MY FAMILY LIFE
My parents knew that improving their family life could help make the family members come and live closer and prevent conflicts from getting in the way of everyone's happiness. Fortunately, they knew that there were lots of concrete steps they could take to make our time with our family more enjoyable and fulfilling. They believed in having a good family life by spending quality time with the family members, by eating meals together, meeting up for holidays and birthdays and following all worthy cultural and traditional values.
Of course, they knew to let their family members love each other and appreciate their contributions. I admired the fact that when they were with the family members they would listen well and were respectful and expected the same from the other members of the family. I grew up in this kind of healthy family environment and tried to put them in practice to raise my own family.
I cannot imagine living my life without my family by my side. Family is very important and valuable institution to me and is something that should never be taken for granted. Without my family, a large part of my life and culture would be missing. Whether it was my grandparent, my sisters, my brothers or my mom and dad, I know I can always count on someone to help me feel better. In fact, I think that this is probably the most important thing that my family has taught me; a family is made up of people who you can trust and who you can count on.
It was from such a tolerant and peaceful family that I grew up and after receiving the necessary skills, ideas and knowledge I reached that age when every parent begins to think of marrying their daughter to someone they can trust and develop good relationship with.
Then as mentioned before on Saturday, March 31st 1972, I got married to Veera Swamy Naidu in Tamavua Suva and started living with my in-laws, Krishna Swamy Naidu and Latchmi. I also have some very fond memories of my father- in-law and mother-in-law because they looked after and guided me well. I remained as one of their daughters rather than a daughter in law. My love and respect for them was always intact. So was my respect and love for my brothers in law and sisters in law.
While living at 11 Kaba Street Tamavua my husband and I had a wonderful time with our children. We worked, travelled and conducted our domestic affairs with care and control. My husband worked in the veterinary laboratory at Koronivia Research Station of the Agriculture Ministry and later moved on to Vinod Patel as tools section manager. We worked hard with the aim of giving the best education to our children. We made a few overseas trips to Canada, USA, New Zealand, Australia and Singapore and Malaysia to visit friends and relatives.as well as for our own enjoyment.
My late husband was a loving father, husband, grandfather, son and brother. He did whatever he could to help everyone. We had a wonderful thirty-six years of our married life. He was an excellent cook and we all enjoyed the dishes whenever he prepared our dinners.
I always depended on him for financial and other domestic affairs and missed his company when he was gone on 25th August 2008. I lost a very good friend.
Veera Swamy Naidu 1946-2008