My Personal Childhood Web

The five most important people that help raise me are:  my parents, Ruthie and George, my Aunt Faye and her daughter Valerie, and my Aunt Mattie.

For the first 10 years of my life, my parents raised me in the same home.  My dad help establish the foundation of what to expect from a father.  I was a daddies girl and enjoyed every minute of it.  All my childhood memories of my dad are great.  He was fun.  We enjoyed each others company.  I went everywhere with him.  He taught me sports, how to ride a bike, and how to be the center of attention.

When my parents weren't able to care for me, due to work, my Aunt Faye stepped in.  As a child, she was my second mother and today she is still my favorite aunt!  There was nothing my aunt would do for me.  She provided a loving environment.  She has always been one of the best cooks in the family.  There was never a day, that she didn't cook or make sure I had whatever I wanted to eat.  She showered me with gifts and always came to my defense when my older cousins were being difficult.

When my Aunt Faye was available, her teen age daughter, Valerie would pitch in.  I got a chance to see first hand how crazy high schoolers can be (lol).  We didn't bond or connect much back then but we have a better relationship now.  For the most part, she made sure I stayed out of trouble til one of our parents arrived.  She didn't interact much with me, the television and my toys kept me engaged.  But, looking back, most teens don't want that type of responsibility.

Once my parents decided to separate, my mom moved back to her home state; Louisiana.  My mom has always loved, encouraged, and supported me.  With a background in social work, she monitored everything.  She was big on communication.  She made sure no one was bothering us physically or emotionally.  She provided a non hostile environment.  Everyone liked my mom and wanted to hangout at our house!  Her home was the safest and securest; there was nothing ungodly or inappropriate being said or done.  She definitely promoted education and stayed on top of our academic progress.  She modeled everything within the best of her ability and what she could model, she explained how it should go.

In Louisiana, when my mom needed childcare assistance with us, she turned to my Aunt Mattie.  For most of my childhood life, my aunt lived with us and she didn't work.  So, there was always someone home when we got out of school.  My aunt was also my mother's spiritual counsel.  As a child, she made sure we attended and participated in church.  In between church events, she maintained spiritual guidance.