CNL-509 Topic 1 Exploring Your Culture

Directions: To get the most benefit, please complete both parts of this document after you have finished this week's required reading.

Part A: Exploration

1. Who took care of you when your mother or caregiver had to go out? At what age were you left alone? At what age were children in your family given responsibility to care for the other kids in the family? At what age were you allowed to baby-sit with younger siblings or other children?

My grandparents look after me when my parents were at work or ha plans for date night. I was so mature for my age that I must have been around 12 years old when I was given the keys to the house. Because my sister and I are 3 years apart in age, I was already a teenager when my parents asked me to keep an eye on her.

1. What form of discipline or punishment did your family use most often? Did this form of discipline affect how you felt about your parents? How so? What kinds of discipline or punishment would your parents not use because they felt it was harmful to you?

Having Christian parents and grandparents who raised me, my parents followed the biblical adage "spare the rod, spoil the child." Therefore, they coupled physical punishment with restrictions on privileges (watching television, playing outside, seeing friends, etc.). Although I disagree with my parents' parenting style, I hold nothing against them. I would discipline my children using a similar punishment.

1. How did your family have different expectations for different children in the family? Older (or younger) children? Boys and girls?

Because I was a little older than my sister, I was expected to pitch in wherever I could. That included finding childcare, packing my sister's lunch, and getting her on the bus to school.

1. Who made what kinds of decisions in your family? Which were made by your mother, your father, or other family members? How were joint decisions made? What influence was there from extended family, grandparents, or others living in the home? What decisions were children permitted to make for themselves?

The majority of decisions were made collaboratively by my parents. Outsiders were granted minimal authority. I had no say in significant family matters, and neither did my sister. When the subject of food was brought up, their opinions were noted.

1. Who did your family turn to for help and support in times of need or trouble? How did you help yourselves? How did you turn to immediate, close, or extended family and friends? What church groups or community resources gave help and support? How did you turn to "professional" helpers (the plumber, the electrician, a counselor, the bank)?

My father was a good carpenter who also knew plumbing and electricity, so if there was a physical problem with our house, he could either fix it himself or knew someone who could. When more issues arose, we turned to our family and religious leaders.

1. What were your family's values and beliefs about the following:
   • Respecting your elders
   • Sex and/or pregnancy outside of marriage
   • People who did not work regular jobs
   • Formal education
   • Talking to people outside the family about family matters
   • The major life goals your family had for you

My parents have always promoted Christian values such as respect towards authoritative figures and waiting till marriage. The topic of people with non-traditional jobs was never raised. Early on, I realized how important education was to my parents and how hard they fought to ensure that I felt the same way. I knew from a young age that I wanted to go to college.

1. Which of your family's values and patterns of behavior do you still adhere to and which have you changed?

I uphold the majority of the values my parents instilled in me. As an adult with my own opinions on politics, sex, religion, and your responsibilities as a Black American, I may disagree with them.

Part B: Reflection

After completing Part A, discusses in general what you learned about your own cultural development and the concept of culture.