Personal Narrative: The World Of Parenting

Life is always a surprise and things usually happen unexpectedly. Life is a mystery and it’s funny how when we are in our childhood years we want to be teenagers and when we are teenagers we can’t wait for that day that we turn 18 and actually become an “adult” and then a couple of years we go crazy waiting for our big 21.

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

look after the children effectively. In this consideration, I remember how I would run after the kids throughout the day to ensure they were safe and that they grew up disciplined. I served as a caregiver of the eight children for two years. On the other side, many of my friends and relatives advised me to look for work; they argued that a graduate was too good to be a caregiver. In my community, jobs such as staying home with children were associated with illiteracy. Fortunately, my care giving efforts were rewarded well. First, when my sisters gained their master’s degree, they, beside my parents, offered me a scholarship to pursue my education in the U.S. Second, my nephews and nieces still have good memories of me. Now, I am grateful for

I remember the day like it was yesterday. I just had got off the bus and I looked at my phone I saw I had 20 text and 8 missed call. I was wondering why I had so many text and calls before I could even look at them.

Since birth, my life has been very hard to understand but I've always been very open to whoever wants to know about it. On January 13, 2003 I was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. My parents were Anita Gomez and Billy hunt. I then moved to Georgia a while later, and then made my way to Calhoun.

For the first parent interview, I interviewed my friend Randy. The interview took place in the living room of my house. His daughter was present but was playing with my sister at the time of the interview. Randy is the father of a toddler girl who is three years old but will turn four soon. Randy was born in 1992, he is not married but is cohabiting with the mother of the child and his parents’ home. In addition, Randy works for a medical supplies company and has only completed high school. Moreover, when he had his first child and only child, he was 21 years old.

I just had a telephone conference with CH mother/Jessica Cahill. Parent inform his physician, Dr. Cardino, MD (GI). Starting on Monday, student will have to take medication before every meal and snack. (5 times a day) The medication is Sucride? Parent was not sure of the correct spelling. Parent was informed that we could administer the medication at school with her permission and physician’s order. Parent will come in on Monday to bring in the medication, doctor’s order and sign consent. There are no diest restrictions per mom, except that he is lactose intolerance and has “short Gut”. Parent is also taking student to a neurologist during the summer for an evaluation ton R/O ADHD, anxiety and depression. Informed parent to share the information

Ms. Gail Avent is the founder and executive director of Total Family Care Coalition. Ms. Avent started this organization in 2005 and was founded out of the need of having an organization which helps families, children and youth with navigating systems.

Parenting has proven to be an everyday struggle. However, in the beginning, it seemed as though it would be effortless. It wasn’t until later that all the challenges of “Parenthood,” occurred.

This was the first time we were all in parent teacher conference together my sister, mom, Mindy and I. “Okay let’s divide and conquer guys, it will be quicker, mom go with Mya and Mindy come with me.” My mother turned as I dragged Mindy down the hall of my sister’s school and yelled “wait man I want to meet your teachers to damn just hold up it will only take a second,” and knowing my mom and the teacher we were going to be there forever. Every time a parent teacher conference comes around it’s tricky as many people always wonder who is my real mom, my biological other has huge muscles and short “flame like looking hair, while Mindy is slim and has slightly longer hair with curls. Many of my teachers and students wonder who is that woman with the short curly hair “Who is she?” “Is she your aunt?” “ Whoa Jared I didn’t know you had a sister...she is really hot,” these are the questions I receive

As a parent who raised two children and suffered through those awkward teen years never being able to come up with enough ideas to do on weekends and during the summer to keep the kids out of trouble on the streets, I am empathic with families trying to keep kids off the streets. I have worked with non-profit organizations on grant writing projects, fund raising and memorandums of understanding with the city and local authorities, my experience with these scenarios will help me to expedite the projects from start to finish.

Being a single mom for the past 4 years has ultimately led up to this very moment. At the time of my pregnancy I was in a very desperate situation and I had wandered pretty far from God. I was in an abusive relationship in which I was scared, lost, and with no where to turn. At least no where that I could see at that time. I went from a great career making good money, to having absolutely nothing. I lost everything I had worked my life for. Everything I thought mattered was gone. I was now a single mom living at home with my mom. I could not have felt any more like a failure than I did at that moment in my life. Although looking back now I can see it was the best thing I could have done. That was the beginning of my return. The beginning of my new adventure on

I think that there is so much about my parenting that is impacted by where I grew up and that I grew up in a white Scandinavian influenced household. There are probably so many things that I am not even aware of at present. I remember in my undergraduate studies I had to do a cultural family study. And one thing that sticks out for me, which takes me a lot of effort to change in my own parenting is talking about emotions and being empathic. I grew up with a family that was “stoic”, something that apparently is “common” in Scandinavian culture. Emotions were not always validated and feelings that were considered negative, children were not allowed to express them to adults. My greater family definitely believed in the “children should be seen and not heard”

Becoming a dad isn’t something I thought would happen for a while. Mostly because I was always “careful”, and didn't try to hump anything that moved. However, Alek walked into my life, and since then my life hasn't been the same. Every morning I'm woken up by, “ Dad! Get up!”, usually followed my multiple pokes to the face and him trying to spread open my eyelids as if he is looking for some sort of prize beneath them. I don’t mind though. I can’t help but be happy that he wants to spend time with me. I love spending my days off playing ball, riding bikes, or just watching movies with him. I never knew what it was like to feel unconditional love towards someone until I met Alek. I am not his biological father, but I am his dad. There is a

"Okay, Leo." My dad said as he pulled up to the building in his car. "This is a safe place for you to stay. Just. . . Don't do anything that would get you kicked out. Promise?"