Erin has a 14 year old.
Erin lived with her mother until she was seven years old and then moved in
with her aunt. Erin’s mother had a Master’s in Science and her aunt
is a teacher with a Bachelor of Education. Erin’s aunt expected her to
get a university degree. Erin thinks “had I grown up with my mom, I would
have done more, gone further with my education. My aunt kind of gave up.”
Erin recalled her mother modeled writing letters to family “all the
time.”
Erin’s mother “made me memorize the times table by
age seven and she expected me to write letters.”
Erin’s aunt modeled
writing as well. Erin recalled, “She was always writing and preparing
for class or scoring and marking papers. She kept a journal but I was not allowed
to see her write in it.”
Erin’s aunt also wrote essays for a course
she was taking. Erin recalled seeing her mother model reading “but not
a lot. I can’t really remember what. Recipe books, text books; she was
taking school.”
Erin’s aunt read “all the time.”
She
read the newspaper every day as well as books, Reader’s Digest and magazines.
Erin’s mother sang “every now and then”
but her aunt did not.
Erin did not remember her mother watching television although her aunt would
watch every night (mostly the news and Ed Sullivan).
Erin’s aunt helped her with homework “but not that much. I didn’t
like to ask for help because she was a teacher and would mark up my work.”
Her aunt read Anne of Green Gables to her every night. Erin did not remember
going on cultural outings with her. She had a library card but did not go frequently.