I must admit this assignment was intimidating to me as I was afraid I would not be able to provide five people who influenced my life as a child. My mom was a single parent raising two children in a city not too close to our relatives making for a small childhood web. I am one of those children who grew up to lead a successful and happy life in spite of not being the center of the microsystem of Bronfenbrenner's Model of Development.
My mom worked two jobs to support us and provide a nice home. She modeled for me a strong work ethic and how to take pride in all that I do. My little brother has had special needs all through his childhood and into adulthood. Whatever little extra time my mom had, she was making sure the special needs were met for my little brother. As I got older, I was able to help take care of my brother and I was happy to help ease some of the stress from my mom's life.
Every once in a while we would go visit my grandma who lived 180 miles away. My grandma would always greet me with a big smile and hug and remind me that I was her oldest and special grandchild. She would always make sure we had time for lunch with just the two of us; allowing me to order shrimp since this was my favorite meal. A meal not affordable for a single parent. As I got older and started driving my own car, everytime I would visit her she would always insist on paying to fill my gas tank. To this day, I enjoy filling my own daughter's gas tank and brings back fond memories of the trips to the gas station with my grandma.
I had a neighborhood girlfriend for about 5 years before we moved. She would help me take care of my brother. We were always busy building tents, playing games, using big Magtag boxes to build secret forts and trading in our collected pop bottles for a rare candy bar. We also enjoyed going to the book mobile which came to our neighborhood every week. I bet we read every Nancy Drew book written. We also taught ourselves how to sew with books we checked out from the book mobile. We started making our own dresses and one year made our prom dresses. I have not sewed much lately but I used to sew quite a bit before I started working full time and taking college courses.
For three summers as a teenager I went to live with my aunt and uncle in Glacier National Park. This was a lovely experience as I was able to enjoy living in a home where my aunt would have home cooked meals ready for breakfast, lunch and dinner. With these meals came conversations; I was typically a very quiet girl, my aunt and uncle inspired conversation from me as they showed a sincere interest in my hopes and dreams. My aunt taught me how to bake and my uncle taught me how to fish. I can still remember the days I would come home from working as a maid in the local hotel to the smell of home made bread or sourdough pancakes. My aunt and uncle are very important in my life today. We have maintained a close relationship and with the passing of my mom in 2009, we have become a lot closer.
My small childhood web set the foundation for who I am today; a strong woman who loves her children and with a desire to support families to become strong advocates for their children.
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