My Personal Childhood Web

This assignment was a difficult one for me to complete (which is probably why I waited until the last minute). Majority of my childhood is unfortunately blocked out of my memory. It's all jumbled so I remember only bits & pieces, & honestly that's frustrating. I'm currently in the process of trying to work the memories out but again...it's a process. But, here goes my childhood web...


Diann (Mommy...that's what I call her)
*I love my mother. She's been an influential person in my life. She was a single mother, raising my brother & I until I was 10. While raising us, she worked full time, & attended law school. I applaud her efforts. We never wanted for anything. She was always able to make a way. My weekdays were spent with her & some of the weekends. She was good at tough love...lol. As an adult, my mother is one of my closest friends. I talk to her every morning on my way to work. She may not always understand me but she tries. She is my momma, & I wouldn't trade her for the world!!


Granny, Auntie, & Alma
*These three women have probably had the most influence on my life. When I was a baby, my mom was introduced to Granny & Auntie by a college friend. They fell in love with me & from that day on they have been family. My maternal grandparents lived in New Jersey, so they were the closest things to grandparents I had in the area. I spent most summers & weekends at Granny & Auntie's house. They taught me everything I know about sports. They helped me appreciate school & learning. With them, I learned what it meant to apply myself. They pushed me very hard but I never doubted that they loved me. Granny & Auntie have been best friends since the 1950's. They met in the Air Force. Alma met them a few years later. They have all been close ever since. Although they aren't blood, I definitely consider them family. With them I always felt safe. I currently live with Granny (91 yrs old) & Auntie (turned 80 this week). Granny gets up most mornings around 6am & rides her bike & does her exercises. Auntie does a lot of work around the house. I tell them all the time that I want to be like them when I grow up. They are truly such amazing women. And to this day, I still feel safe.


Jeffery (Daddy)
*Jeffery is actually my stepfather, but he is the only father figure I know so I call him Daddy. I am Daddy's little girl. Him & my mother were married when I was 10. They are still happily married. He taught me more about sports & how to be competitive. We had lots of fun with him growing up. After my parents were married, we took family trips every summer, he always took us (me, my brother Alexx, & my stepbrother Terrence) to parks & rec centers. My childhood memories with him are all sport related...lol. He has always, & still is, my #1 fan.


Alexx
*Alexx is my brother. He is 4 1/2 years younger than me. We have been through so much together. We were the best of friends growing up because we were all we had. I looked out for him. He had a lot of anger inside. So we eventually grew apart. In my eyes, he was my mom's favorite. I'm sure she will deny that but that's how it felt. He was in trouble a lot as a child, teenager, & even as an adult. Some of it was difficult to watch & deal with but I never stopped loving him & he knows it. Today, I am proud to say that my brother is a different man. He has turned his life around & I couldn't be prouder of him. Prayer truly changes things!!


The Babysitter
*She is the reason I want to work with children. She was probably the WORST child care provider ever. However, as a child, I didn't know how to express that. As one of her oldest children, I changed diapers & took care of the younger children. Her child care was in her apartment. She took care of approx. 10+ children & had 4 children of her own. She didn't have a husband. She was lazy & she constantly lied to the parents. For her, it was about the money. In the summer she would kick the older children out around 7/8am & tell us to go play. We annoyed her & her teenagers whenever we came looking for water or had to go to the bathroom. Just an overall negative experience. No supervision. No learning. Just sleep, eat, play. I didn't share any of this with my mother until we moved & no longer had to attend. I was afraid I would get in trouble. The mind of a child is very fragile. She is my model of what NOT to do when it comes to raising & caring for children.


These people are just a glimpse of those individuals who have helped shaped the woman I am today. Some negative & some positive experiences/influences but they all played their parts. I thank God for who I am today & who I will become. He guides me & I pray that I am becoming who He wants me to be.



My mom, Alexx, & I...Thanksgiving 2010



My Granny & I @ Medieval Times a couple of weeks ago

Mom, Daddy, Granny, & our Pastor @ Granny's 90th birthday party...Dec. 2009



Auntie & I @ Granny's 90th birthday party

Momma, Alexx, & I...ages unknown