People Who Supported Me
1. My maternal grandmother influenced me as a child by telling me fairy tales as she was putting me to bed when I would stay with her on the weekend. She was like a second mother to me. When my mom went back to work when I was in the 7th grade, I would always go to grandma's house after school and mom would pick my 2 sisters and I when she had finished her workday. I lived with her after my grandfather passed away during my senior year of high school. She was afraid to stay by herself. When I grew up and had children, I would often tell them stories like she used to do. Grandma passed away several years ago, but I still have dreams of her and I sometimes I catch myself thinking I need to call grandma and tell her about something that happened to me.
2. My third grade teacher is the reason I became a teacher. Everyone called her Miss Hazel. She seemed old when I had her as a teacher but she is still living. We had the typical redbird, bluebird and yellowbird reading groups. After we would read to her, she would read to us. For a long time after moving to other grades, I could hear her voice in my head every time I would read silently. Her love of teaching and of children stayed with me. I wanted to be like Miss Hazel!
3. My mom has always been someone I could count on to support me. She was the one to drive me into town, from where we lived in the country, to my meetings, friends' houses, the movie theater or to athletic events. My dad worked a lot and wasn't always available to take his turn. Two years ago, I made the decision to get a divorce. My husband and I were the "perfect couple" but I wasn't happy. I was scared to death to tell my mom, who I knew would pass it on to my dad. Instead of berating me about what a stupid decision it was, she said she understood and I needed to do what was right for me. As a single person now with grown children, my mom and I have gotten even closer than we used to be. My dad passed away in the fall after I got divorced and I go to visit mom as much as possible. We have traveled together and I have learned some things about her and her life I didn't know as a child. We are a lot alike and can talk for hours about anything.
I am just starting to think about this assignment and am inspired by your story about Miss Hazel. I will spend some time tonight thinking about who lit the flame for reading in me. I love to read too and wonder if I can trace that love back to just one or a few people.
ReplyDeleteI love the research in Jim Trelease's book "The Read Aloud Handbook" about wiring a child's brain for reading. He talks about how being read to by a person who loves to read will wire the pleasure center for reading from a very young age. Thanks for the food for thought!