Tarra Quisenberry My Life

Pivotal moments or things that shaped me My Family’s core values Friends who’s influence effected me Marriage and an early age Memories of time spent at the sitters Being a Mom Family Circumstances

My Family’s Core Values My family instilled a sense of independence and belief in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. However there wasn’t much in the way of rules and discipline in the household. Like most people do when there is no consequence for bad behavior… I ran wild

Friends who’s influence effected me Like most people, my life has had a lot of people in it. A lot of them I’ve looked up to and their problems have intertwined with mine. The impact of the people I’ve known has been for both good and bad. The friends who’ve had the most impact Amy Tiana Megan

Amy She had a huge impact on my teenage years. She was a couple years older than me and I idolized her. However our friendship was a lot shorter than anyone would have wanted. Thanksgiving morning 1998 she committed suicide. Saying goodbye to Amy was hard, and I tried to be just like her after she died.

Tiana Lived next to me since I was 7, and was my best friend until after High School. She was always a good secret keeper and helped me through my good and bad decisions. Tiana was the most loyal friend you could ask for, she taught me what loyalty meant.

Megan Megan and I have known each other since we were 3. This friendship means more now than it did while we were growing up. We have children the same age and we often have play-dates and sometimes we even get leave the children at home for girl’s night. Megan is a great mom and I admire the patients she has with her children and how tidy she keeps the house. I strive to be a better mom and housekeeper because of her.

Marriage at an early age I got married to my husband at the age of 17. He was in the Navy and we moved from Utah to San Diego, CA After his first 6 month deployment we found out our family would be growing, I was a new mom at the age of 20.

Being A Mom When I found out I was going to be a mom I started to contemplate my current behaviors and how they would effect my child. I stopped drinking, I took out my piercings, and I rekindled my relationship and belief in God. I had found a reason to take care of myself, mentally, physically, and spiritually. Holding my child in my arms for the first time was the most incredible thing I have ever accomplished.

Memories of time spent away at the sitters. Both my mother and father had to work a full time job to support our family. They had to leave their children in the care of other people, I remember hating the lady who watched me. She would make me and the other children she watched stay in the basement and watch TV all day. We would have to knock and ask to go to the bathroom, and she even told us no occasionally. Because of my memories of the babysitter I decided that I would never put my children in any kind of daycare.

Family Circumstances In 2008 my mother was diagnosed with ALS, or more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Shortly after we were expecting our second child we found ourselves in a financial bind having private insurance with a high deductible and a very troubling pregnancy. Deciding to finish our college education, we moved in with my mom to help with her care.

Where I Am Now I am a stay at home mother and caregiver to my mother, and a part time college student. I stay active in going to church and attending my Tae Kwon Do classes.

Impacts on society Family core values, played and continues to play an important role in my life. Because my parents were so slack with my discipline I'm a big fan of rules and structure as in my husband. My family also goes to church because my Mother and Father helped to foster that belief in me at a very young age. My husband and I both want our children to be active in church activities. My mother was a frugal spender and seeing her practice that as I grew up has led me to coupon shop much like my mother.

Memories of time spent at sitters and the feelings I have when I think of being trapped in a stinky basement being bored out of my mind played a huge role in the way I look for child services. I also am a stay at home mom and take my daughter to Bravo! which is a very good pre- school. My standards for child care and my choice to stay at home were both impacted by this memory.

Friends who influence effected me; seeing my childhood friends grow to adulthood and the problems that arose in their lives and how they dealt with them helped me to deal with my own problems as they cropped up. A good friend of mine who I’ve known since childhood also effects my life because I look up to her as a mother; the way she handles herself makes me want to be a better person.

The biggest pivot point in my life would have to be the creation of my own family unit. I married very young around and have been married for 7 years. My husband and I have overcome a lot in our short time together. Because we got married so young I tend to not judge people who say their in love when they seem to young to know what love is.