My Mom

This is a photo of our family when I was about four years old--or thereabouts...?  Wanted to post this pic in honour of my mother who passed away recently.  She had contributed some comments, suggestions, and opinions to my business that I've been working on....  Rest in peace, Mom!


Note added on February 11, 2020:  I think I was actually three years old in this photo?

Another Childhood Photo

This photo shows both of my sisters and me. *******************************************************************************************

Added on July 18:
My parents never wanted to have a television in our home when us kids were growing up. At our first house, above, we had a 10-volume set of Bible story books with lots of colour pictures for children. Our parents told us the stories and they were interesting. We also had a set of Christian bedtime story books, which were modern stories about real life; and they were also interesting. Our dad also played the piano and our mom sang us Christian children's songs with finger actions. Some songs were adapted from English to our parents' language and we enjoyed them.

From the above stories and music, I believed in God--that He existed--and that it was worthwhile to follow Him. Our parents also took our family to church every week; and I learned about the "Judgment Day"--and heaven and hell. I didn't always understand or get the right answers about how things were supposed to work but I took the matter seriously! [Later in my life, I got better answers.]

One of the neighbour families had a little girl my age. She became my best friend, at the time, and she went to a Catholic school. We had lots of fun and we played with other children in the neighbourhood also.

My family wasn't perfect and both of our parents were usually working. My mother went to school first; and then she had various jobs over time. She used to spend time with me sometimes, and my dad also. [This was during the day, I mean.]

The way that I was born and raised during my early childhood was from a religious Christian view. I didn't know anything else. For Kindergarten and the first grade, I attended public school. It seemed to be a good school and there were no problems to speak of, that I recall.

[At home, some "sibling rivalry" began after I attended school. My next sister told me later that she missed me when I was away from home--I wasn't able to play with her as much. Have read that the way siblings get along is an indication of how well the parents get along with each other; and divorce usually sneaks up over a number of years--marriages break down gradually. I believe communication was a problem in our home.--My parents didn't communicate well enough with each other or with the children. There was also an age difference, where my mom was a little older than my dad. My parents did the best they knew how, as people do. And it's fine to be religious but daily life can sometimes be more complicated! (It's not that I mean to knock religion.)]

Childhood Photos--5

My parents didn't want to have a TV in our home when the kids were young; but my dad wanted me to take piano lessons! I enjoyed playing some children's songs.

Childhood Photos--4

This is my other sister and me. [It was taken while my parents were still in the process of renovating our house.]

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Added on July 18:
My mother told me we were moving to a different area so I could attend the church school there [it was run by our own church]. It seemed important to me, at the time! But as "Dr. Phil" says, if I may quote him, "People often do things for other reasons than what's apparent!" And my mom had other reasons for moving! But she did want me to attend a Christian school.

My parents did a lot to help me prepare to attend a new school.--They bought me a two-wheel bicycle and taught me to ride it.--The school was further from our home than the public school had been. And they bought me some children's picture books, as a gift. Plus, they had to pay extra for the school--it wasn't free. [And they had moved.] And then, within the first few days of school in the second grade, I had a bad experience with my teacher! The teacher may or may not have understood--maybe it wasn't intentional, on her part!? And I blamed myself--I thought it was my fault and that the teacher was blaming me. [As I said, she may or may not have intended to blame me for anything!?] Since I believed I was supposed to attend a Christian school and learn more about God, etc., it didn't occur to me that the school or teacher may have been at fault! My parents tried to help but they weren't able to solve the real problems. [I knew they tried.] And unfortunately, I had some bad feelings--mostly of self-blame--all through the rest of elementary school. But these kinds of things happen in life!

For a few years, I hardly tried to make any friends at the church school. I had been friendly at first; but after the negative experience, I gave up trying. And I had friends in my new neighbourhood.--I played with them.

In the fifth grade, a teacher helped me to adjust better and I became happier at school. [Have explained a lot more in the first blog and won't try to repeat it all here. Will write more in this second blog as I have time.]

Childhood Photos--3

My sister and I were about a year older in this photo.

Childhood Photos--2

My sister and me sitting at our dad's piano. [I'm the older one.]

Childhood Photos--I

In this photo, I was nearly 2 years old.