My Family Culture: The Beginnings

This week I am starting a new class for my Master's program in Early Childhood Studies.  This class is about studying diversity.  To begin, the first two weeks we have taken a look at our social identities and our family cultures.  Family culture is something that I personally hold dear to my heart because it has made me the successful and caring person I am today.

   This blog post is about if some catastrophic event happened and we could only bring 3 items with us that represent our family culture.  To begin...my three items would be:

1. My grandmothers, my father's mother, ring that I inherited upon her death.  This item is important to me because it is one of the only things I have that connects me to my now deceased grandmother besides my wonderful memories.  The ring is beautiful and vintage.  There is an Opal in the center that reflects light beautifully and every time I wear it I remember all of the memories growing up of the love she showed my siblings and I, the wonderful meals we cooked, picking apples, veggies, and flowers from her garden, and many many more enjoyable memories!

2. The picture of my entire family in front of the house my mother grew up in Cabin Creek, WV. This is important to me because it reflects a large part of why I am the way I am today.  My grandfather ran a coal mine when my mother and her siblings were growing up.  We recently went as a family (all 27 of my cousins, aunts and uncles, brothers and sister, and grandparents) and saw the house.  We took a picture in front and I hold it so very dear to me because it represents the foundation of family that has been instilled in me since I was a child.  My grandparents have always made sure we stay connected and build relationships that last a lifetime.

3. A dish (that I fill with trinkets and such) that I found in my mom's mother's house.  This is special to me because I was perusing my grandmothers house one day for no particular reason and came upon this lovely little dish.  I went and asked her if it was significant to her and she said she would love for me to have it.  It is a reminder of her simple, sweet heart and how much love she has given to my family.  She gives her time and commitment to those less fortunate and is always thinking of others and having just one thing that she cherished means so much to me.

   If I was told upon arrival to this foreign place that I could keep only one item I would be sad, however I realize that the memories and the person I am are the most important part of family culture. Material possessions are nice reminders and signify a lot, but it is what we hold in our hearts that is the most important.

   One insight I gained was how much I appreciate my family and how much I wish and hope for every child to have at least one person in their lives who mean as much to me as the HUGE family that I have.  I realize that this is why I enjoy early childhood studies and education and reminds me that I am in the right profession and doing the right thing for me and my life.