Each person listed above are all great inspirations in my life! I thank God for putting such positive role models in my life while growing up, and even now they are all such motivators!! I dearly love them all!!
Saturday, November 15, 2014
Personal Childhood Web
While growing up, I'm thankful to have had such a wonderful support that lies in family! Their were so many influential people in my life that limiting it to five was quite hard. The narrowing down process includes my parents, my brother, two grandmothers, and an aunt. Their pictures and stories are listed below:
My parents are my all in all when I was growing up and even til this day and age! They always instilled in me values of hard work, dedication, and never giving up. Even during times of trying to give up on myself, they always pushed me even harder and made me see the potential that lies within my soul. They are a portion of the reason that I received my Bachelors Degree and am going forward with a Masters Degree. Today, I am so very thankful for the drive that I now possess, because of them. I am currently married with four kids (2 boys of my own and two step-children) and I am employed full-time. Life gets very hard with being in school, but my new found drive and motivation keeps me going! Thanks mom and dad!
My brother is my life!! I love this boy oh so much!! We are eight years apart, with me being the oldest and he the youngest. He received his Bachelors and Masters BEFORE me, in Engineering!! So he is my driving force because I can't let him out do me!! :) Growing up I always wanted to protect him and set a good example for him. I think I did pretty good in other areas minus education! So whereas I was trying to live perfectly for him and become a role model; in his adulthood life, he became one (role model) for me!! His drive has taught me determination, will-power, and the belief in myself to never take no for an answer! Since he was so much younger than me I ended up helping my parents care for him out of pure enjoyment!! I really believe that has helped me cater to and take care of my two boys ages 3 and 7.
My grandmother on my fathers side is a rock! She raised nine children by herself after her husband died from a stroke. Once her own children were grown, she even raised us grand-kids while our parents worked! She taught myself and cousins discipline. She is was always a loving and affectionate woman growing up and those qualities still exist in her today! While in her care, she taught me homemaking skills. These skills are used on an everyday basis as I take care of my family, along with my husbands help!
My oldest grandmother on my moms side is so strong!! She's the image of strength!! Whereas my other grandmother taught me homemaking skills, this grandmother in particular taught me more about the workforce! She also taught me about the strength that lies in women! She was a mother to three boys and one girl and she did all of the raising of them on her own. My grandmother worked up until the age of 76. Then she retired to look after my two kids while my husband and I worked during the day!! So it's clear to see her strength and never giving up style!! This is who I feel that I owe my drive and dedication to while at my place of employment!
My aunt, my twin, on my fathers side, has been an active part of my life ever since I was a little girl! Her families home was my second home!! At least every other weekend I would spend time with her and her family which consisted of her, her husband, and her two step-kids from her husband's previous marriage. She just loved kids and my cousins and I became a regular part of her life on the weekends. I feel that my aunt taught me many of the qualities that I now possess. I have a love for kids just as she did. I find that today in my family and even with my husband's family, that I'm the babysitter. I have the house that all of the children love to come to and visit. This love for children has also driven me to be in the field that I am currently in , early childhood education. My aunt has two step children that she loves as her very own. She had two children of her own after I had grown up and was entering my teenage years. As of today, she still treats her step-kids as she does her very own. I feel that I watched this growing up and the way she cared for her step-children, made me have the same love for my two step-children. Even though I have my own two children, I still love my step-kids just as much as I love my own children!
Each person listed above are all great inspirations in my life! I thank God for putting such positive role models in my life while growing up, and even now they are all such motivators!! I dearly love them all!!
Each person listed above are all great inspirations in my life! I thank God for putting such positive role models in my life while growing up, and even now they are all such motivators!! I dearly love them all!!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I love all your pics. Shawanza, you have a strong support system behind you. Both of your grandmothers are very strong. Family is very important, they help shape our identity.When someone has a family, no matter what they are going through, they will always be driven.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right Cherlie! Family is everything! thanks for your kind words!!
DeleteI love your images, especially the ones with your grandmother. I too had a very close relationship with my grandmother. I think they are the rock of the family and too often many families do not have that rock, someone to pass down traditions and stories.
ReplyDeleteThese women, shape our morals, values, and beliefs; and without them we have a lost identity.
I agree Afinny! My grandmothers have taught me a lot about survival whether it's with a male figure, or doing it on your own. I am very thankful for the role that they played in my upbringing! Thanks for the reply sweetie!!
DeleteDear Shawanza,
ReplyDeleteI loved your story. Like Cherlie, you have a wonderful, close knit family who obviously loves and supports you. I was most struck by your words about your aunt. Out of my whole family, my Aunt Barb and Uncle Mike are the most dear and beloved. I didn't really get to know them until I was much older, unlike you, but the relationship is one that I couldn't do without. When my brother and I were young, my aunt and uncle had trouble with us being around. They have no children, and their house isn't exactly childproof so when my brother and I would come over with our dad, my aunt and uncle would cringe. My brother and I were hard on their belongings. We broke many things of theirs, including their hammock. This especially irritated my Uncle Mike. But when I was 8th grade I was sexually assaulted by an unknown assailant. My whole life changed. It was my uncle Mike that first taught me the beauty of being silent. I didn't want anyone to look at me, touch me, and especially not to talk to me. I had had enough with the police, therapists, my father, ect. I wanted peace. Their home was my refuge. I became like a daughter to them. My uncle and I would walk through his apple orchard and just be quiet. I felt safe with him because he just let me be. I remember one day he picked a Trillium for me (it's illegal to do so in MI because they are an endangered swamp flower) but they were beautiful and I said how beautiful they were. In a time of great strife that was to last a long time, he brought me peace and showed me how to stop and just be.
It is amazing how we can be so much to our aunts and uncles, just as you are to your own aunt, and she to you. I enjoyed your story. Thank-You
Hello Jessica! I am so sorry that you had to endure that type of pain at such a young age! But I'm happy with the ending result of the situation; because you found a whole new side of Uncle Mike that you, I'm pretty sure that he as well, never knew existed. It's amazing how God can place the right people in our lives at just the right moment!! Now look at you and how you've bounced back from your situation and you're now on a mission of bettering yourself!! May God continue to bless you and "Uncle Mike"!! Thanks so much for sharing!
DeleteShawanza,
ReplyDeleteI love the fact that you are close to your brother. I am a girl in a family full of boys. I have two older brothers and a younger brother. How you took care of your brother was how two older brothers, especially my oldest brother, took care of me. There is a 7 year gap between me and my older brothers. The oldest is 10 years older than me. I've learn some much from my older brothers. Everything from dancing and defending myself to math and reading. When my oldest brother went in the military it actually affect my performance in school. That I however, when my other older brother and I became closers. Even though I am in my 30s I still seek advice from my oldest brother and his wife (I think that's why he thinks he my dad). Don't let me forget my younger brother who I helped take care of when he was younger. He wasn't in our lives fully until he was 9 years old. I am 13 years older than he is. When my husband and I lived back at home he would be stay with us at our house. I picked him from school, took him to practices, and get on him when he wasn't doing what he was supposed. to do. He's 19 now and in college. What he doesn't know is the impact that he has had on me and my spiritual walk. It amazes the insight that he has on Christ at an young age, when a lot of kids his age is worrying about partying and drinking. He is making Godly decisions. I don't think anybody knows and understand the impact my brothers have on me, not just growing up but still to this day. We all have a special bond that cannot be broken.
Hello Michelle! I think that it's awesome that your brothers and you share such closeness! I know exactly how you feel, because they are SO special to the spirit and soul! There's nothing like a brother!! Thanks for sharing hun!!
Delete