The Extended Family

[Essay]

Growing up, my mother’s mother lived with us. When we traveled, she traveled with us. She was part of the family.

She was always there, and the thing I remember most is her cooking: her potato pancakes, her beer crullers, and gołąbki.

After she passed away, my maiden aunt moved in, and she was the last of the three sisters.

So growing up, we were always an extended family. It wasn’t because they couldn’t afford to live on their own, but rather because that was family.

Now, once again, extended families are becoming the norm. Why? It is not to have the family under one roof, but rather because that is the only way they can live. Housing, food, and heat are all out of sight! 

And they are only going to get worse.

When my grandmother lived with us, she babysat us and helped around the house. My aunt also tried to help out, but… well, she wasn’t a cook. After my father passed away, she couldn’t stay on her own because she had short-term memory lapses; once she melted an aluminum pan and charred an eye.

So what am I leading to… extended families.

For many in the LGBTQ+ community, we have chosen families because we were disowned by our natural families, so we create our own families to look out for one another and be there in times of need, to celebrate the holidays.

And now it will get even worse this winter, with $5 and $6 home heating oil. More people will have to reach out to others and share apartments and condos.

What I am trying to say is: be aware this winter of those in need. If people are struggling to heat their homes this winter, reach out to them. Invite them over to your warm home for an afternoon, and maybe have them for lunch. We are family, and our family values are to help others.

At a time of skyrocketing housing, food, and heat costs, the Republicans cut housing assistance, cut food assistance, and cut heating assistance. We will need our chosen families more now than ever before.

It is going to be a cold winter with heating oil at $6/gal!

[/Essay]