Dad was both mom and dad to his children at some
point in our lives. There were times I do not remember mom being around for
some reasons I cannot record mom being in the home at some period of time. Dad
was there all the time in the home cooking, cleaning, bathing and making should
his children had something to eat. My dad and mom were the parents of 9 girls
and 6 boys making the total of 15 children. We was very poor, but dad was a
hunter and killed animals most of time for food for the children to eat. Dad
took the time out and taught each one of his children how to hunter and clean
animals for food. I remember he would place me on his knee and sing gospel
songs to me. My dad was an alcoholic, but he never touched his children the
wrong way. My dad stopped drinking, and at the age of 88 he became a Christian,
and at the age of 104 he went to be with the Lord. My dad married mom when she
was 13, and he was 25, they were married for 66 years.
The family’s Bible is extremely important to me
because it holds important dates and names of relatives both birthdays and
deaths. It is also a guide to me because dad taught us to study and believe in
the Bible.
My
dad’s watch is essential to me because dad used to spit on the ground and order
us to go to the well and make it back home from the well before the spit dried
up. We would run to the well and get that water and make it back home before
the spit dried up. The watch is necessary because I would never demand my
daughter to do something like that. I know my dad meant well back in time but
in today society that is a form of child abuse.
I would give up my
dad’s picture and my dad’s watch, and I would keep the Holy Bible because of
faith. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. I would need
faith to live in a need environment. In times like these, we need an angle; in
time like these we need the Bible.
I learned when we
communicate with each other we develop relationships and learn from each other.
When we all put what we know together it turn out to be a great environment.
When we help and support each other we learn more freely and after all two
heads is better than one.
Reference:
Chang, H.N.L. 1963.
Affirming children‘s roots: Cultural and Linguistic diversity in early child
care and education. Oakland, CA: California Tomorrow.
Cedar,
ReplyDeleteYou have had a very interesting life. I would love to sit down and talk to you. There have been many changes in parenting styles over the years. You were correct when you said that some of the things our parents used as discipline would have been considered child abuse today. How fortunate that you had so many years with your father. 104 years old!! You have many wonderful memories to hold on to. Thanks for sharing.
Mary Jo
Cedar, I am soooo amazed at your blog this week. If you don't have anything else to be pleased about, your life's story or also known as testimony is sufficient enough. How many people can tell a positive story about a "father figure" raising and upholding the family traditions within the home all by himself!
ReplyDeleteWhen raising 15 children, teaching and passing down culture and family stories are very important. Family is also another important entity, so through the Bible, where many actively record the births and deaths is a way where family will always know who is and was related to whom.
And lastly it is interesting like Cedar mentioned the things that were encouraged and considered acceptable years ago like rubbing "gin" on a teething babies gums would be considered child abuse and a free ride straight to jail! I had to remind one of the teenage girls today when a child was acting out in the church nursery, she told her to go stand in the corner. I interceded and said NO that is considered child abuse and just talk to her and then redirect her somewhere else.
Thanks again,
Sherrell Widgeon