Have You Told Your Children Your History?

feywon said:
It's possible one or both of them asked her to wait until they were both dead. Or she for some reason felt it was best. She might have had good intent. She may not. But wouldn't it make sense to ask her?
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Good point! I had not thought of that. Thank you
 

When my son was born I was determined that he know me. Aside from a couple of things I keep only to myself, he knows me, for better, for worse.

Hope this is relevant: when I was young I was friends with a couple who had a little girl. When dad wanted to smoke a joint, he got in his car and drove and smoked so his daughter wouldn't see. Something illegal (as it was in one's home in those days) and dangerous. Damn! I'm not leaving my home to be myself. I ran/hid from my parents, I ain't running/hiding from my kid. So, warts & all.
 
hollydolly said:
Sassy, my father was the 3rd eldest of 16 kids.. my mother the youngest girl of 9... I knew my uncles and aunts on my paternal side and we'd visit with them fairly regulalrly some more than others .. I met my mothers siblings once, and then the second time at her funeral.. when I was 18... I still know very little about any..of them..because they didn't make conversation about anything other than the shallowest of things.. so I have nothing to pass onto my daughter..
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My Mom had 5 brothers and 3 of them married twice. They were embarrassed to introduce us to their kids from their 2nd marriages. I finally got to meet them in later years and they are all very nice. On my dad's side of the family, we were outcasts, and only 2cousins out of 12 on that side of the family spoke to me and my sister.
 
Many years ago, long before the interweb, my cousin did a history of the Italian side of the family. Lots of letters, phone calls, contact with Ellis Island, and govt offices in Sicily. She got quite a lot of info for the time. We had a few priests, wise guys and just regular people. On a trip to Sicily a few years back, my brother found this graffiti, Yes, our last name

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Marie5656 said:
Many years ago, long before the interweb, my cousin did a history of the Italian side of the family. Lots of letters, phone calls, contact with Ellis Island, and govt offices in Sicily. She got quite a lot of info for the time. We had a few priests, wise guys and just regular people. On a trip to Sicily a few years back, my brother found this graffiti, Yes, our last name

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When I (obviously quickly) read the first couple of sentences of your post, instead of Ellis Island my brain furnished Rikers Island, home to NYC's infamous and enormous jail.

I continued with your post it seemed to add up. Sicily - home of the Mafia - check, Wise guys - check, Sicilian Graffiti - check. I was nevertheless mystified by why you would be talking about only the more ahem, colorful members of your family. It didn't square with the lovely Marie I've come to know on this forum.

Reread your post and had an Emily Latella moment. Thanks for the early morning giggle, even if it was unintended by you. Also the reminder to read more carefully, especially when still on that first cup of coffee!

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Every family has its secrets. Sometimes it's best to keep it that way. I found out a couple of nasty things but would never tell anyone. Why stir up the past knowing it would hurt someone.?
 
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