Do you know anything about your parents? Well, one thing I know is that the woman my dad loves is not my mum and the woman my dad married is my mum. Now that would cause a complicated family.

Life can surprise you, when you find out that you have other siblings. How you live changes because you now have to live with your step siblings. Sometimes you share rooms or create more rooms. This changes how you live. Your schedule varies because of how busy your home will be. You will have siblings and step siblings. A thought might come to you, they will be mean and not very social towards you. Well then you are wrong. Step siblings aren’t abrasive nor unpleasant, they are quite good to be around. This is different than for most siblings.

Connecting with a step parent is different. Sometimes they will try bonding but end up fighting instead. Having step parents is not the same as step siblings. Step parents change the way you live mostly. They can make changes to your living, where you sleep, what you eat and the fundamental objectives of your life.  They can also change your attitude towards your parents, because you will often argue with the step parent. This will channel your rage to your parents and give off bad behaviours.

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a parent? Well, it’s stressful if your family is a huge blended family. Parents frequently care or worry about their children, so they provide for their children’s necessities. But because they also have other children that means they have to earn more income and work extra hard. Yikes! I feel sorry for them at times. Parents will soon be running everywhere and will have less free time to spend with you. So you will rarely see them at home. 

Holidays are the best time of the year. You get to be with friends, you get to relax but the most valuable thing is you have your family. To be close to each other is quite bonding but the way you will spend it will be different.  You might stay home feeling crowded or go somewhere. That could be expensive and at the end we all have to say goodbye.

Families change or evolve to become extended and different. With new siblings to interact and share experiences with, to live differently. I love my family even if it’s a blended one. Some things change from time to time. 

• The author Ruby Rose Va’ai is in Year 8 at the St Peter Chanel Primary School and her short story earned her 1st place in the English Category of the Samoa Observer Short Story competition.