We were brought up in such a way that we treat each of our family member as half of our lives. It doesn’t necessarily mean that we are dependent on each other, it simply means, “when one is in need, be there to help like how you would help yourself  and how you would need help when you are facing the same problem or obstacle in life.”

I have already introduced everyone in my family, and by now you somehow have an idea what kind of people our family members are. But let me tell you more anyway. What makes our family different from the rest is that, we are not just family, but we are also friends.

It was during the darkest times of our lives that we have learned to value being family even more than we used to. We have learned to become best friends to each other. Mother and child relationship were strengthened, Father and child connection became even more tight, our love for our grandparents and Uncle Luis prevailed. If we were happy then, we have become happier now.

Home used to mean a house where we lived in, but we lost that house and we still found home everywhere we went. We have realized that Home is our Family being together Loving each other, staying strong no matter what. Home is Abuela Anna, Amari, Andrea, Iñigo, JR, Miko, Paolo, Me Basti,  Mom Chloe and Dad Joey. Wherever my family is and wherever there is love, we are at home.

Home is in our hearts.

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We usually begin to notice the opposite sex, or one person we like during our teen years. We start feeling romantic emotions that are hard to define. Do you remember the feeling when you had your ‘first crush’? When you see her or him, you feel your cheeks  and ears getting red as if you’re going to have a fever or something.

Do you remember those sleepless nights and ending up having pimples due to lack of sleep thinking if the person likes you too, or how you can make that person like you back. Often we mistake having a ‘crush’ or extreme liking and admiration for someone as love, or something serious, and end up having our first heartaches when our feelings are not reciprocated, or when we see that person with someone else.  Or  when you start liking this girl only to find out that she think boys her age are immature and she has a ‘crush’ on more mature guys like your teacher or a guy much older.

Aside from having a crush, it is also during adolescence that both guys and girls become more  physically conscious. Girls become more poised, shy, and conscious of how they dress up and look. This is the time where both start getting conscious of their physical features such as having a nice body and looking great. While some are lucky to have that natural good looks, others become shy thinking that they are not good looking enough or they feel fat.  Guys start working out and getting into physical fitness activities, while girls start thinking about the best diet pills they could get to start losing weight and looking sexy. During High School and College years, peer pressure become such a big factor, and popularity becomes a big deal.

Girls often have a ‘crush’ on popular guys at school. Usually they feel attracted to guys who are in the school’s varsity team, or are simply popular for being good looking, even if they are not that witty. While guys start liking popular girls who are either part of the pep squad, the varsity team, or those who make it to the schools’ popular and pretty girls’ circle. I wonder why so few are into guys or girls who are witty, excellent in academics and at the same time have talents. Often these group of people shy away from the rest due to being labeled as geeks.

My wife was my ‘first crush’ but she wasn’t really popular when it comes to sports, she wasn’t into school beauty contests either. She was the number 1 student when it comes to academics. I can say, I had a crush and fell in love with a geek, so I guess that makes me different. She also graduated valedictorian in our batch, while I had no awards or honors at all in the the academics, but I was a part of the basketball team. Yeah, yeah I know it seems like it, but I refuse falling into the “brainless” group though. (lol) Dee was the school geek, but she happened to be the most beautiful girl in our batch too, only she didn’t know it, or perhaps she was too busy concentrating on her studies to even notice. I’m still glad she noticed me, it took a lot to get her attention though.

Having a ‘crush’ is normal for everyone, it is a part of our emotional development and growing up. Usually it is just a short lived feeling. But there are some that turns from a simple crush into a more serious and romantic feeling of falling in love. In fact, some people have a hard time getting over their crushes, and remain to have that liking for that person until they are old, or even when they don’t see the person anymore.

When everybody has grown up and start realizing that their choices when it comes to people have changed, it’s funny when you see your old crush and start to feel awkward and question yourself, what was into me, why did I ever had a crush on this person before? These situations usually happen during reunions. And you get surprised that those you liked turned out to be the less attractive ones, and the ones you never noticed before, turned out to be better persons.

And before I end this post… Let me share this song entitled “Crush” by David Archuleta

Crush – David Archuleta Lyrics and MP3

I hung up the phone tonight
Something happened for the first time deep inside
It was a rush, what a rush

‘Cause the possibility
That you would ever feel the same way about me
It’s just too much, just too much

Why do I keep running from the truth?
All I ever think about is you
You got me hypnotized, so mesmerized
And I’ve just got to know

Do you ever think when you’re all alone
All that we can be, where this thing can go?
Am I crazy or falling in love?
Is it real or just another crush?

Do you catch a breath when I look at you?
Are you holding back like the way I do?
‘Cause I’m trying and trying to walk away
But I know this crush ain’t goin’ away-ay-ay-ay-ayy
Goin’ away-ay-ay-ay-ayy

Has it ever crossed your mind
When we’re hanging, spending time girl, are we just friends?
Is there more, is there more?

See it’s a chance we’ve gotta take
‘Cause I believe that we can make this into something that will last
Last forever, forever

Do you ever think when you’re all alone
All that we can be, where this thing can go?
Am I crazy or falling in love?
Is it real or just another crush?

Do you catch a breath when I look at you?
Are you holding back like the way I do?
‘Cause I’m trying and trying to walk away
But I know this crush ain’t goin’ away-ay-ay-ay-ayy
Goin’ away-ay-ay-ay-ayy

Why do I keep running from the truth?
All I ever think about is you
You got me hypnotized, so mesmerized
And I’ve just got to know

Do you ever think when you’re all alone
All that we can be, where this thing can go?
Am I crazy or falling in love?
Is it real or just another crush?

Do you catch a breath when I look at you?
Are you holding back like the way I do?
‘Cause I’m trying and trying to walk away
But I know this crush ain’t goin’ away-ay-ay-ay-ayy
This crush ain’t goin’ away-ay-ay-ay-ayy
Goin’ away-ay-ay-ay-ayy
Goin’ away-ay-ay-ay-ayy
Goin’ away-ay-ay-ay-ayy

Happy Heart’s day baby! Actually, everyday is valentine’s day for me because of you. You never fail to make me happy and feel so loved. I hope I do the same for you.

We both go to sleep and wake up everyday without each other by our sides. Some people can’t help but ask, how did we survive with this kind of set-up? I tell them, I don’t count the times that we’re far apart. I just cherish every moment that I get to hold you close and multiply it by forever.

Some people are lucky that they don’t have to go through the things that we are going through right now. But I honestly don’t mind, because all I know is that, after all these struggle, our love will prevail.

Once we are done with schooling, we will have more time to spend with each other, and we don’t have to worry as much as we used to. We won’t be too scared that we won’t able to give our son a bright future. We’re almost there, almost there.

I’m so happy and proud that we made it through so many trials and challenges for the past four years. I wouldn’t have made it without you, because you’re my strength and inspiration in everything.

I love you Dee, I love you so much with all that I am. I will do my best to give you the future and life that you deserve. Together we will make all our dreams come true.

You’re not just my wife and the mother of my child… You are my life.

Love Always,

Basti

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We were both still studying, Andrea’s parents didn’t want her to stop, neither my parents wanted that too. It was just a good timing because her due date was on the month of May. That summer, I looked for a job and because of low qualifications, I found it hard to land on a good one. My dad recommended me to his Amigo and my Ninong (godfather), Ninong Ricky and he got me a job in one of their restaurants. It was okay when it was still summer, but when classes started it became harder. Andrea and I had to go to school leaving the less-than-one-month old baby  Iñigo in Abuela’s care. If Abuela Anna weren’t around, I don’t know how we would’ve coped. Mom Chloe and Abuela Anna were the ones who were there to guide Andrea in taking care of Iñigo, while I studied full-time and worked at my Ninong’s resto part-time.

I guess we were just too lucky. Even if Andrea’s parents have never shown any support and were mad at me,  my parents, grandparents, as well as my younger siblings understood and accepted us without any judgment. They have given their full support both emotionally, and financially. My dad didn’t want me to work, he said we can just take it as having two additional kids in the family. But Abuelo Tacio(grandpa)  said that as a man, a new father, and a husband, I have to learn how to become more responsible and not let others take the responsibility of raising my son and providing for my wife.

Abuelo Tacio may spoil us in other ways but he was very firm when it comes to discipline. He was right, and so I have been working since then up to now, although I have a better job now, I work for a contact center which pays a lot more and I get to study or sleep in between my breaks. I play with Iñigo and sleep in the morning, go to school after lunch til nighttime, go home to eat and change then go to work. During my days off I try to spend all my time with my family, just the same as dad. So, I make sure that my days off are scheduled during weekends.

Andrea has become good at taking care of our baby, at the same time she has maintained good grades in school and she is trying to keep up to be able to attain if not magna cum laude, maybe at least graduate cum laude in her course. I understood why her parents were angry at us to the point of disowning her. They had high dreams for Dee, because they knew that their daughter was capable of doing great things. And they felt that I have ruined it, and Andrea has disappointed them so much. But they were wrong about it, coz even if Andrea and I will have a hard time, we will do our best to make all our dreams come true and to raise our son into a fine young man and make him proud of us just as how we are so proud of having him.

We may have become parents too early but it was never a mistake, our son Iñigo was born out of love. I’m not saying that I am giving consent of encouraging young teens to do the same, rather learn from our experience. coz honestly, it would be easier for you guys to wait and become parents at the right age and at the right time. It is much easier when you have everything, and you are capable of  providing for your family.

I just want to share the experience that Andrea and I have gone through, and becoming parents things too early. We had to go through the consequences of our actions and decisions. We were just so lucky that my side of the family have been very supportive all the way. Although things turned out good for me and Dee, and we are coping well, I don’t recommend the same thing to young lovers out there, or even to my own siblings. It’s still better to wait, because it’s hard to become parents when you’re not  financially, emotionally, and mentally prepared for it. Remember that things don[‘t happen by accident, we make them happen.

]]> http://familyhealthandhome.com/2009/01/parents-too-early/feed/ 0 http://familyhealthandhome.com/2008/11/andrea/ http://familyhealthandhome.com/2008/11/andrea/#comments Thu, 27 Nov 2008 15:51:46 +0000 Basti http://familyhealthandhome.com/?p=89 Andrea, you may want to choose to call her Drei instead, most people do. Her parents calls her Andy though, and I call her baby Dee. She said that when she was a baby that's how her parents called her, and since she's my baby I call her baby Dee and she loves it! We made this agreement that she'd let no one else call her that except

I am happily married to Dee(Andrea), with one son Carlos Iñigo. I became a father at a very young age when I got my girl pregnant at the age of 17.  Dee and I got married when we reached the legal age. I am working part-time while studying so I won’t be totally dependent on my parents in raising my family. I am not capable of moving out yet or starting on my own.

I know most of you might say that I should try to stand on my own now that I have my own family. That will come… But now, I really can’t. I don’t wanna be a hypocrite and say I can and then see my wife and son suffer the consequences. The happiest day of my life was when Iñigo was born. I told myself that I will study hard and continue to strive towards reaching my goals to be able to give both of my families a better future, and to help my parents in sending my siblings to school.

For me Dee and Iñigo was never a mistake, things just happened earlier than planned, and my son is a blessing. I never had a single regret, and until now Andrea and I are happy loving each other. I am with the woman I love the most, and our son made our relationship even stronger. My whole family were happy too and they welcomed Andrea as a part of the family with open arms. When Iñigo came, my dad wanted him to bear not only his last name, but also his name, that’s why my son was named after him.

I’ve grown up in a different set-up as what we have now, a major incident changed all our lives and now we are struggling financially. But my parents are doing their best to provide for us, and I am also doing my best to help alleviate the situation and to provide for both my son and wife. I guess if there’s one thing that my keeps my faith strong is the truth that can never be changed, my family remained happy and intact through all the hardships. W are taking everyday as a challenge and a step towards  a better and happier life. And we are facing it as a strong bonded family.

With Mom, Dad, Lola Anna, Jr, Miko, Paolo, Amari, Andrea and Iñigo — I am a complete and happy man.