Cultural Inventory

I was born April 28, 1984 in Hemet, California the eleventh child between my two parents, the fifth of my moms children and sixth of my dads and the last child they both had making me the baby on both sides of my parents group of children.  I do not share one full blood sibling relationship since there was a mix of yours and mine.  I do not know much about my parents really, however I do know my parents were not married when I was born and didn’t get married until about ten years after I was born.  I was born into a very toxic, stressful, dysfunctional environment.  Both my parents were drug addicts and placed their addictions above the needs of my sister who lived with me and myself.

 

Because my parents were addicts and irresponsible my other siblings lived with their moms or dads.  I had two sisters that lived with me until I was five years old and then my one sister was taken away to live with her dad leaving just my sister who was two years older then me together.  I do not know anything about the roles the sons of the family took since I did not grow up with them and have only recently met one.  The role that my sister that lived with me took was being my friend and caretaker for a good part of my elementary age.  At the age of eleven however, my father went to prison so my sister who is nineteen years older then me took the role of guardian of me and raised me until the age of eighteen.

My father and mother both dropped out of high school their sophomore year and eventually completed their GED certification.  I never learned anything about my grandparents on both sides other then they had passed away.  English is the spoken language on both sides for my parents and grandparents.  Being that my parents were extremely dysfunctional courtship and marriage were definitely not a thought.  I however value courtship and marriage and have been married for thirteen years to my husband who I met at the age of fourteen. 

I do not currently and have not had contact with my parents for many years so we really have no special occasions that we celebrate.  I also have no contact with the sister who raised me since that as well was a very toxic environment.  When I think back to the time I spent with them holidays were not celebrated because drug use was the priority and focus. 

Currently in my home and with my husband’s family we celebrate every holiday possible and host many events at our house.  My husband had a very large extended family so my boys have many cousins.  We love to have ham, turkey, stuffing, and desserts when we get together for the holidays and games are always included.

I do not know the birthplace for my father however, I do know he was one of eight children unfortunately all of his siblings were addicts as well.  My mother was born in Sacramento, California the only girl born with four brothers.  I am not sure of the birthplace for either set of my grandparents or the culture they belonged to.  My parents belonged to the drug culture.  My dad took up the habit of heroin at the age of fourteen and has continued to use and sell since then regardless of the times he has went to prison.  My mother is a meth addict and has let that pretty much destroy all her relationships and her life. 

Although this is my family, this does not define who I am or who I have become.  My life has absolutely no evidence of the culture I was brought up in.  That’s not to say I haven’t had to overcome obstacles and mentally talk myself through the bad choices my parents made.  I made a decision as a child to not follow the paths of my parents but to choose differently, to have more and to accomplish more, to be a generational breaker and start a new generation within my own family.  My family is not who I am or who I have to be.  I have used my childhood as a stepping-stone and reminder of what I don’t want.  I have created a stable culture environment for my family.  I am an involved parent, active member of my church community, a runner, and try to be the best wife I can be to my husband and show my two boys that hard work and commitment can take you beyond your circumstances.  Having a mindset and a value that you are worth and deserve more can be what fuels you to give your best and try your best.  I hope the obstacles I have faced an overcome can be used as strength to give my students my absolute best, but also to use my history to relate to those students who may be growing up in the exact same environment.