Childhood Web

I have a huge Italian family. We love to eat, laugh, and we are extremely loud. I would say my family is pretty close, we love and support each other. My childhood web is made up of a lot of people who have had powerful influences in my life, and are the reason why I went to college and now graduate school.

Mother- My Mom was a very influential person in my life. She is a very strong person who has been through a lot. She is someone I always looked up to.  My Mother has influenced me because she has always pushed me to do better, and encourage me in everything that I have done. She is also very supportive and proud, which makes me happy to know that I have someone cheering me on.

Gram-  My Grandmother is one of my best Friends. She is an amazing women. I look up to my Grandmother because she has had so many hardships to over come but she is still happy, and loves life. My Gram is someone who always made me feel special, we have a great relationship, we like to joke around and laugh. I always make her laugh, and she does the same to me, which makes me feel special. We have a bond like no other. She is there for me no matter what. If I need something she will help me out.  She impacts my life still because she is 80years old and still supports me, enjoys life, and is still at 80 there for me when I need her! I love my Gram.

Father- My Dad.  I was always a daddy's girl. As a kid I looked up to him, everything he did was amazing. He was a chef, so I would love to go to his restaurant and watch him cook, and also eat. I would try anything, and my father loved the fact that we had that in common. He has always been supportive and proud of me in everything I do.  I am the first one in my family to go to college and get a degree and he is very proud of that. I am not a kid anymore and me and my Father have grown apart a little, but one thing that has always brought us together even now, is good food, cooking and wine.

Sara- Sara is my sister-in-law, she has been with my brother since I was 10. I never had a sister, and she has been one to me since the start of their relationship. I look up to her and if it wasn't for her I probably would not have gone to college or landed a job at a daycare. She is also one of my best friends. I talk to her about everything, and she helps me through any  hardship I might have to face. She makes me feel special because she cares and she is there to talk to whenever I need her.

Pop- My Grandfather was a very influential person in my childhood. He was kind of a cold man, he was angry a lot, that was just his personality. But I always had a way with him to make him smile. I love my Grandfather and wish he was still around to see my accomplishments. He was an powerful figure in my life because he was proud of me, he loved the fact that at 15 I had a job, and was independent. He wanted me to be successful and I think he would be very proud if he knew that I was going to school for my masters. He still has an impact on my life because I constantly think about him and strive to do better because I know he would be proud.

My Friend D

I know we are not suppose to have favorites but...sometimes you do. D starting in my classroom about a year ago, he was cute, spunky, and had a head full of bright orange hair. He was a firecracker, quick with the comebacks and he could always make me smile, even on those very hard days. Unfortunately you could not understand a thing he said, he had a speech delay, he could comprehend everything that you said to him, but he could not respond. This was very frustrating for him, and his peers because they could not understand him. I made a point to talk to him at breakfast every morning for a good while and try my best to make out what he was saying to me. He was in my classroom for almost a year, and everyday D learned something new, his speech became a little clearer and I could understand him more.  He was making so much progress and everyone noticed, I was so proud of him. The end of summer was approaching and he did not come to school for a week, I thought maybe he was on vacation. The week turned into months and D never came back. I was so upset.  I still think about him everyday, and hope that he is still making progress.

The Color of Us

This is a new favorite of mine. The Color of Us by Karen Katz is a great book that I just fell in love with after reading it. Karen Katz puts a cute spin on race and ethnicity. I love the fact that my three year olds can understand this story.

Current Photo

<--- This is the most recent photo I have. It was taken a few weeks ago at my house.

20 Years ago

<---- This is a picture of me at age 3. I believe it was Easter :)