Balancing Family

Over the past few weeks the only thing I’ve had on my brain is my family. Maybe it’s in the spirit of Mother’s day. Or maybe my nephew’s recent baptism. Or maybe it’s the fact that I have the world’s best family and that needs to be recognized.

In the last few years my family has expanded. Four years ago my sister got married and I gained an awesome brother-in-law and a year after that my nephew was born, adding two boys to our female dominant family. Then last September, I got married, adding yet another boy to the mix on the Clerke side and I was gifted with a wonderful mother-in-law, father-in-law and a sister-in-law. In the last four years I have added an extra six awesome people into my family bubble! Oh and let’s not forget my two fur babies, Benny and Murphy who add so much love into my days.

Despite my ever-changing busy schedule and my ability to miss every personal phone call I get, my family will always best my number one priority.

“Family is not an important thing, it’s everything.”
– Michael J. Fox

Here are my top 3 reasons why family will always come first:

1. Family is always there: Even on the worst of days, I can count on my husband to be waiting for me at home with a smile (and hopefully dinner). He makes every day better just by being a part of it.
2. Family supports you: My family has supported me through 26 years of crazy ideas, including cutting my own hair, moving to Halifax and running a half marathon. The only thing that gets me through each phase is the support of my family.
3. Family celebrates with you: Families celebrate everything! Or at least mine does. Everything from your first poop in the potty to your high school graduation, your family takes pride in your milestones. There is no better feeling than your family’s excitement of your success, birthday or any holiday.

As I look around and I count my blessings, I see the things people sacrifice for success, whether that is professionally, physically or even mentally, most often the first sacrifice is family (mainly because of reason #1, you think they will always be there). Believe me, I’ve put my family on the back burner many times. But as I get older and pile more on my plate, I see how much I need those three things in order to achieve my success: a passionate, happy, healthy life filled with love.

“A man travels the world over in search of what he needs, and returns home to find it.”
– George Moore