Personal Childhood Web

I chose this picture to talk about those certain people who are a huge part of my success in life.  This is one of my favorite pictures that was taken on my wedding day seven years ago.  When I think of the two most influential people in my life, I think of my mom and dad.  My mom was my biggest supporter as a child.  She had my sister and I involved in everything we ever showed interest in.  She was the mother who made sure I had the latest toys, the news clothes, and never went without even though she wore the same sneakers for years.  She always put my needs before hers and was always happy to do so.  My mom taught me how to work hard, want more, and chase my dreams. She taught me how to love by showing me everyday.  Not a day went by that I didn't hear her say "I love you."  Even to this day we talk almost everyday on the phone and we always end our conversations with those three words.

My dad has always been and still is a huge part of my life.  He was the man in my life growing up that always was there for me when I needed a hug.  He was the dad who held me when I was sick and watched Scooby Doo and Gilligan's Island with me.  Whenever I  needed reassured about anything he was the one who could make me feel good again.  He took my sister and I everywhere.  Our family vacations where always with my mom and dad camping.  I have so many memories with my dad on camping trips.  He taught me the importance of a sense of humor and to find happiness in whatever I do.

My sister has always been someone who I always looked up to.  She is my one and only big sister and she means the world to me.  We are as opposite as sisters can be but that doesn't change the fact that I looked to her as being that big sister that I wanted to be like.  In our early years of childhood we were like best friends.  We played together, laughed together, and shared secrets together.  I'm not even sure to this day she knows how much of an influence she had on my life.  I looked up to her in basketball, so I played.  I looked up to her when she went to college, so I went.  I looked up to her when she became a teacher, so I became a teacher.  She was my guiding grace and helped me realize my potential.

My grandmother was always important to me because she cared and loved me.  She would make a fuss over each one of her grandchildren.  She would catch a bus from her apartment to my house when I was at home sick.  She would make me toast and sit with me all day until my parents came home.  She loved spending time with my sister and I and always made us laugh.  She taught me the importance of family and that there is nothing better than loving one another.

The next two people I want to talk about that were not in my childhood as I was growing up but are certainly in my life now are my fist son and my husband, who are in the picture as well.  Even though my son has not influenced my life as a child, he most defiantly has since he entered this world.  Not only was my sister a big influence on me going to college but my son Nathan really helped me make my decision also.  At the age of seven months he made me realize that I needed to do something greater for the both of us.  I knew it was than that I had to go to college and make something of myself to be able to educate and support not only me but my son.  He has always been the one to make me want to do better.  He was always why I pushed myself a little hard because it wouldn't me just me that I would be letting down.  Lastly, my husband is a huge supporter of me and always giving me confidence when I am lacking it.  He is the one who is there to pick me up when I feel like I'm falling.  He is my best friend and the person who I live to love along with my children.  He makes me feel good about myself and never lets me down.  I am lucky to have a man like him support me through all my endeavors in life.