Quotes About Family

You´re my son, Ed. You might be idiotic and irresponsible, but it doesn´t make the slightest difference to what I feel for you. I´m pissed off that you could have thought it would

Mums are allowed to smell of wine when they're sort of on holiday.

looked at Will and I saw the baby I held in my arms, dewily besotted, unable to believe that I had created another human being. I saw the toddler, reaching for my hand, the schoolboy weeping tears of fury after being bullied by some other child. I saw the vulnerabilities, the love, the history.

watched the other people in the pub, wondering about their lives. Each of them would have huge events in their own families—babies loved and lost, dark secrets, great joys and tragedies.

my dad seems to think that's not the greatest reference. But in my experience there's not much that can't be fixed by a decent cup of tea…

Suddenly she turned and, spotting me by the entrance, waved, her smile wide, her hair flying up around her face. "Hey, Lou!" she yelled. "I meant to say to you. Moving on doesn't mean you loved my dad any less, you know. I'm pretty sure even he would tell you that.

studies course, so they can take me for the beginning of the next term." "What about Thomas?" "There's a nursery on campus. We

small children and a gray-looking husband (they left the

I had a drink, and then another. I listened to their talk of mileage, of the skinned knees and the hypothermic swimming bouts. I tuned out, and watched the other people in the pub, wondering about their lives. Each of them would have huge events in their own families - babies loved and lost, dark secrets, great joy and tragedies. If they could put it into perspective, if they could just enjoy a sunny evening in a pub garden, then surely I should too.

I wish your sister was here. It seems wrong to have a celebration without her." Not to me, it didn't. Just for once, I was quite enjoying being the focus of attention. It might sound childish, but it was true. I loved having Will and Dad laughing about me. I loved the fact that every element of supper—from roast chicken to chocolate mousse—was my favorite. I liked the fact that I could be who I wanted to be without my sister's voice reminding me

She told them everything—about Will and the six-month contract and what had happened when they went to Mauritius. As she spoke, Mum's hands went to her mouth. Granddad looked solemn. The chicken grew cold, the gravy congealing in its boat.

If I'm honest, I probably only held it together myself because we couldn't all go to pieces.

Strength—real strength—is not doing what someone asks you, necessarily. Strength is turning up every day to a situation that is intolerable, unbearable even, just to support the people you love.

my marriage proved to be somewhat more populated than I had anticipated

His boss had been muttering about possible redundancies for months. There were murmurings at home about debts and the juggling of credit cards. Dad had had his car written off by an uninsured driver two years previously, and somehow this had been enough for the whole teetering edifice that was my parents' finances to finally collapse. My modest wages had been a little bedrock of housekeeping money, enough to help see the family through from week to week.

I sat there, as my parents discussed what other jobs my limited qualifications might entitle me to.

So I did what every girl does when she's far from home and a little sad. I ate half a packet of chocolate Digestives and called my mother.

Strength—real strength—is not doing what someone asks you, necessarily. Strength is turning up every day to a situation that is intolerable, unbearable even, just to support the people you love. Strength is being in that terrible room hour after hour

I tuned out, and watched the other people in the pub, wondering about their lives. Each of them would have huge events in their own families—babies loved and lost, dark secrets, great joys and tragedies. If they could put it into perspective, if they could just enjoy a sunny evening in a pub garden, then surely I should too.

Time with my family was precious and I wouldn't ruin it by feeling sad.

The significance of my sister's words sank in slowly but inexorably.

Jesus Christ," said my father. "Can you imagine? If it wasn't punishment enough ending up in a ruddy wheelchair, then you get our Lou turning up to keep you company.

I should have listened to my father. "Want to know the true definition of the triumph of hope over experience?" he would say. "Plan a fun family day out.

No more nightmares about the Fishers?" "Last night," Tanzie said, "I dreamed about a cabbage that could roller-skate. It was called Kevin." Mum gave her a long look. "Right.