Does Family Matter?!

My grandma’s older sis just passed away. Mama knocks on the door at 11:03 Friday morning.

G screams “Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?!”.
Mom says “Mam Kubwa (her nickname) just passed away”

I took a shower, picked up the dishdasha I was going to wear and started ironing it. Mom walks into the room and asks me to iron her scarf for her. Just to see how she is feeling after hearing the terrible news I said
“She always used to be on N (My sister) is case, asking her to sit like a lady for once. Thank god my sister is feminine, married and happy now:”

Mom laughs and says “Ya she used to lecture me for letting your sister be a tomboy”

25 minutes later we go to her step sons house in Adheeba. Not wanting to walk in, me and my elder brother run away to the mosque for Jum3a prayers. As soon as we got back to the house me and my bro see mom crying like she was a 14 year old kid that just lost her mother. (Mam Kubwa is the woman that raised my mom).

In the last couple of years, my mom has not been in good terms with her due to some family issues. The main problem actually started about 5 years ago when my grandma’s step kids did something to my mom n dad. It's something I can’t explain because its pretty bad and i don't want to write about family problems in the net.
Anyway neglecting that issue grandma used to force my mom to visit family members all the time but my mom would refuse to do so since no one visited Us or came to our house to check on her. Yet she visited them or at least stayed in touch with them through phone calls. Not only that, but they also had the nerve to call her and ask for help when in need and wouldn’t do the same if she was in trouble.

Mother finally gave up in being a family person, Grandma always was on her case about that and one day me mama couldn’t take it, so she asked Grandma to stay out of her life when it comes to such problems. Mom explained that she is not a young girl anymore and she can take decisions by her self. She explained that she can’t see what the point of carrying about ppl that cared-less about her. She also explained that Grandma has been on her case for about 4 years now and Mama’s only reason for staying quiet was because of how much she respected her. But now she just can’t take it anymore.

That’s the reason my mom felt guilty, she cried like a baby. Since that fight (4 Years ago) they haven’t spoken to each other as often. Mom only got to see granda once after the fight. She cried on the day of the funeral hoping that grandma forgave her before she passed away. “Was I right or was I wrong?!” after washing her face, mom could not help but ask that question.

I personally am not a family guy. You ask about me, I ask about you. You visit me, I will also visit you. That goes to friends, family (as in cousin & aunts) and also Siblings. Most of the time, I would visit or call just to fulfil my part of being a family/friend member but then I need to see that it’s a two way street. If it’s not then I’ll probably say hi to you and have a laugh or two when we bump into each other but do not ask me where have you been?1 its been a while and im angry too.

Enough with the bullshit man will be my answer.

G