Childhood Web

My Mom – My mom was involved with EVERY SINGLE THING my sisters and I ever wanted to do. She’d drive us all over creation, come to every soccer game, be at my every dance and baton performance, and always, always, always made me feel loved and important. At school I remember my friends would be jealous because she would use a cookie cutter to cut out sandwiches for me and leave special notes in my lunchbox. She also was considered the “cool mom” by literally EVERYONE in our small elementary school because she was a room mom, my Brownie troop leader, part of the PTA, soccer mom, ect. Everything we were involved in, she was there. And every night she would make time to read a bedtime story to my sisters first, then one to me. This was my favorite time because it was my “me” time where I didn’t have to share her. Not with my sisters, or my friends. We’d read together and just snuggle under the covers. My mom still is one of my biggest supporters even today. We talk on the phone constantly, she asks how I’m doing and she is the first person I always go to for advice.

My Dad– Since my older sisters were also very involved in sports and activities, my parents often had to split their time between us to make sure that they both got to see our events or take us to practices. One of the things that I was most involved in was baton twirling, for over 10 years. Tuesdays nights were my Thunderbolt practices (year round) and there was a period when my dad took over taking me down to Reading, PA for practices. It became our thing to listen to KatCountry’s 96‘s “Kat-fight” (where they put two new artists and songs against each other and then people called in to determine which would be better) on our way to practice. Then, for an hour and half while I practiced, he waiting with the other parents (mostly moms) and cheer me on as I practiced routines and caught new tricks I had been working on.  He showed that he cared for me by taking an interest in this “girly” activity of mine and never once said anything to show his dislike for doing it. He knew it was important for me (it was the one thing I did “different” and special from my sisters) and therefore, showed it was important to him. He also taught my sisters and I the importance of work ethic and making sure that we always did our best in whatever we were doing.

My sisters – While both of my sisters are obviously different entities, growing up they were kind of one. Becky and Jen are only 18 months apart so they were only a school year apart, but often had the same friends, participated in the same sports (field hockey, indoor guard) and had the same interests. Most kids with older siblings just saw themselves as a tag-a-long annoying little sister, and really, if I’m being honest, I probably was most of the time. But one thing I do remember growing up with my sisters is that we didn’t really ever fight. And if we did, it was nothing long-term. Usually we’d get upset, go to our rooms (they shared one) and 5 minutes later we’d meet back up and be like, “soooo… wanna watch a movie?” We lived in the country and most of our friends lived in town 15 minutes away so often times the three of us had to come up with our own fun and living in the country DEFINELTY allowed us to do that. We were down in our creek, up in our woods, hiding out or playing mad scientists in one of our old farm barns. The point that I’m making is that I remember my mom telling the three of us early on that having a sister is having a built in best friend, and that we should always count on each other. Even when I was just the “little sister”, Beck and Jen always made the time and looked out for me. We truly are all best friends even now and I can’t imagine not having them in my life. We were shaped by what we were taught, and both of our parents were fully involved in all of our lives.

Aunt Dani– As I mentioned earlier, both sides of my family are very close. Most of my dad’s side of the family actually live on our family property, my Aunt Dani was always the closest to a mom to me. She never was able to have children herself, and even though she loved all of us, I bonded with her the most. Her and my Uncle Andy treated me as a daughter, and often took me to special places; my favorite being the Philadelphia Zoo to see the White Siberian Tiger. People often mistook her as my mom when we were out, as we did indeed look alike, and we never corrected them if they did. She always was there for my games or performances as well and loved hearing my stories from school. We are still close today and she enjoys seeing my pictures about school and asks questions about my class. I love having a close relationship with her and a “surrogate’ mother. She and my Uncle Andy still affectionately call me their kid and still like hanging out with me.