face. He glanced at me as if to clue him in on the puzzle. I smiled sweetly and shook my head at him to tell him to just let it go.

My sister went on to fix her plate and I suddenly heard the quiet sound of sniffling and saw her shoulders shaking slightly. I again glanced at my bro in law and threw my head in direction of the crying pregnant lady. He walked over behind her and wrapped his arms around her big belly. She seemed to melt back into him and cried very quietly for a moment. Just as quickly as she began her crying, she stopped. We all sat down for our late-nite BBQ and continued conversation as usual.

I can so sympathize with my sister and her raging emotions. I've been there. No one but the mom-to-be is as anxious for the arrival of the new baby. Don't get me wrong, of course the daddy and other family members are excited in awaiting the bundle. But its different for the mommy as its she who will be pushing something the size of a watermellon out thru a hole the size of a quarter. Nuff said.

After our tradtional Saturday supper last night, I believe we will put a temporary hold on the tradition. I think it would be wise to wait to resume traditions until after the blessed event. And probably until after post partum has subsided. I will, however, continue to call Mrs Preggo Belly every day for an update. I can't wait to introduce my new nephew!!