Friendly Discussion

I went into the office to study for a while to get away from the kids and so K could use the computer for things she needed to do. I wasnt really able to focus on studying and ran into a neighbor and had a great discussion with her. I wanted to share a few things from our discussion.

Her parents were Apache Indians and came here to live in Stockton. She was raised to not hate others, but understand that there is fear. She said that her mother would tell her that she had personal problems with white people because of her own fear not because she hated them and she didnt want that for her daughter. She taught her to confront and face fear. Gain a different perspective rather than turn fear into hate.

She was taught words from her mother. Her mother who didnt speak very much english would always tear out the word power from the readers digest and put it into a binder. She said to her read the word, learn to say it right and learn the definition. So she did, and now she has a great career in Early Childhood Education! She has a wealth of advice on this issue as well.

Another thing I learned from her was that she grew up with some traditions from the Apache. In that culture she learned that a decision wasnt a complete one without the imput of the mother and father in the family, if both were present anyway. Good way to live in a marriage. Though I myself can always improve on this it is good advice.

One last thing I learned was something she said she learned the hard way. She had a difficult marriage she said. It ended badly, but she gained experience from that. She said she wanted to teach her children to value themselves. To her girls she said dont look to a man to find your value. Look at yourself in the mirror and find your own value and find a man that will match or help increase it. Wise words for all of us. We all need to find our own value in ourselves. Some days are better than others for me even, but how true it is.

I love talking with people and learning new things, maybe you all learned something new or re-enforced something you already learned!