My Family Story
My Story
Family, learning, motherhood, and the moments that shaped my life.
About Me
I was born in Casper, Wyoming, and lived the first 9 years of my life in a small oil community called the Gas Plant near Midwest, Wyoming. I have a younger brother and two younger sisters. After I turned nine, we moved to the town of Meeteetse, Wyoming, where I lived until I graduated from high school in 1971. Then I went to college at Casper College, where I was finally on my own.
I am working on getting family pictures scanned and organized into scrapbooks to share with my children for their children to enjoy. I am also interested in genealogy. I love children and have all sorts of learning adventures for them.
My Swedish Family Story
My grandparents traveled to the United States and Canada from Sweden to start a new life. Thus, I proudly fly the Swedish Flag. They first settled in Casper, Wyoming. When they found out that Canada had land to homestead, they picked up their belongings, drove their Model T to Canwood, Saskatchewan, and settled there. That is where my mom was born.
Motherhood and Learning
I believe in diversity and interracial marriages. I was married for 21 years to the father of my 5 children, who was a black man. My children are beautiful young adults. I am very proud of each one of them. I had 3 of my children at home with a midwife attending the birth.
I am a Certified Teacher in the State of Wyoming. However, I do not teach in public schools. I home-schooled my children for 3 years before allowing them to attend Public Schools, which I regret to this day. I allowed them to go to school while I finished my schooling. I went 20 years with only 6 credits needed to attain an Associate Degree in Science. I wanted to have a Teaching Degree so I could help other mothers who wanted to homeschool.
As a Teenager, I Remember
As a teenager, I remember babysitting and imagining I was the mother of the children I cared for. My first clients were my siblings when I was just 9 years old. My brother was 6, one of my sisters was 5, and my other sister was less than 1. I also watched my uncle, who was 6. Then, at 12, I began watching children in the community and continued caring for kids throughout high school, college, and even long after my own children were grown.
I thought my experience with family adventures during those years prepared me for motherhood. What a surprise I had coming; I was not ready for it. All the children I cared for were lively and very active, ranging from 3 months to 10 years old. I never thought about SIDS; I didn't even know what it was.
Unfortunately, my firstborn son died when he was only 2 weeks and 2 days old. I learned what sudden infant death syndrome meant firsthand. He was so perfect and healthy, and I never imagined I would be mourning his death so soon. Fortunately, my second son was born just 11 months later, and he healed the wounds so much.
Reflections of Motherhood
Knowing that we are not promised tomorrow, I wanted to make every day a today with my child, embracing the joys of motherhood and considering home schooling as a way to nurture our bond.
VTS 02 1
VTS 02 1 is a production that my ex-husband, our four children, and I made for a class at Laramie County Community College in Cheyenne, Wyoming. We liked making videos together and did them for class credit while I was enrolled in the Elementary Education classes and my ex-husband Lewes was taking videography.