Engagements, anniversaries, tough conversations, and acceptance
Y’all, my baby brother got engaged this weekend and I couldn’t be more proud.
Paul is a wildly inappropriate, non-filtered, but loving dude. To be honest, I thought he’d be single forever - but then came Loren.
Loren reminds me of my mom so much. She has a huge heart, she takes no shit from my brother, she’s hilarious, always speaks her mind, ambitious, compassionate, and so much fun. I couldn’t have handpicked a better future sister in law.
Loren also has a gorgeous 3-year-old daughter - Austan - and let me tell you, I’ve never met a more brilliant little girl. Austan has the sweetest little voice and she is such a joy to have around.
My brother really hit the jackpot.
My family got together (on the anniversary of my mom’s death) to facilitate this engagement, celebrate, and spend some quality time together on a weekend that has always been so hard for us.
Family time can always get a little messy - especially for those of us in recovery. Old wounds, past traumas, and varying opinions are not uncommon for my strong-willed Italian family.
Outside of the celebratory events that unfolded, we had some tough but necessary conversations this weekend. After my mother died, our family dynamics changed and we were all left in the ruins of her absence.
This weekend gave us all the opportunity to put everything out on the table, listen to one another, and be open to making some changes to how we interact.
Get this, we were even able to walk away while agreeing to disagree. That’s a major milestone for the stubborn Moceo genetics.
As I’m packing up to head back to South Florida, I have to say I’m feeling really great about the note me and my kiddos are leaving on.
My dad is probably shaking his head reading this due to me divulging some of our family matters, but I’ve committed to vulnerability on this platform. (Sorry dad, I love you.)
To anyone reading this, just know that there is no “perfect family”. We all have our own conflicts, secrets, regrets, guilts, and shame. But at the end of the day, no one has been around through my constant ups and downs like my family in Georgia and the family I’ve been blessed with in South Florida.
Take the time to listen to the people you love the most. Hold up the truth in love and practice accepting things exactly as they are.
Hope you guys are slaying this Monday.