Childish names

         "Onitama". It's a very childish way to call me for how old I am. It's a phrase used only by my mom, and she uses the phrase whenever she needs help with something, or just calling me to go to her in general. According to her, the phrase "onitama" to her means the oldest son of the family, or older brother. That is something I could agree with. The part that sounds childish is the "tama" part. How she explains why she says it in a childish way is because of my kind, caring, and sunao (honest) personality. It makes sense, I have a gentle attitude.

         

         Though to be honest, I'm not very fond of the use of the childish word, or even be called childish in general. My dad doesn't call me anything like that, he just calls me by my name. I guess I like that better because of my laid back attitude, but even then, being pretty much the only family member to be called something childish, more childish than my younger brother thats like two years old! I guess my mother kind of has a tendency to do that with me, I don't remember any other phrases she used, but I know that "onitama" is the most used one she uses around me.

       No matter how childish, I guess I can't deny it. I first thought it was weird, calling me "onitama" when I was around 13-years-old. I started to accept it around 8th grade. I guess that when I think it over, I think about my childhood, and how touching it is to myself. It's vague, but I remember going to many places as a child while my dad was still in the navy. According to my parents, we went to places like Guam, Maui, Florida, Japan, Illinois, and many other places too. I remember the amount of attention I constantly got as a child, from my parents, my grandparents, even my various friends that I had back then. What's touching to me is the fact that I got that much attention, even when there were times when my parents struggled though life. I guess I can say that the word is very nostalgic for me.

     When I was around five years old, we moved to Oahu. My Japanese mother wanted to move here, since it's always a Japanese dream to come and at least visit these pacific islands. My dad struggled, but made it though college and got his doctoral degree in pharmacy. Years as I grower up, my dad was a mere pharmacist at a local longs drugs, as my mother always watched the apartment, and made sure i get to school safely. As the year came by, and my father's role as a pharmacist grew, he got a job at kaiser hospital, and became a pharmacist there. We moved to a much bigger home at Ewa beach, where I spent my 2nd grade year, all the way to now in high school. My dad is always at work, so he isn't always home during the weekdays, so during that time, I always came home into the arms of my mother. She always watched the house, always made sure me and my sister got to school, and even made us appetizing dinner every night. I guess I made a closer relationship with my mother, even if I enjoy my father's company more.

     I truly do enjoy my family's company, we work together to make this entire family stand on it's feet. Due to my parents hard work and patience, is what allowed me, my younger sister, and my younger brother to have a great life we have now. I truly thank them. At first, I wasn't really a fan of being called "onitama", but when I really look at the details, It makes me eternal thankful for my family. The love gave, the time and effort we made to make what we have today. I can't imagine what would happen if my parents gave up.