Keeping it together

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ABOUT a week and a half ago, this newspaper reported that two of the four Scully kids, who were abandoned by their mother, had been taken in by the Miri Methodist Children’s Home. Irene and Idoven Scully, aged eight and seven respectively, are now under the care of the orphanage while their two younger siblings remain with their 64-year old grandmother.

Despite the prospects of shelter, care, nurture, education and other needs for Irene and Idoven under the home, the Eye cannot help but feel sad over their separation from their younger siblings.

The Eye has always believed that brothers and sisters should stick it out together through good and bad times, as idealistic as it sounds. Of course, there are circumstances that prevent some siblings from broken homes from living together.

Broken homes, the loss of parents and abandonment are the worst things that can happen to children. Those who are tough will usually ride through the downtimes together and come out leading good lives. There are those who are not so fortunate and psychological effects last a lifetime — tearing apart relationships between siblings and affecting their own relationships with others as they grow up.

The Eye gets a very unsettled feeling each time there is news of siblings being split up. Yes, people may say that under certain circumstances, such splits are for the best — it gives the children opportunities that they wouldn’t have if they were all living together in poverty.

Eye suppose, that under such circumstances, such arrangements do make sense. The Eye only hopes that somehow these children will stay in touch as they grow and move on in their lives. Without parents around and a complete family, siblings only have one another and they ought to be around and on the look out for one another. However, it gets even sadder when siblings are forced to be apart because of divorces and the follies of their parents.

Keeping a family together in this day and age, has, somehow become a challenge. Changing lifestyles, differing priorities, careers, finances — it seems that as the world evolves into modernity, life becomes more complex and less personal. Material needs take over as THE main goal for living. People become more individualistic. It is no longer about keeping things together. It is no longer about being grateful.

Back to the Scully kids and all other siblings who have, under various circumstances, been split apart. The Eye hopes that they will remain in contact with one another.

As they grow older and go through the different stages in life, it is important for them to be in touch with what family they have left. The love and support between siblings is vital for them to grow up into well rounded individuals.

Having said that, the Eye has also known siblings who were brought up together and under the same roof, to turn against one another over petty little things — business, inheritance, land, spouses and even how another sibling brings up his or her children. Petty things that turn relationships sour, and in certain cases, for life.

Yet, one of the most moving and heartening ‘true stories’ that the Eye has witnessed is the story of how the bond between siblings who have been apart from time to time, rode above all odds and how, despite their sometime differing opinions, have always come together in dark hours and times of need.