SoCS~ Remembering childhood phrases

This is a nice prompt and perfect for Mother’s Day weekend.

I remember in Puerto Rico my mother would have phrases that sometimes didn’t make any sense; however, they were powerful.  Funny thing at the I didn’t understand it until I started using it on my kids. My mother has to deal with six kids, she uses those phrases to keep us in shape. She would say “don’t make me get up”, that was the warning.

Also, my mother uses the famous chancla (flip flops). She would throw that chancla to us and never miss. She was an expert.  

-A few of her phrases I still remember:

-I’m telling you for your own good

-Put on some VapoRub

-When you have your own children, you will remember me.

-I don’t care about the rest; I care about you.

-My house is not a hotel or a restaurant

-While you live in this house…

-When I give you permission?

-This hurts me more than it hurts you

-And if your friend throws themselves out of the window so, would you?

-Because I said so!

 Funny phrases coming from this Puerto Rican family. I miss you, mami.

 Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers out there.  

SoCS is hosted by Linda G. Hill

 

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SoCS~ “Rope”

One of my favorite memories was playing jumping rope with my friends. Is one of my favorite games. I was great except when we had to jump faster. Every Saturday afternoon we would be outside playing until dinner time.  The memories of my childhood bring me joy.

These days are a little different. In my neighborhood, it’s rare to watch any kid playing outside. The children these days spend more time in their computer games or watching TV.

As soon our weather begins warming up, I’ll take my grandkids outside and play.  That will give them a break from the TV or computer games. I can’t jump rope anymore, however; the memories of all of us playing outside are precious.

SoCS is hosted by Linda G. Hill

SoCS- Tin

In 1968 when we moved to Puerto Rico, we have a tinsel 4ft. Christmas tree. The tip of the tree looks like small palms. My mother would decorate the tree the day after Thanksgiving. The ornaments were red, green, and gold balls. She loves icicles, garlands, and for the top of the tree a colorful star.

My parents would decorate the living room windows with large light bulbs. The skirt of the tree was white with glitter on it. The glitter would be all over our clothes for days and under the Christmas tree we have a small nativity scene. The tree was beautiful. As we grew older the tree went into a table. We love laying down on the floor to watch the lights on the tree.

We didn’t celebrated Santa Claus since in Puerto Rico in 1968 no one did. Santa Claus came after the 90’s. Christmas Eve is the event everyone celebrated. We began the day preparing the food for the feast we would have on that night. First, we would go to church and after church the party begins. The 25th was more to stay at home watching movies and playing games.

We received our Christmas gifts on Jan 6th with the arrived of the Three Kings. On January 5th, we would grab an empty shoe box and decorated. We would cut grass from our yard, tied it with a beautiful ribbon, and put it inside the box and water. Also, we would write letters to The Three Kings. The box goes under our beds and the next morning we would get our gifts. Every kid in our neighborhood would get a gift because I didn’t know this until I was older. In our neighborhood everyone, took care of everyone, so every child has a gift. I missed those days.

SoCs~ Tin hosted by Linda G. Hill.

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My favorite Christmas as a child

This is one of my first memories of Christmas as a child. I can’t remember exactly the year; however, it could be 1968 when we moved back to Puerto Rico. I was 8 and my siblings were 5, 2, and three months old.

My bedroom wasn’t the biggest of the house and I didn’t have to share my bedroom with my siblings. There was a baby crib in my room, except I didn’t saw any of my younger siblings sleeping in there. After Thanksgiving, my mother would begin decorating for Christmas. One day I came from school and I saw a large object cover with blankets in the baby crib. It was as big as the crib. I stood in front of it and I call my mother. I ask her if she knew what it was. She looks at me and didn’t know what I was talking about because she didn’t see nothing at all. My brother who was 5 also saw a large object cover with blankets. We didn’t understand what was going on.

This is the story told by my mother about why my brother and I can see something in the crib and not her. First of all, The Three Kings choose homes of children well behaved for this special job, they’re respectful to their parents, and they show kindness to others. The chosen children would let whatever was under those blankets doing their job. There were a few conditions we have to follow, it can’t get touched by anyone, no peeking, do not tell anyone, especially other children or it will disappear forever. She gave us a hug and since she was the parent, she can’t see it. At our age, we didn’t question anything she told us contrary we felt special. We made a promise to respect the conditions no matter, I was anxious to tell my friends. However, I did keep my promise of not telling, besides no one would believe us.

My brother and I would imagine all different kinds of things hiding under those blankets. My brother always saw movements under the covers. We wrote a letter to the Three Kings thanking them for choosing us and for whatever it was under the covers.

The large object in the baby crib stays in my bedroom for a week. One day, I came home from school and it was gone. Looking at the empty crib, we begin to cry thinking that one us broke the rules. My mother saw a letter in the crib and it was from The Three Kings. The letter was a thank you note for being good and for keeping the promise. They told us they sent one of their camels to check the children and they choose our home. The camel loves the crib and he didn’t want to leave. The Three Kings were grateful to us for letting the camel does his job and they promised they would be back on Jan 6th. And the following year they would choose another family. We were the happiest kids in the neighborhood and we kept the secret.

The Three Kings came as they promised. A few years passed and we never mentioned it again. Also, with time pass the memories began to fade. However, when I was a teenager the memory of that day came back. I ask my mother for the truth about what was under those blankets. She would tell me if I promise I will never tell my siblings unless they asked her. And Yes, I keep my promise.

Therefore, here is the real story. My parents went shopping and they bought our presents. One of them was a big toy tractor for one of my brothers. When they got home, I was coming from school. They didn’t have the chance to hide the presents. In a quick second they decide to put the presents it in the crib and covered with a bunch of blankets until my father made the space in their closet. I can’t believe for an entire week our presents were hiding in my bedroom.

After my mother finish, I began to remember my brother getting a toy tractor from The Three Kings. What can I say? something that simple. My mother story makes us feel the magic of Christmas. She had the talent to create amazing stories full of magic. And that’s the reason is one of my favorite memories.

100 Word Wednesday: Week 79

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I use to listen to my mom’s stories of when she was a little girl, with my grandmother, and my aunt they would walk long distances to sell their silk handkerchiefs. They would spend hours sewing and they would fix dresses, too. All of my mother’s siblings didn’t have the chance to go to school. They’ve to work at an early age to earn money. I always love the idea to learn how to make dresses for my daughter, however I’m not talented. My daughter is learning how to sew, she can make my dresses.

Image by Bikurgurl

#JusJoJan Daily Prompt January 11,2018~Humiliate

During the time I was. in second to sixth grade I was bullied. Almost every day I was humiliated. I didn’t want my mother to know what’s happening. She was sick most of the time.

One day, in the school bathroom a few girls put my head in the toilet. They would throw things at me, I was pushed, and they would eat my food. When my mother learned of the bullying she went to the principal. The difference wasn’t that much, however when I was in sixth grade I met someone who will make a difference in my life.

By the time I went to middle school, I was changing and taking over myself. I didn’t let anyone to embarrass and humiliate me. myself. I’ve to learn to defense myself and as a teenager the word “revenge” sounds sweet. I’ve to give a few punches and at the time it was the only way. My mother wasn’t to thrill and I spend most of the time in trouble.

Anyway, that’s another story for another time.

#JusJoJan Daily Prompt January 11, 2018

Disobey

I remember my mom telling me if I disobey her or my dad they would be consequences. Also, I do remember those consequences wasn’t too pleasant. Then I become a mother raising my children in the same way I was raised. How many times my children or my grandkids would break a few of those rules.

The other day my granddaughter who just turn 13 doesn’t want to follow a simple house rule. She’s at that stage of her life besides being moody where she feels our rules are silly. When she feels she wants to be heard then she disobeyed to make her point.

I will see it at work when a student to make a point they break one of the school rules. Also, we have the ones who doesn’t care no matter the consequences.

When my grandkids disobey it brings back a few memories of myself and my daughter at their age. That’s what I call Karma.

 

Daily Post: Disobey

The sound of music

Growing up in a Puerto Rican home doing our chores, especially on a Saturday was fun. Yes, I know I said fun. Of course, it depends if our friends were outside waiting for us. My mother would put the stereo on a high volume so we can sing during our chores. In our neighborhood, you can hear all different types of music.

We would wake up no later than 8am watch the morning cartoons and then my mother would turn on the stereo. It was cleaning time. Listening to the music would make the cleaning go faster and more enjoyable.

I raise my children in the same way and they didn’t complain at all. By the way they still do their cleaning with the sound of their favorite music. Maybe not as loud as mine. When I’m in my car as soon as I hear a favorite song, the volume goes up. I loved singing in my car and for that reason my grandkids love being with me. This morning I was cleaning my bathroom and my grandson says where was the music. I turn on my CD player and immediately he took the broom as a microphone. The girls follow him, too.

Enjoy your day at the sound of music!

 

Daily Post: Volume

Blur

I took an online class “Write your Life Story” and it shows you how to begin writing from the earliest memories of your life. When I begin to write from the 8-12 some of the memories became blurred. The loving and fun part, those are clear and sharp, however the one I called dark or nightmares those are blurred.  I want to remember so I can write and talk about it, but it looks I’ve been hiding them in the deepest of my soul. Do I want to dig those memories? I would say yes, so I can move on. If I kept them hidden they look, it never existed, however I know it’s there. Those memories have been hiding for so long, not even my parents know. That’s the reason I get depressed easily.

Blur

Ten

When I was ten years old it was the year 1970 and I was in 5^th grade.  I remember the bullying it’s start when I was in third grade. A neighbor kid who just moved next to us start to teach me how to defend myself from those girls. Also, I remember getting in trouble with my mother who wants me to ignore them just to keep the peace. She thought if I ignore them it would go away. Little she knew how bad those girls were treating me at school.  So, I did defend myself punching their faces. And yes, they did leave me alone.

At ten, I received my first communion and I participate in the church children’s choir. I was a Girl Scout, obtain a few batches, and a group name “The Future Homemakers” where they try to teach me how to cook and sew. In 1970 I went to visit my grandmother in New Jersey for two weeks a trip I would make every two years until 1978.

At ten, I’ve begun to love reading and write a few short stories.  Some of them were good and some not so good. I’ve kept my notebooks in a box and last summer, my granddaughter who is twelve found the notebooks and begin reading them. I still don’t get any feedback from her. Remembering when I was ten it brings the memories of how hard it was trying to fit in.

If I Google 1970 I’m sure I would find interesting events that happens in that year, however this time I’m writing about a few of my memories.

Well, I’m going back to bed been sick for the past two weeks it’s not fun. I already missed two days of work and I need my rest.

Daily Post: Ten