Personal Childhood Web

When I think about the people who nurtured and cared for me as a child, I think of my Mom, my Step Dad, my Great Aunt, and my Grandma.

My Mom has always encouraged me to be creative and try new things.  When I was younger, it was not uncommon for me to request some random items for an experiment.  I might say, "Mom, I need a needle, some tape, a balloon, and some Vaseline."  Without batting an eye, my Mom would get me these items and ask if I needed help.  She was never concerned that something was too messy or too silly.  Everything was a learning opportunity and she was happy to let me explore.  When I asked for an Easy Bake Oven, she handed me a brownie mix and said, "We have a real oven."  I was worried that I would mess up, but she assured me that I could always try again if they didn't turn out right.  Her attitude towards learning and exploration still influence me today.  I am confident enough to try new things, and I view learning as a fun, sometimes messy, hands-on process.

My Step Dad, Wally, has been in my life since I was very young.  My parents divorced and I no longer saw my biological father.  Wally was around as far back as I can remember, though.  He is a man of few words, but shows he cares in other ways.  When I was little, Wally would use his work printer to make these huge posters on my birthday each year.  They were probably 6 feet long and had pictures of all my favorite Disney and cartoon characters on them.  He used to use the phrase, "That isn't necessary" all the time.  If I wanted to sleep over at a friends house or wanted a new toy, that was the standard response.  While it frustrated me to no end at the time, I am much more careful with the use of my time and money because of it.  Wally hasn't become more talkative, and our relationship has never been a typical father-daughter relationship.  I have, however, learned to appreciate his loyalty, his commitment to family time, and his actions that speak louder than words.

My Great Aunt Elfride took care of me when I was very young.  She never had children of her own, but she made up for it by nurturing every child who crossed her path.  Aunt Elfride showed love through food.  She is an amazing cook and would spend all day in the kitchen to make your favorite meal.  She is an expert at making apple pancakes and stuffed cabbage.  She was one of the first people to help me learn to cook.  My skills in the kitchen are proof of her continued influence in my life.  I also have taken on her love of cooking for others.

My Grandma, or Oma as I call her, was another special influence when I was young.  She loved to take me swimming and was always working in her yard.  Oma taught me the value of hard work at a young age.  I thought it was fun and helping, but she helped me to learn that chores come first and play comes second.  I still live by that today.  While I make time for recreation, I know that my studies, work, and "chores" need to be done first.