Personal Narrative: How My Mom Changed My Life

Becoming a mother changed my life in a very profound way. Due to my own upbringing, I was

What is your story? What kind of challenges did you overcome? There are things that happened to me that not many people really know about, I was abused by my older sister when I was a young child. But that didn’t make me a bad person, it made me a better one. I treat people with respect and kindness, I help my family with the things they need, and I take care of my brother. I still always make time for myself, to draw, to write, for anything really. But I wouldn’t be the same person I am today if these things didn’t happen.

On November 17,1989 my mother Juanita Renea Ohlinger went into labor at 6:00 A.M. she was in labor for 12hrs. She laid there in so much pain at Providence hospital until Dr. Kendal Foster showed up and told her she had to have a C-section because her pelvis would not expand. The nurse hooked my mother up to monitors and willed her to the operating room, my father Raymond F Smith was dressed in hospital operating clothes. Dr. Foster began to open my mother’s womb and pulled me out at 5:25 pm.

Anyone could have had a rough life just like mine, having divorced parents and soon having a new mother to look after you. But all stories have a twist to them, my parents met in the army. Currently I haven't been born yet, until February 4th, 1999, I was born and raised for a while with my parents. Dating far back as I can, I remember the fighting that took place in a apartment complex, both my parents pulling me side to side across the house. Everything my dad had like his credit cards were stolen and used for my mother's own uses, ruining his credit for life, he now cannot buy himself nice things. Fading back once more, I remember the moving and hiding from cops because my mother stole one more thing more important to my dad than money itself, me.

She would try to get lost. It was the eighties and we had no cell phones or GPS. But, we had a car, and she said we were free with a car. She drove down all the little roads, but we were never really lost because we were never really scared and all roads lead somewhere.

Every day, about 1,500 Americans are expected to die from cancer. Cancer is a disease in which cells divide uncontrollably, destroying vital body tissue. Most people are no stranger to the effects cancer can have on those close to them. I am most certainly no exception. In 2004, Lauren, a 10 year old girl, died from cancer. My mom used to work for her mom, so she was close with Lauren. Before she got sick, Lauren was much like any average girl. She enjoyed doing soccer, Girl Scouts, and loved to play with American Girl dolls. In many ways, she was just like me.

Have you ever wondered if you were going to eat the next day? Have you ever wondered if your living circumstances were going to change overnight from a bed to a car seat? My entire existence is about worrying and heartache. My mother made a decision in college not to finish pursuing her degree, ultimately that led to our personal troubles. She is a hard working single mother , unfortunately, her hard work wasn't economically sustainable for the three of us. My sister and I didn't have certain everyday items like toys, a vast array wardrobe, or plentiful food in the home. My sister would pass her school clothes down to me because my mother couldn't afford to both of us school uniforms. My mother , sister, and I have moved to approximately

I am the oldest of four children and raised by a single mother. I had to grow up at an early age and help my mom take care of my siblings. My mother would work two to three jobs at a time to help support us, which usually meant that we were to be at the baby sitters house. Sometimes my mom would not pick us up because she had gotten off late and had to work early the next morning so it was just easier for us to stay at the baby sitters. I was okay with helping my mother out with my siblings but it was getting harder the older I got. Once I reached high school I had to go straight home so that I could be there when my siblings got home. Having to go home right away I could not join any clubs or hang out with my friends. Once I was a senior

“Estas loca que le vas a decir a tu papa? (you are crazy what are you going to tell your dad)” my mom said

My mom was chosen to be shadowed because she has always worked two jobs. When we moved, she decided to only have one job and go to school, which i am really glad of because she was very stressed. She seems to be a lot happier now that she only has to worry about one job. It would be nice to see how she works now that she is less tired from working 2 jobs and now only works that one. Another reason is because we don't really get to spend time together with her working and school.

I watched as the letters looped and formed my mother’s name on the line; beautiful and clear, the mess of lines were a paradox in and of themselves. I grew up as the oldest of five in a single parent household; my mom was my biggest inspiration even though, until I was six and started devouring books, I didn’t even know what the word meant. When I first started learning cursive in elementary, I aspired to be able to have a signature as unique as hers. I’d doodle my name all over my notebooks; my friends and I would practice signing each other’s hands and books for the day when we’d all inevitably find fame. Eventually, our names had a constant presence on each other’s belongings. When I got older and my mom went from a stay-at-home mom to someone who worked odd shifts and exhausting hours, her signature on our papers suddenly became rushed and lost

I remember a time, when I felt like the world was against me and the only thing keeping me sane was my mom. She has been their for me during all the ups and downs of my problems. I have felt elevation when she helped me get through the loss of my uncle.  For example, she would let me cry on her shoulder and asked if I needed anything. There would be days when I came home from school crying, from my teacher yelling at me and sending me to the principal office. She would comfort and tell me that everyday is a new day and the teacher was just doing her job. When I was little, I was always afraid to go over to my grandparents house and sleep over. She gave me the strength to face my fear and now I'm not afraid anymore. She has always pushed me

Is college right for you? When you think of college, fear is probably the first thing that comes to mind. Coty, a mother of 4 children, 33 years old, and always has a big smile on her face… Well, at least most of the time. She has long black hair, light brown eyes, and if you look closely, a tattoo behind her ear. Most people will assume she’s just a college student but really, she’s a “mom”. I chose to interview Coty because she’s very encouraging and a very talkative person. My mom has a lot to say about her college experience.

As the plane lands, I see a gray smoke hovering the whole city of Manila, Philippines. It was exactly as I remember it to be. Hot, humid, polluted, and lots of mosquitoes from left to right. These weren’t pleasing at all, however there’s something here that makes me want to go back every time. That is my very own mother.

As a young child, my mother always taught me to help those in need. Not in hopes of anything in return but because you never know what people may be going through. I have always given a helping hand wherever I could. Whether it be helping my mother around the house, being the teachers helper for the week, or simply helping a friend in need. In my younger days, I wanted to be a lawyer. My goal was to help as many people I could stay out of trouble. Being that my mother was a nurse, I changed my career goals to follow in her footsteps. This way I could help the sick and ensure that they would be healthy and happy. I attended my first year of college at the College of Charleston and they did not have a nursing program. Still determined to help