A Personal Childhood Web

Personal Childhood Web

Yolonda 8 years old

 This  is the personal childhood web of Yolonda Steward Honore’. In this web, I will illustrate how some people have been very influential in my childhood development.  Grant it, please don’t be mistaken, many people have contributed to my development but for the sake of this class, I only named five people.  Enjoy!

Mama


Mama and I (5 years old)



 Mama was a great influence on my childhood. She was strong willed, confident and smart.  Mama taught me that only the strong survive and to NEVER give up. The only loser is the one who never tried.  My mama postponed college to raise us.  When my younger sibling was in the 9^th grade she decided to go back to school to obtain her degree.  She was on a roll; she finished an undergraduate degree and then went on to complete two Master’s degrees. I saw her perseverance and I was encouraged to get a Master’s degree at some point in my life, so here I am now working on a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education.  Mama instilled in me that education is the key to success.

Grandmother


Grandmother

 My grandmother is known to many because she often opened her home and belonging to everyone. I can remember grandmother inviting the insurance man in our home for lunch while he was collecting her monthly premium.  My grandmother was the most special person I know.  She was full of God’s love and believed his word with all of her being. She was so spiritual, she would pray for her cat, “Meme.” Yes, God did heal the cat! My grandmother taught me to tithe,  pray, forgive, love people, share, read God’s word and help those in need.  She exclaimed, “Just do it because it is right!” I was a child who worried often and was very fragile.  My feelings would get hurt quickly. My grandmother made me feel as though I was the only grandchild even though I was not. She just had a way of making everyone feel special by showing us love.  Grandmother invited everyone over for dinner after church on Sundays for a meal and fellowship.  What a great feeling to be in the presence of a saint on earth.  She lived by example; she would never gossip, condemn or hurt another human being.  I just think she loved the unlovely.  She instilled so many good wholesome values in me.  The lessons she taught me will never be lost.  I feel as though she was so vital in my childhood development. 

Daddy



Dadey



My daddy (Da-dey) was an intricate part of my childhood.  He was calm, a leader, easy going, helpful, athletic, and organized and a jokester. My Da-dey died when I was five years old. I can remember people always laughing around him. Sergeant 1^st Class Steward was an example of leadership in his community. Sometimes people still tell me how my dadey gave them valuable advice about a life’s decision.  My dadey was very helpful to family member and friends. He was raised by his great aunt and uncle who had no biological children. (He had an old person’s wisdom.) My dadey would take me to the country to visit his aunt and uncle when we visited Louisiana.  We would bring them to town to take them shopping for groceries and eat at Woolworth’s.  They enjoyed the ride and the company. He taught me to look out for elderly members of the community.  I still do that now. My current neighbors are elderly, I make sure that my boys bring them holiday meals and check on their cats.  My dadey would take me fishing and the fish wouldn’t bite.  He would calmly tell me to have patience it will get hungry sooner or later. He taught me life’s lesson in simple experiences. 

Cousin Gwendolyn

Cousin Gwen

Wow! Cousin Gwen was my babysitter and was she fun.  She loved to cook and socialize with friends and family.  She would show me how to prepare spicy Creole entrées and appetizers.  She did a great job teaching me.  My favorite pastime is cooking.  My favorite salad is …. Well it doesn’t have a name.  It is prepared with cucumbers, tomatoes, assorted bell peppers, onions and garlic. Yummy, it is so delicious; I often get requests to bring it to pot-lucks. Cousin Gwen was very patient and supportive of me.  She would say to me, “Do Bee, you can do ANYTHING you put your mind to.” She was my Sunday school teacher also. . Sister Gwen is what I called her at church.   She was my energetic and caring teacher because she made bible stories come alive.  She would tell the stories like she was there. She taught and lived basic bible principles and informed me that I could  do the same.

Mr. Reulet (sorry no photo available)

Mr. Reulet was a grade school teacher who challenged me to try new things.  He would often tell me, “I bet if you tried you’ll be real good at it.” I’d say to him what it if don’t get it right. He would tell me how that I need to put more effort in my work. I was fine just being a fun and loving kid with average grades.  One day he handed my test paper to me, my fingers were crossed, I scored a 67% “D.” I was so happy that I passed a test that I didn’t study for.  He was extremely infuriated with me, so I asked him what was wrong. He said “D is for Dummy!” My eyes welled up with tears as I  left the campus that day.  When I got home, I told my mama the story, she agreed that he was right. I cried even more.  From that day forth I applied myself  in all of my studies.  The next test in his class, I  earned an “100%-A.” I showed Mr. Reulet, he smirked and said I always knew you could do it.