My Mom is a person that influenced my heart and soul. She has impacted my life more than words can explain. I come from a single parent home like many. My parents divorced when I was two years old. As a child I lacked a lot of love from my father and even though a person can’t take the place of another, my mom did a fantastic job at it. My mother always put me as her number one top priority. She always would take time out for me, no matter how hectic her schedule was. She was at every event, no matter how small or big. She taught me at a young age that life never goes as planned but you have to work with what you have. The smallest things such as a hug, smile or a kiss on the forehead daily was enough to show how she cared about me.
Next my Aunt Bonita and her husband, Uncle Greg, were and still are like my second parents. From first grade to the twelfth grade, either my aunt or uncle would take me to school and pick me up every day. That may not seem like much but knowing that a person is there waiting for you in all inclement weather was reassuring. Little things like having hot chocolate, Slurpee, or a lollipop waiting for me in the car when I got out of school are things I will never forget. Sometimes the small items are the things that actually weigh the most and show they care about you. They both made me feel special, like I was their own child and welcomed me each and every day in their home. The nurture they showed me as a child is something I will never forget. Now the roles are reversed and I show the same compassion to them as they are my own parents.
My Uncle Wilbert is another person that I hold very dear to my heart. As a child you are still learning and you make many mistakes. I can remember him working hard around the house painting walls on one occasion. I remember touching up against the wall which made a stain appear. Instead of him getting irate, he plainly told me it was okay, and not to worry about it. He always had tremendous patients with me, no matter what mistake I made. This has always been important to me because my own father never had much tolerance to deal with errors. As well, anytime I was stressed or depressed, he would always take time out to make me laugh and make me forget about the situation I was dealing with. I find myself using his techniques in life today. I seem to be a magnet for children; they seem to love being around me. I can’t help but feel that children enjoy being around me because I am carrying on similar characteristics of my Uncle.
Last but not least my grandmother, Victoria is someone I know I will talk about my entire life. As a child, she constantly taught me life lessons and is currently continuing that path. Children always ask “why questions” and many people will say “because I said so”. However, my grandmother would always take the time out to explain and make sure I comprehended a situation. Taking five minutes out of her day made the world to me. She is a person that I know no matter what, I can come to. I can tell through her eyes, smiles, and hugs that she loves me and cares deeply about me. Also, she has a loving heart not just for myself but for anyone who is in need.
The people I discussed above are very important people in my life and will always be. I know they are imperative to me because all of them are like my parents. They have truly impacted my life and I am thankful to have each and every one of them. Without my mom, aunt, grandmother and uncles I wouldn’t be the person that I am today.
