Dear Diary: A Socioautobiography
Dear Diary,
It has been awhile since I last sat down and contemplated about my life by writing in here. I haven’t had the opportunity for quite some time since 2018 has begun, and I feel like a need some alone time to reflect for a little bit. You may be curious as to why I cannot spare the littlest of the time for self-reflection and rumination. It is then that I realized that I rarely have the time for myself since I have to juggle several hats, which if I would admit, gets a little bit tiring if not altogether challenging.
Not that I am complaining, but I am sincerely happy to be taking on my master status as a mother, a wife, a full-time employee, and even a student (TCO2). This is a daunting, yet rewarding status that a woman can choose for her life. I strongly believe that despite the traditional gender roles reinforced by the society to women such as being a mother or having a child, every woman has a choice (TCO5). It’s just that it is my choice to take on all of these roles. Nevertheless, these all seem to pile up and the conflicts among my roles sometimes hinder me in keeping up with my responsibilities (TCO2). There were times that my responsibilities as a mother get in the way of my full-time job, and there were times that my load in school becomes too much because it takes the time that I have for my children. Even my family and friends are wondering how am I able to manage all of these roles at the same time.
Looking back, I consider my family as my primary group that is my main driving force in being able to accomplish all the responsibilities that I have in each of my roles (TCO2). My husband and my two wonderful children are my most significant treasures in my life. I wanted to make sure that I am able to do a good job in fulfilling my responsibilities to them. I find what I feel to be contrary to this notion that living in the United States entails living and thriving in an individualistic culture wherein individuals should be ambitious self-sufficient enough to do things that would benefit themselves (TCO2). I have always remembered that I have been this very independent girl all my life in order to reach my dreams – most especially the American dream. I see this dream coming to reality when I know that my family is happy, loving, healthy, free, and content. I am happy to be on track with my dream – I even got married at a young age (TCO1)! Many people may have doubted us and our intentions because of certain societal norms that one should marry when he or she is already older (TCO2). I love my husband so much, and I am happy that he is my partner in this lifetime! And you know what? It warms my heart to know that I have been together with my husband for about 15 years already! Can you imagine that? J
My husband and I are both doing what we can for our two little boys. We want to expose them to as much as what the world has to offer, so I am highly motivated to work hard in my full-time job so we can afford to go on vacations and spend quality time together. We also know that we should first start exposing our sons to values that are important to us too (TCO2). I know that socialization happens in the family first, so we know that our behaviours, attitudes, and values are something that our children would be exposed to (TCO2). I have been raised by my parents as a strong and independent but respectful woman who values a good relationship with my family above all. This is something that I want my sons to hopefully learn by heart. I owe this to my parents and the culture that they raised me in. I was born in Nicaragua before our family moved to America when I was three years old. I have been raised in Miami, Florida all my life wherein the culture here is not that different because of the large population of Latin Americans who live in Miami. I am fortunate to have been espoused by these values, and was even more fortunate to have the opportunity to hopefully share the same values to my sons as well.
As a mother too, one of the values that I want to share with my sons is placing a high importance on education (TCO2). I wish I did back then so I can show my sons that education can bring you to farther in life. This is one reason why I went back to college to get my bachelor’s degree. Whenever I ask myself why I was not able to finish my degree, I remind myself to be kind and perhaps at that moment, I was caught by my own circumstances. Maybe it was my peers during that time that have influenced me to become more carefree, or perhaps it was the idealism that I found in young love (TCO2). Nevertheless, it is never too late to study again because I know that despite the challenges of juggling all of my roles, I am here. I am courageous, and having this courage to face the consequences of my actions is something that I want to show to my sons too. I do not regret my actions, but I celebrate them because I know studying opens new doors for me that will eventually help me reach the American dream for me and my family.
Until next time!
Work Cited
Kanagy, C. L., & Kraybill, D. B., (1999). The Riddles of Human Society. Thousand Oaks, CA: Pine Forge Press. (pp.287–289).
2018/5302
