Looking back through the years of living with my parents has changed my views on adults in good and bad ways. I feel like watching my parents growing up helped shaped the person I am today, also in good and bad ways. I have a mother who has always been there for me and done everything she can for me to become a mature adult. I have an amazing stepdad who began taking care of me at a very young age. My biological father wasn't so much in my life, but his actions showed me what not to do as an adult.
I always remember it being just my mom and I. She was a mother who had to work all day everyday, but still managed to feed me dinner and tuck me into bed every night. She is the strongest person I know. She really did everything she could for me when we had so little. She made it seem like we had so much. She taught me how to appreciate the little things, to take every obstacle in life and make something of it. I'm very grateful for that too. I wouldn't be the person I am today without her. I remember her always making me dinner, and often times it was the same thing for a couple of days but it was a hot meal for us to have together. Today, that just shows me that it is possible, to take the littlest possible and make it something more. She is my rock that's for sure.
My stepdad came along a couple years into my life. At first I wasn't sure about it, because I hadn't really had a male figure in life. My mother was always the one adult in my life who did both the mother and father duties. When it came to punishment it was a rude awakening for me, because he had a deeper voice and a more stern like method about him. That showed me that the men in life or the father in the house hold was supposed to be the one to take care of the problems.
I never remember my biological father and mother together. So when for awhile I just thought all duties were my moms. When my stepdad came into the picture it was like the duties split. My mom still took care of the cooking and the cleaning of the house. My stepdad would worry about the yard work and "fixing" things.
Growing up I did look at adults in different ways. As I got older though watching my mom do her mom duties and my stepdad do the dad duties it showed me that that's who things are supposed to go. That the memories of my biological father isn't normal for adults. That there are adults who do have there life's together. I think that's why I try so hard to be like my mother in the strongest way because I want things to go as smoothly as possible. Of course there are gonna be obstacles but viewing adults has shaped my adult life.
I find your experience very interesting. I agree, the folks are what greatly influence a child the most, but they can be different for every other family. In my family, I have both of my biological parents. My dad though, is not the displinary figure, despite his large and touch stature. My mom is tiny, but her voice can really strike fear mine or any of my siblings if necessary.
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