Our family has been here for nearly six months and now it’s just the four of us.

A new chapter is beginning.

I have many things to say. First, I want to thank my family immensely. When someone in my family has a baby, it’s tradition that the grandpas are there for us even if that means crossing the Caribbean sea. I am so honored and thankful for them to be here when I needed them most.

My parents were the firsts ones to come. They came one month before my delivery and thank GOD for that! They helped me so much with my first daughter in those final weeks of pregnancy (when I could barely roll out of bed!).

Having my mom and my dad with me in the delivery room for the second time was priceless. This is a totally new experience for them. In Venezuela, family members in the delivery room is not allowed. I wanted them to live the experience – even though it was behind the curtains (they weren’t THAT brave!).

It was harder for me to say goodbye this time, mostly because of my daughter. She is now almost three years old and is more aware of her surroundings. She was so happy and enjoying her grandparents. She would look for them in their room for the first few nights and call for them across the house: “Guelo!? Guela?!”

I couldn’t even Facetime them because I didn’t know what she would do and I thought she would be sad to see them in the phone and not understand what was happening. After four days I was able to do it and oh! her face! It was shocking. She looked like she couldn’t understand why they were there and not here – but then she got used to seeing them again over the phone.

It’s amazing how kids get over things so quickly.

Once my parents left, my aunt came (she is my father’s 70ish sister) and spoiled us! She cooked, cleaned, took care of the baby, washed laundry and  also had time for a glass of wine or two! Her spirit is so young and happy. She got used to the routine fairly quickly. I’m so thankful for all her help.

My father-in-law and one of my nieces also came to help. He made us delicious Italian dishes! He is from Italy so a yummy pasta sauce was on the table way too often for my post baby diet. He loved to spoil my daughter! She learned the yumminess to have Nutella and croissants for breakfast. And later, my niece helped me work off all those extra calories with an exercise routine!

My brother and his family came too. I was so happy to see them! It had been almost three years since we last saw one another. They came from a long trip from Brunei. They stopped here for a few days before they flew to Venezuela.

It’s harder now to say goodbye. I can’t go to my room and cry – I have to be strong for my kids. I have to show them this is our new normal. Family will come and go from time to time but they are not going to be here for them like my aunts and uncles were for me.

It breaks my heart to think about what my children will miss. They won’t have blood family (I have an amazing family here in Houston) next to them but I understand now. They haven’t lived that way they don’t know any better, this is as good as it gets for them.

Many of you might be shaking your heads – wondering how I received so much help from so many family members?! 

Two words: South Americans.

We are just like that! We love to have family and (chaos) around us, that’s the way we are – even if we complain about it – at the end we cherish those moments. Those are our memories and our roots.