The rules are very easy: take a picture with a member (or multiple members) of your SL family, and answer the questions below. Take my answers out, and put in your own. Then, when you publish your blog post leave a comment (either here on my blog, or on the picture on my Flickr) and provide a link so I, as well as others, can read it! I do want to state that if you have a negative view or experience with SL families, to not leave negative comments. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and opinions may not always be voluntarily – but you always have a choice between spreading negativity or not. I certainly hope this enlightens people, and who knows, maybe even gets some people to try out the SL family community themselves! Because I can tell you, there certainly are a few amazing people you can meet, and a lot of love to be given and received.
So I decided that I should do one about my family....This picture is a bit outdated, we lost a sister, but gained an AMAZING brother. I could not be happier that he has joined our family. Now you all know which one is me...to my left was Aya (no longer with us) my daddy, Caedon, is holding me and my mommy, Lena, is next to him...beside mommy is Zoe, my older sissy sparkle, and below us all is Hanley, we are tha same age!! The one NOT pictured is the most amazing brother-Dave! Enough about who is who lol, ON WITH THE QUESTIONS!!
1. What is your SL family surname?
My family's last name is Bayn, for my daddy! Since my mommy and daddy aren't married though, she still carries her maiden name and only us kids have same name as daddy.
2. What is the make-up of your family? (Parents, kids, siblings etc)
There is mom an dad, Older sister Zoe and older brother Dave, then there is me an Hanley. We don't really have an extended family except for an uncle but that is ok, eventually we will have more we hope.
3. How long have you been in the SL family community?
I have been in the SL family community for over 5 years now :D
4. When did you first hear about the SL family community and what was your view on it before you were in it?
I didn't really hear about it, I kinda stumbled upon it. I have always kinda been a bit shy. I know that here it should be easier to be more open and everything, but for me I am exactly tha same as RL so its hard. I kinda found SL kids by chance and ended up adopting them back in 2007. I didn't really have a view on it before I was in the community because to me it just seemed normal. People here can be whatever they want to be-even a furry fox-why couldn't there be kids too?
5. How did you join your (first) SL family?
One of my SL kids had grandparents who knew people who wanted an adult child, so I guess I was kinda forced into being in a large extensive family at that point. I truly consider my first SL family as the first one I ever felt comfy and accepted in. I had put a panel up at MAW-yeah long time ago lol- I had decided at that point that I would be a twin with my RL best friend who also played at the time. We found a family, who was actually pretty perfect for us, although it did not work as we had planned. Eventually I kinda put all of my stock in not really being in a family, just staying little. Then one of my oldest friends on SL became my mother along with the guy she was dating as my father. It wasn't until recently that he stopped being my dad, but that was his choice. He said he wasn't going to be as active as I wanted him to be. I have gotten my perfect SL family, my forever now....all storms end with a rainbow right?
6. Do you have a kid avatar?
Well yah, I am a kid avie on my main account as well as an alt, who is a teen. I do have another regular sized kiddo that I never play though....
7. Do you have an adult avatar?
Yes I do. I don't play her as much lately, because I am usually on little me. The times I do get on her are to be with the person I have always loved....
8. When did you first decide to make a child avatar?
Well I have always been shorter and smaller than most adult avatars. I remember once my SL kids and I were all shopping and I got mistaken for a teenager who was babysitting >.< I think at that point I decided I kinda wanted to be a teenager. I have never been very mature, so it came very naturally for me to act younger. Eventually my age went even younger down to tha 6 yr old I am today. Each avie that I play never goes down in age. So when I went from adult to teen I created a new avie, when I went from teen to child, and then from regular sized child to little. All of my alts that I have are forever locked...as in Their hair color will always be the same, their attitude and demeanor will never change, same color eyes. Once I build a character, that is how they stay forever. Hence why I have alts .....
9. Why do you play a child avatar?
I play a child because it is more comfortable for me. I am a shy by nature person, and it is easier for me to get away with being immature and silly here than on an adult. I also am not one that would wear things or do things I would not normally in RL. So when I am on my teen or adult people look at me funny because I am not the normal HALF dressed person they usually see when they look at someone my age. I stick to who I am regardless of where I am. Being a child allows me freedom that I do not have RL. Freedom to not pay bills, clean house, cook dinner, get kids changed and bathed and help with homework, to not have to be "physical" if you catch my drift :/ Being young allows me to experience SL without the worries of being approached by a stranger with no pants wanting things from me >.< I rather enjoy not having to deal with creepy people in clubs hitting on me or having to deal with working. I am free here.....
10. What do you like about being a parent in SL?
I am no longer a parent in SL, but I do miss it. I miss having other people so very excited that I am there. People who can understand me in ways most people dont. I love having that connection with people that only a SL parent and child can have, and those outside of it dont understand. Soon, I do hope that I will get the chance to be a SL parent again.
11. Do you do family roleplay? If so, what kind of roleplay? Paragraphs, emoting – or just “acting like”?
My SL family ACTUALLY role plays. We do the entire /me and go all out. My sister helps make me butter and sugar sammiches, while my brother scares monsters out of the closet. My mother prepares extravagant meals with 5 courses, and my father lets me sit on his lap while he reads me a bedtime story. When I do things wrong, I get punished, as do all of my siblings. Our family time is precious, and very real.
12. Do you have any special family-related activities? (Dinners, camp etc.)
We do lots of things together. At the moment we are changing sims, and unlike any other family I know, we are actually RPing packing things up. I got to chase my brother around with a box I colored on, he carried me around with clothes on my head. My mom and dad sat on the floor and wrapped our glass items in old newspapers, while dad drug out suitcases for us to pack clothes we would need until we get the bigger boxes to the new place. Our family is very unique in the aspect that we all get along and can RP well with one another.
13. What is the thing you love most about your SL family?
I love that we are all so different yet all so the same. The love we share with one another can not be compared. We laugh together, worry together and cry together. We work together to fix problems no matter what it may be. I love that I feel so comfortable and can talk to them about anything. I love that even though my brother has been with us a short time, I feel as if he has always been there, I love that my sister always bakes me extra special cupcakes just because, and that she has a special nick name for me that no one else has. The completeness of my heart right now can only be matched by one thing and one person. He is there, but not as he used to be. Hopefully eventually we will be as we were before. Then and only then will my life be complete.
All in all, my family is pretty amazing. Each and every one of us brings something different to our unit to make it whole. I could not ask for a better life than this....
Hows your family?? Leave me a link so we can all try the challenge together!
