The view from the basement

If you ever want a new perspective on your family, live in the the basement. Husband Joe and I are going on month three of living with the 'rents. All in all, I'd say things are going well. I am an adult woman living in my parents home with my husband. I've never felt safer in my life. And I've realized a few things that I never saw as a kid.

*The little tifts my parents have really keep their marriage alive and are more about loving than arguing.
*My dad has eaten the same breakfast (one slice of peanut butter toast, one slice of honey toast, one banana, and a glass of orange juice) for over thirty years.
*It's true: my dad has really never washed a load of laundry or cleaned the oven. Not because he can't, but because mom won't let him.
*My parents love being parents, but it's obvious they love being grandparents more.
*My mom does spoil my brother more than me. But my dad spoils me way more.

But mostly, I've learned that my family works very hard. All in our in different ways, but we're very hard working individuals. My brother and mother are hands-on type hard workers. If someone is in need of help on a project, they'll do it meticulously until it is finished. Or if there is downtime, they'll create a project to do meticulously until it is finished. They are crafty, creative and loving in ways that I could only begin to understand. My father and I on the other hand, work hard mentally. We are thinking, reading, and writing constantly. We digest every piece of information we can in our environments so we can help others with knowledge.

I think I've always known these things about my family, but it really has taken my adult self, with a view from the basement, to understand them.