30 Day Meme-All about DNA
So, here's the one about my parents.
It's long and random
Both my parents are from Mexico.
My dad was the first of 11. He grew up in Monterey, MX.
My mom is the 3rd of 7. I think she grew up near Culiacan, MX. She's never been very clear about that.
They both have their stories about growing up.
My dad had to help out at my great grandmother's newspaper stand starting at the age of 5.
My mom had to go to school in another town literally being towed across the river on a raft.
My dad came to the states as a young teen where he, some of his brothers and sisters and my grandparents were migrant farm workers across the country. He's worked in 40 of the 50 states.
My mom was raised by her aunt when my grandparents (her parents) left them to go to the US to earn money to bring them over. She only saw them sporadically over the next 10 years.
My mom was friends with my aunt, Lola, in high school and that's how she met my dad.
They began dating immediately and were married soon after that.
A year later, my brother was born.
My parents raised us in a suburb of Los Angeles. My dad was a butcher (back when they actually knew how to cut meat and not just arrange styrofoam trays of meat). My mom was a teacher's aide in our elementary until my dad got her a job in a super market.
We had a typical middle class upbringing. Oldsmobile in the driveway. Dad dressing up as Santa for Christmas. Mom part of the PTA. My parents stressing education as the key to our success and with that, assimilation.
Our Mexican culture was not a big deal for us then and was not stressed. My mom has told me that this is one thing she regrets.
My parents divorced when I was 15.
It was incredibly hard on the entire family. My grandmother (my dad's mom) still cries when we talk about my mom to her. They were very close.
Both of them remarried twice.
Both of their second wives/husbands died of odd circumstances.
My dad is remarried to a wonderful woman.
My mom is dating a guy that I know she doesn't love.
My parents are still in love with each other.
My dad will make you laugh. He's a great guy and I find myself becoming more and more like him and I'm totally good with that.
Dad line: "so, I said to myself, 'good looking'. because I always call myself, 'good looking"
That's my dad in a nutshell
My mom and I have always had a special relationship, yes, it's because I'm gay. But she and I have always been closer to each other than she is with my other brothers. We had a few rocky years, but that's all past us now.
My mom LOVES to cheat at Uno.
I have never had anything but love and support from my parents.
They would do and have done anything and everything they could for me (or any of their other children)
My parents were nothing but caring when I came out to them even though I know it was difficult for them. They never let is show.
My parents LOVE Jim.
My parents may like Jim more than they like me.
So, I don't know why I don't talk to them more often.
Seriously, there was a time that I would speak to my parents maybe once every four months.
I have no reason as to why I did this.
I have no problems with them. I just didn't feel the need to speak to them.
I think it's Jim's relationship with his parents that is making me reach out to mine more.
Jim's dad is in his late 80's and will probably pass away in the next few years.
Jim's mom is in her late 60's and is quickly declining due to Alzheimers.
He speaks to them every day.
Outside of them and Nicole. That's his whole family.
Jim has made it perfectly clear that when his dad passes away and his mom is no longer mentally stable, he's going to adopt my family. This thought makes me tear up.
So, here I have a HUGE family, and I don't appreciate them. Why not?
A few months ago, I made the conscious decision to speak with my parents at least once a week.
And so far, I've been really good about it.
It's long and random
Both my parents are from Mexico.
My dad was the first of 11. He grew up in Monterey, MX.
My mom is the 3rd of 7. I think she grew up near Culiacan, MX. She's never been very clear about that.
They both have their stories about growing up.
My dad had to help out at my great grandmother's newspaper stand starting at the age of 5.
My mom had to go to school in another town literally being towed across the river on a raft.
My dad came to the states as a young teen where he, some of his brothers and sisters and my grandparents were migrant farm workers across the country. He's worked in 40 of the 50 states.
My mom was raised by her aunt when my grandparents (her parents) left them to go to the US to earn money to bring them over. She only saw them sporadically over the next 10 years.
My mom was friends with my aunt, Lola, in high school and that's how she met my dad.
They began dating immediately and were married soon after that.
A year later, my brother was born.
My parents raised us in a suburb of Los Angeles. My dad was a butcher (back when they actually knew how to cut meat and not just arrange styrofoam trays of meat). My mom was a teacher's aide in our elementary until my dad got her a job in a super market.
We had a typical middle class upbringing. Oldsmobile in the driveway. Dad dressing up as Santa for Christmas. Mom part of the PTA. My parents stressing education as the key to our success and with that, assimilation.
Our Mexican culture was not a big deal for us then and was not stressed. My mom has told me that this is one thing she regrets.
My parents divorced when I was 15.
It was incredibly hard on the entire family. My grandmother (my dad's mom) still cries when we talk about my mom to her. They were very close.
Both of them remarried twice.
Both of their second wives/husbands died of odd circumstances.
My dad is remarried to a wonderful woman.
My mom is dating a guy that I know she doesn't love.
My parents are still in love with each other.
My dad will make you laugh. He's a great guy and I find myself becoming more and more like him and I'm totally good with that.
Dad line: "so, I said to myself, 'good looking'. because I always call myself, 'good looking"
That's my dad in a nutshell
My mom and I have always had a special relationship, yes, it's because I'm gay. But she and I have always been closer to each other than she is with my other brothers. We had a few rocky years, but that's all past us now.
My mom LOVES to cheat at Uno.
I have never had anything but love and support from my parents.
They would do and have done anything and everything they could for me (or any of their other children)
My parents were nothing but caring when I came out to them even though I know it was difficult for them. They never let is show.
My parents LOVE Jim.
My parents may like Jim more than they like me.
So, I don't know why I don't talk to them more often.
Seriously, there was a time that I would speak to my parents maybe once every four months.
I have no reason as to why I did this.
I have no problems with them. I just didn't feel the need to speak to them.
I think it's Jim's relationship with his parents that is making me reach out to mine more.
Jim's dad is in his late 80's and will probably pass away in the next few years.
Jim's mom is in her late 60's and is quickly declining due to Alzheimers.
He speaks to them every day.
Outside of them and Nicole. That's his whole family.
Jim has made it perfectly clear that when his dad passes away and his mom is no longer mentally stable, he's going to adopt my family. This thought makes me tear up.
So, here I have a HUGE family, and I don't appreciate them. Why not?
A few months ago, I made the conscious decision to speak with my parents at least once a week.
And so far, I've been really good about it.