My CHILDHOOD WEB
This is me and my Dad. He was an amazing man.
He was so
incredibly nurturing. When I was
five years old.
I was terribly afraid of the dark.
So my Dad went
out and bought me a nightlight.
To help me over
come my fears, he would read Winnie
The Pooh to me at night.
My Dad loved to
play tennis and golf. He would take
me out to try
and teach me. But, I was a bit uncoordinated.
Yet, He never
lost his patience. He was always so positive and loving.
My Dad
was the first generation child of Jewish Russian Immigrants.
He
influenced me to be proud of my Jewish upbringing and heritage.
He loved to
laugh. He too enjoyed children and animals. And positively influenced
me to do the same.
This is my brother Jeff.
He was 5 years older then was.
He was like most Big Brothers.
He liked to tease me all the time.
Teaching me to dive off the high
dive, at the pool, drive his new car,
as well as how to play football with the neighborhood boys. He nurtured me by protecting me from anything he believed would harm me. He inspired me to be independent, be true to myself, and hold onto the things that are important.
Jeff passed away not long after this picture was taken.
My neighbor Candy:
My neighbor who I had known since I was very young, remarried when I was 6. His new wife was Candy. Candy was in her 30s when I met her. She was a teacher and a strong, funny out going person. Candy was very nurturing in ways my mother could not be. She was easy to talk to and often would tell me funny stories about the children within her third grade class. She was always interested in me as student and as an individual. As I grew to be a teenager, she was my go to person, especially about girl things. I believe she too inspired me to pursue my work with young children. Her compassion and parenting style with her step children was a wonderful thing to witness. She was a great role model.
My great friend Toni:
Toni and I have been friends since I was 3 years old. We went to the same summer day camp. Her parents were divorced when she was young, so she lived with her Dad during the summer months. Toni is one of the kindest funniest individuals I know. When she was a Junior in high school she moved in and lived with her Dad full time. We became inseparable. She nurtured me by being a friend that I could and still always count on. . When we were very young it was like we had an unspoken language. We totally understood one another. When I was a sophomore in high school my parents were divorced. My mom moved away to New York and I stayed in my home town and lived with my Dad. It was a tough time, but Toni and I could always find fun silly things to do, and we like all teenagers escaped from our parents. Toni taught me so many things. She taught me to be patient and good things will come. She too, taught me not expect to much and that way you won't be disappointed. But ultimately surprised. ( I am a planner). Toni and i inspired each other. Her friendship taught me the importance of being a good friend, She inspired me to teach my girls how important friendships can be.
My Mom: I am ending my web with my mom. For she was not a nurturing person when I was growing up...but that changed with time.
My mom was a strong independent women. She had her own business and worked outside of our home. Unusual for a women in 1960s. I can say that as a child, she was not the person who was warm and fuzzy. But I can say she did inspire me and influence me positively. She loved to cook and bake. I too learned to appreciate great food, and I love to bake. She was creative in her business and within our home. She inspired me to be a good mother. I believe her struggles on how to be a good mom, helped me to work harder at knowing the importance of being a supportive mom. My mom inspired me to be creative, and to appreciate art and color. I so know I utilize those creative skills all the time within the classroom. As I grew into a women, my mom and became closer. And I began to understand her complexities as an individual.
When my own children were born, my mom learned how to be a more nurturing individual. She read to my children, taught them how to play gin rummy and how to cook.
