Being raised in a rapidly changing, cross-generational family as a child did not resemble the nuclear model that I had witnessed through media presentations. Maria, my grandmother, was the head of our family; she was a sage and maternal matriarch whose love accompanied us in many aspects of life. My grandma assumed the role of primary caregiver when I was a baby because my parents were busy all day long to meet their basic needs. She not only gave emotional support, but she also gave valuable life lessons based on her experiences.
Our suburban neighborhood was a network of webs and shared experiences, rather than just the subdivision consisting of homes. Every morning, the sound of friendly expressions and the reassuring bustle of everyday life accompanied me as I went out onto our quiet street. Our neighborhood felt tangible – from an elderly couple next door who, as it was, were always ready to listen to any issues with understanding and provided a fresh cake good down the street young family whose children played in front of their house. In this closely-knit community, our huge single-family home was a sign of hospitality (Mroz et al., 2023). Surrounded by a beautiful garden with colorful flowers and exotic spices, it was a bliss where cheerfulness could be found everywhere.
A house was the center of the party in our neighborhood where friends and relatives from far distances, as well as strangers, came to visit. Our lives were simple and contented, making every day a realm of thankfulness. We appreciated the affection and fellowship all around us as well as our little piece of earth. Our community had a close sense of identity and shared with home as we were not just neighbors but siblings.
All aspects of family life were affected by nature and to a considerable extent because we had Latin American heritage. Our home was full of traditions for a long: tasty aromas from homemade traditional noises in kitchens to celebratory music over any happy event. We were equally anchored in our Catholic life, which contributed substantially to the spiritual dimension of ours. We observed religious days and went to church regularly. Our family standards were based on a combination of love and discipline as well as opposing all authority. In addition to a fair hand whenever needed, my grandma promoted wholesome communication and interactions among family members (KARIMJONOVA GULSHANOY SHERALI QIZI, 2023). Thus, we knew that there were well-defined boundaries to which every teenager had the opportunity to discover their inner self.
My upbringing was structured to support the operations of the farm, help in clearing gardens, and prepare food, which implies that it involved teamwork work. My grandmother highlighted in what way education can contribute to success. Nochebuena, the annual Christmas Eve schedule, brings with it an institution that was loved by all for ethnic feasts, but this storytelling, dancing, and gift-giving create memories (Charsley & Wray, 2023).
In all, my upbringing in a family setting, which had various generations, formed the natural source of peace and happiness in life that shaped me as a contemporary adult person. My personal and emotional development was also furthered by the love, support, and cultural differences that we had in our family life. As with other values, these are ancient; they go back to my childhood when I still did not know the meaning of it all.
Reference
Charsley, K., & Wray, H. (2023). Kept apart: Routine family separation in the UK family immigration system in times of crises. Migration Studies. https://doi.org/10.1093/migration/mnad008
KARIMJONOVA GULSHANOY SHERALI QIZI. (2023). Tasks of Family Sociology and Its Role in the Development of Society. Novateur Publications, 3, 1–91. https://novateurpublication.org/index.php/np/article/view/35
Mroz, E., Monin, J. K., Gaugler, J. E., Matta-Singh, T. D., & Fried, T. R. (2023). Rewriting the Story of Mid- and Late-Life Family Caregiving: Applying a Narrative Identity Framework. Gerontologist. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnad040
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