My Childhood Web
The five people that nurtured me during childhood were:
Helen Johnson -Mom – My mom was a single mom and very strong. She laid a foundation for me of an intense love for people. She taught me how to love unconditionally and to support others. She built my self-esteem by always telling me I was pretty and smart. She would dress me up and take me downtown to do special things every weekend. My mom and I visited many restaurants and she would teach me etiquette. She always introduced me to something new when we went out. She also taught me how to think critically. A memory that I have of my mom was her buying her first home when I was 13 years old. I finally got a room to myself. We had lived with different relatives all of my life up until then, so this was a big milestone for my mom. She furnished my room with two twin beds and she said, “now you can have company spend the night”.
My mom and I at her 80th birthday party!!!
Valerie Patton - Sister – My sister is twelve years older than me. She was my second caregiver and I was her shadow. I went everywhere with my sister. My mom was always tired from working. My sister was in charge during the week because my mom would come home from work and go straight to bed. My sister bought me a lot of things I needed, yes I was spoiled by her as well. I loved my sister, but as I got older I grew to resent her authority, because I just wanted to spend more time with my mom. I did not understand why my mom was so tired all the time. My mom worked in a factory all her life and she worked hard. It broke my heart to learn of the working conditions she endured just to put her children through catholic school; to have us live in a nice residential area and never the projects. I remember my sister as being very wise, with all the answers and someone I could never beat. Yes, I use to start fights with her and she use to end up putting me in a head lock. My sister is a gem.
Jefferey Johnson – Brother – My brother is nine years older than me. He was my protector. He spoiled me rotten and got me anything I wanted, mainly clothes. I remember being scared of him and never starting fights with him. I had a lot of guy friends, ten to be exact, because I didn’t get along with girls that well. I remember when he first met them, he thought they liked me. He grilled them one by one and told them that they could never date his sister!!! When he realized that we were all just really friends he apologized. However, my brother didn’t play about boys coming to the house to see his little sister. They always had to have a conversation with him first. My brother is invaluable.
Rose Lee Malcoln – Grandmother (Annie) – My Annie was sweet as sugar. She was gentle and soft spoken. She was a stay at home mom. I remember her fried chicken and chocolate cakes. Nobody could cook better than her!!! She would cook my grandfather buffalo fish every Friday. I remember a plate full of bones when he finished eating. My Annie always tried to get me to drink coffee, but I couldn’t stand the taste of it, however I love it now. I remember her telling me how she prays for me daily. I thank God that I had someone praying for me. My destiny was locked up in those prayers and they came to full fruition. I am the woman of God today because of my Annie.
Minnie Turner (Auntie) –My Aunt baby sat me daily when I was a baby, until I was about ten years old. She spoiled me and got me anything that I asked her for. I remember brushing her hair at night. She taught me the importance of taking care of my hair. She also taught me how to fight “dirty”. She would tell me. “If you can’t beat them, then pick up something and knock the hell out of them”. I don’t think that was the smartest thing to tell a child because of course I took it literally. I was a fighter, so every time I felt like I was losing a fight I would pick up a bottle or brick and hit them with it. This was not good to say the least, but this is what I remember about my Aunt Minnie.
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