Mean To Me

I come from a family of eight, me being the youngest. My father worked to support all of us and our mom raised us at home ensuring we were fed and clothed. They both taught us that family is very important and no matter what, we need to be there for each other. As a family, we have experienced many trials such as losing our home to a house fire, siblings having fall outs with each other and with my parents, and my father losing his job after working at the company for 20 plus years. No matter what difficulties we faced, we were always able to get through them. Even the difficulties we face on our own, our family was there to provide the support we need.

Since my father passed away before my mom had me, she has been the only one who cared for my siblings and me. Growing up in a refugee camp in Kenya was the hardest experience that I have ever had. My mom is the most hardworking woman that I have ever seen. Therefore, she did everything from chopping wood to selling groceries to ensuring an education for her children. In addition, she always finds time for everyone during difficult times. She never turns anybody down. My mom taught both my siblings and me good morals. My mother taught me how to cook for myself when there was no food at the house nor no one to cook for me. Equally important, she taught my older brother how to take care of us while she was away, including how to cook

Someone's name can have a big impact on how people perceive them. When you spend a lot of time with someone you tend to adapt

Growing up I was taught that family is one of the most important gifts you are given in life. I was raised in a house with both my parents and my sister, every Sunday we would have family dinners with my Grandpa, a man that at the time had no idea the kind of impact he was having on my life. My Grandpa was a kind man, who went out of his way to help you, and be supportive in anything that you did. We as a family, were blessed to have someone like my Grandpa, someone who gave us guidance, love, and valuable life lessons, without us even knowing it at the time.

Family as you grew up –Growing up, I had a close-knit family. We came together to celebrate birthdays and holidays. As I grew older, we spent less and less time together as a family due to personal obligations (work, education, immediate family).

Names don't show everything about a person. They are there to represent what that person did. A name can be something that people love, hate or don't

When I was a couple weeks old, my mother got up with my father’s parents to see if they would help raise me as a child. They easily said yes and asked for forgiveness from my father’s behalf. My grandparents were there for me every step I took basically. They bought me food, clothes, and a whole bunch of toys. Whatever I had wanted my grandparents tried their best to make sure I can have it.

My family has always been there for me, especially my stepfather- Pablo. I use to hate him so much that I would be mean to him and call him names. Just because he wasn't my biological father I would do that to him. I would make his worse days like living in a bad neighborhood. Later threw the years I finally realized why he was so strict with me and my sisters. It showed me how life is

My maternal grandparents established my knowledge of the family. They demonstrated the importance of having a close family unit. They cultivated this with constant communication and setting specific days for family gatherings. They also imparted the importance of using your family as a support system; their motto was, “we are family, we carry one another.” My family bestowed this value by helping each other in times of difficulty, for example, if there was a death in the household some family members helped financially, while others helped with preparing meals and others helped organize the funeral.

My mom has survived three husbands and has raised five kids with and without help throughout my childhood. She allowed friends of her children to move into our house and raised my oldest niece when my sister got pregnant at a young age.

My mother has always been notorious for assisting members of the community. Even though we had a limited amount of money she would lend a hand in any way she was able. My mother is one of the most selfless individuals I have had the pleasure of encountering.

I grew up in a friendly family subdivision in Houston, Texas. My family consisted of my Mother, my step father “Jack” , two little sisters and a big brother. I would like to say I had a very tight knitted family. We ate family dinners at the table together, played games together, and hosted small parties at the house for family and friends every once in awhile. I would say my Mother was the strict parent and my step Father was the easy going, laid back parent. Jack always treated us as if we were his own children, a sweet and friendly person and fun to hang around.!

Along with my immediate family my relationship with my extended family is also very close, especially on my mother's side. My grandparents are very caring and supportive of me and always come to all of my events. My grandmother taught me how to sew when I was younger and my grandfather has shown me that no matter how old you get you can always be fun and crazy. My mother's sister Rachel is like a second mother to me and and my cousin Tessa is like

For two year, the first year my mother left dad, we lived with my maternal grandparents. Although, I was toddler at the time I still acknowledge their efforts and support for a period my family needed it the most. They occasionally visited for Christmas and for four of their granddaughters’ quince, including mine. I visited them four times in Mexico. Because they live in Mexico is it hard to keep constant contact with them. But they both had a huge influence and I have great respect for them. When they visited Nebraska, they stayed in the household for a couples of weeks. The most important extended family relationships are with my mom’s sisters and brother who reside in Nebraska.

My mother was a strong believer in helping and supporting those in need, she engraved the importance of helping others in me. She referred to the teachings of Islam. In Islam, helping and supporting those in need mentally, physically, financially, and etc. is encouraged, and it is considered a noble characteristic to have. Growing up in a single parent household, I took on responsibilities at an early age.