DUers, what did your dad do or say during your childhood that has influenced how you live

[dem in texas]

134. To be responsible for your family

My father left my mother with 6 young children from ages 9 to 3 months, just took off to Montana with another woman. My mother was lost and didn't know how she would get by. She was calling the orphanage to see if they could take some of us. But luckily, her two single brothers who just got out of the Army this was in 1947, came in and rescued us. One uncle bought a house for us and we all moved in together, two uncles, mother and us six kids. My mother baby sat, sewed for people, we kids did yard work, collected old papers to sell and anything else we could do. My uncles both contributed to our upkeep with a roof over our heads and food on the table. When all the kids were in school my mother took a job as a secretary at a hospital. I lied about my age and took my first real job when I was 14. It was a great learning lesson for us kids, we understood how hard it was to get by and that everyone had to pitch in and help. When I think of a father, I think of my two uncles Frank and Bob, they were truly saints. All six of kids went on to have successful lives. We had a good grounding and moral upbringing and on Father's Day, I always think about my uncles and I am so thankful for them and what they did for us.

My older brother and his wife have both passed away and they left behind an autistic son who is now in his early 50's. He is able to live alone although he is also a diabetic and has lost one leg. Me, my sisters and brother look after him, both financially and physically, I take him shopping every week, we take him to the doctor and out to lunch and we make sure he is included in family affairs. I feel like I am giving back for the care that shown to me when I was a kid by my two wonderful uncles.