Growing Up In River Falls

My mom had surgery for cancer and was in the hospital for a while. My two siblings and I had only our dad to depend on for rides, dinner and obviously regular care, which is a lot for one person to take care of. Luckily, some of our very close family friends stepped up and helped with whatever we needed. This shows how when my family was going through hard times with my mom at the hospital, our extended family and friends each pitched in a little to make the time without my mom less stressful, easier and more of a learning experience. I learned that without my mom, our family might not be very organized for a while, but then we’d eventually figure it out. Because we had family and friends looking out for us, we were able to get through the few weeks without my mom at

Summer vacation, and school ends for about three months, and then you have as much fun as you can, then back to school… right? Well I had to go to summer school, but it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. Everything was going fine, I had a

Brothers and sisters will always look out for you in those tough hard times. It was funny when the Driscoll twins fought over the last cookie before their game. Almost every time my sister and I are in room together we will fight over the TV or almost anything else. This has changed me because I have learned to not fight with my sister every time someone yells at us.

I can't remember one detail of my infancy, toddler, or school-age years. Maybe I’m not trying hard enough, or maybe it’s something I blocked out and try not to remember. I leave it up to pictures and my family to tell me about those days, though it never seems to ignite any recollection. From what I hear though, it sounded like it was the time when my family was the happiest. It sounded like a time when the family really meant the most to them! Family gathers, we use to have a lot of those. Suddenly it stop, and it was every household for themselves. I don’t know what came over my family, but it seems like all that matters today is who can do the most for you! They're too worried about what the next person can give them, that authentic love. “To come so far, to lose so much and find nothing” (Tan, 133). And they say family is supposed to mean the

Growing up in small-town Pflugerville, I never imagined what life would be like outside of a "country" area - until I moved to Killeen, Texas. Killeen is a town full of hot-headed, military, city-slickers that clog up the highway like ants. Often, I think of times when I was younger

Before I even had the chance to What makes my family so unique is that we have established that although we aren’t all physically together anymore like we were when I first moved to Tulsa, we are closer than ever. I thought that being apart from my family would take me back to life before I ever knew them, but they have become such a prevalent part of my life that our relationships can stand the distance. I find myself looking forward to the weekends when I can go back to Tulsa, even if it means I won’t get any work done. We know that no matter how busy we get; family is always a priority. Moving to Tulsa and growing up around my huge family showed me how much I really value family and the rare sense of belonging that you get when you are around them. I hope that in the future, my family will have the same opportunity to grow up surrounded by their loved ones and that they too will find value in

The next couple of years were essential to the growth of our friendship and bond that we formed as siblings. From helping with homework to baking together, my siblings and I formed an unbreakable bond. Following many years of support, I finally understood the meaning of family; they are one unit and travel as one. If there is ever an obstacle for one member, everyone has to endure it. Travel forward to present time, I love both David and Alysa with open arms. Both of them have enlightened and opened doors to new perspectives into the world of love and stability that any brother has to endure. As they reach to me for support, I always make sure to provide both David and Alysa with advice and countless paths to

Weeks and months have passed and even though I miss my family dearly I feel so lucky to have a great foster family who treated me like their own. My foster parents already had three daughters who were a little older than me, but we get along so well.

I Emma I Ried, was born on February 12, 2004, in Ingham Hospital in Lansing, MI. I am 11 years old and I love to horseback ride. I currently live with my mom, stepdad, two brothers, and my two dogs Chevy and Buddha. I also rotate between my

My younger siblings were constantly screaming to get the attention of my parents. Every first day of school, other students looked at me weirdly once they found out how many siblings I had. I was embarrassed at first when I would talk about how many siblings I had, but I learned to grow with it. My neighborhood was often quiet, there were never any problems in the area, and I knew all my neighbors, which was great, especially during holidays. My next-door neighbors often threw parties or gatherings for holidays such as July the 4th, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s, which was fun for my family. They were always filled with positivity, which was seen through their festivities. My neighbors loved seeing the smiles on the faces of my siblings and I during any of their gatherings; my family has always had a close bond with them, and we continue sharing that bond with them, which I find really rewarding in a sense. My community was often connected; there were always events the city organized for everyone to attend, such as George Washington’s Birthday Celebration, which consisted of a parade and

Our neighbors were mostly, families that consisted of both parents, single moms, and the children per household ranged from two kids to twelve kids per family. The neighborhood residents consisted of blue-collar working people. What makes me proud of my hometown is that the people who lived there took care of their homes, your neighbors were like family, and if you needed something everyone helped each other out. When it came to the kids, someone was always watching out for them. I know some very special people from my neighborhood, who I am still good friends with them today. My first husband grew up in the same the neighborhood and we dated while I was in High school and once I graduated we got married. We lived on our own for a couple of years; then we moved back home to save for our first house. We were expecting our first child, Amy and we decided to purchase a home in Burbank so we will be close to our parents. My mom’s health was starting to decline. I was staying home with Amy and Mike was now the sole provider for our family. Shortly after Amy’s, birth my mom was diagnosed with stage four, Breast Cancer. She had full blown chemo and radiation treatments. She fought the battle, but she passed away a

About 5097 days ago on this day, I was born in the Sacred Heart Hospital. It’s been almost 14 years, and things have been pretty alright. I don’t look that different from the other kids my age, but it’s hard to blend in when you’re 5’10 and amongst

Being separated from my one and only sibling made my heart crackle and shatter into small pieces. Younger or older siblings just seem to always fuss and fight over everything. All we ever said was get away, leave me alone, shut up, and pinch or hit each other. Yeah we

Even though my older siblings have moved away, we still come together as a family a. My sister Jeannie’s family lives in Virginia, so it is difficult to help them. My brother-in-law is a computer engineer and frequently travels, so my mom will travel down sometimes and help my sister take care of her children. My sister has to take care of six year-old Jackson, her four year-old daughter, Tenley, and her six month old baby, Bennett which is very stressful and hard. My sister has an aide, Ethel, who is in college majoring in special education. She is amazing with Jackson. Each summer, I go help my sister for a week with the kids.

Emily deVente ENGL 1010 Spring Term Dr. M. Connor Childhood Disappointment Looking backing on childhood filled with so many memories, I wish I could say they all had that warm and fuzzy feeling. Being one of seven siblings wasn’t easy, in fact each and every sibling had to make some type of sacrifice for our family. I have a sister, she is the second oldest, who is a diagnosed schizophrenic. Having a mentally ill sister who was never complaint with any type of treatment made childhood especially difficult and set up many opportunities for disappointment. Disappointment came in many forms throughout my childhood whether it was not being able to go somewhere, being forgot about, or the constant embarrassment and anger I had to deal with internally on a daily basis.