Personal Childhood Web

In my childhood life, there were many people that impacted my life. The five people that I would mostly like to identify would be my mother, oldest sister and her husband, brother, and best friend.

My mother is a person that really impacted my life more than she knows. I was raised in a single parent home. My mother and father divorced the year I was born. She had eight children- seven girls and one boy. I was the baby. As a child, I lacked the love from my father, but my mother filled in the space. She was a strong woman that worked hard to provide for her children. We didn’t have like other children, but we were thankful for what she provided for us. As long as we had life, health, and strength, and a roof over our head to keep us warm, we were grateful. Whatever was needed to be done around the house, if she couldn’t pay a man to do it, she would do it herself. She would always say, “There’s no one else to do it, so I have to do it myself”. Today, in my life, she has made that impact on me to be strong and nurture and take care of my children.
Next, my oldest sister and her husband were like my other parents. My mother had five older children than after nine years; she had three more children, which were often called the “younger set”. So therefore, the older ones would take care of the younger ones. Every year my sister and her husband would take me and my two other sisters to Miami, Florida were they lived to spend our summer break out-of-school. They would keep us there and help my mom buy us new school clothes for the upcoming school year. They would also help mom buy us gifts for Christmas. Even though I have five other sisters that has also nurtured and cared for me, my oldest sister has been the second mother figure not only to me, but also for my sisters. Her and her husband has really influenced my life as a child, because no matter what they done for me and my sisters, they never complained about buying for us. As of today, her and her husband continue to nurture and care for us, and not only for us, but now for our children on special occasions. They really stood by my mother on helping me and caring for me. They made me and my sisters feel like their own children and welcomed us in their home. They continue to impact my life today.

My brother and only brother were very special to me. With him being the only boy, he was a sport and spoiled. He always loved to play and tease with his sisters. He was very outgoing and let nothing bother him.  I chose him as one of the person’s that influenced my life as a child because I loved my bother very much and really miss him. He’s no longer with us- died in 1986 with HIV from using a contaminated needle doing drugs with his friends. Even though he made wrong decisions in life, he has put an impact on my life to do what’s right and make wise choices. That may not seem like much, but I’m able now to teach my children that no matter what looks good on the outside, is not always good on the inside. He has influenced me to make wise decisions in life.

Last but not least is my best friend, Tracey. We went to school together and shared the same classes from kindergarten throughout to high school graduation. We shared many ideas, thoughts, and life experiences together. Since we graduated from high school, we have been many miles apart. Tracey makes me feel special and cared because even though we are no longer in school together, she still keeps in touch with me. She will always have a space in my heart.

The people I have discussed are very important people in my life and will always be. They have truly impacted my life and I am thankful to have each and every one of them.