I Have A Say Thanks to My Mom and Dad!!!

Being the oldest of 11, I am so thankful, especially now, for my Mom and Dad saying "yes" to life! Growing up, we never had a ton of money. My Dad was a high school chemistry teacher and my parents decided from the beginning that they wanted to have one of them home with us. My mom gave up her teaching career, and raised me, followed by 10 others! My Mom also taught all 11 of us at home for part of our childhood before we would head off to Nativity Catholic Grade School. My Dad worked long hours, eventually earning other degrees so that he could first become dean, then principal, and finally, when I was a sophomore, he was named Roncalli High School's first president. My Dad and Mom both sacrificed SO MUCH for us.

I remember, even as a young person, getting stared at by people, and I remember the comments they would make. I can still hear a dental receptionist asking my Mom "Are these all yours? You know how children are made right?" followed by a real insidious but ditzy chuckle, followed by a secretarial gum crackle. My Mom and Dad were always tight budget wise, and I'm sure at times ached with a desire to not have to take bags of clothes from other families so that we could have clothes. I'm sure my Mom and Dad had desires to simply go to Nordstrom and buy us and give us all our own new clothes and Gameboys and Reebok Pumps etc. I'm sure they at times really wished they could just get a new car and not have to drive a fifteen passenger van around. I'm sure at times they wanted really badly to just go to a restaurant and sit back and enjoy a big expensive meal instead of having to cut coupons and craft together economic meals on the stove.

But they chose life for us, and they chose sacrifice for themselves.

I often think about that ditzy secretary now when our family gets together almost every weekend for dinner to laugh and hang out. Some of the siblings might be out of town or busy with other obligations, but inevitably, all weekend long, every weekend, our family gets together. Sometimes, when we're out at a restaraunt, I see the couples who are alone with each other. They hardly talk to each other and the loneliness is palpable. A part of me feels bad that we're having so much fun with our 8 tables shoved together, telling stories, laughing good hearty and healthy laughs. Sometimes I wonder if one of the couples sitting in the restaurant quietly and solemnly is that dental secretary - who now has piles of money and can eat wherever she wants, but doesn't have hardly anyone to share it with. My heart breaks for the people who are alone, especially the ones who are alone because, when they could have been having children, they instead bought into the contraception lie and lived for themselves only.

I have a say today, and so do my ten younger brothers and sisters, because my parents chose life. Mom and Dad - thanks a million!!!

Monday, February 27, 2012

Tad Starsiak, CRHS Senior

Tad has titled his essay "Rough Beginning...but Working on a Great Ending!"

My name is Thadeus David Starsiak. I'm 18 years of age, and I attend Cardinal Ritter high school. I will graduate this year, when five years ago I didn't think I would stand here today or be alive. My life certainly hasn't been the hardest, but at the age of 12 my mom passed away. Depression hit me harder than anything ever had or has so far in my life. I was extremely depressed. I would inflict harm upon myself and beat myself up emotionally...There were times when I was on the brink of death, because life didn't seem worth living.
    What I'm getting at is this, though my life to me seemed uncontrollably miserable and there was no way out, I found a way. I realized that I HAVE A SAY in my life. That I have the say whether to be happy or to be absolutely miserable and near suicidal. There is no question in my mind that everything that happens in my life that I have a say in it. Nothing can make me upset, happy, emotional, or anything unless I give it say to do so. That was such a radical idea for me. From there, my life has continued to get better.I am so happy with my life, when five years ago I was thinking of ending it... It scares me that I use to be in that place, but now. Now, I know the worth my life has and I love sharing with everyone who cares to hear that their life is worth something spectacular, because they were made in God's image. Right now, my thoughts are absorbed by the idea that I wouldn't be writing this if my mother and father hadn't said yes to my life...If not for my mother and father. its a very true statement when someone says you don't know what you have till its gone, and that was what occurred with my mom. My father though... I don't know where I would be without him. I can never thank him enough for giving me the life that I have. For giving me so much love and time to make me into a great person, and doing his best to make my life a happy one. He is three quarters of my heart, and I would do anything for him. there isn't a night where I can go to bed without letting him know that I love him. I'm not sure if people ever think about it, but I have thought about this, after I move out of my house for college I will obviously no longer be living with my father.. my father is 63 so he has the possibility of another forty years hopefully!! but out of those forty years, how often will I see him? the time spent with him will probably add up to less than a year in time.. That is a scary thought to me.
    Basically, i thank my father and mother so much for giving me my life. The love they shared let me HAVE A SAY in the world, and now i do my best to share it. To stand up for my Catholic beliefs, and say no to pro abortion agendas, and say no to Obamacare. and once again why can i do this (and any other person Earth)? Because my parents gave me a say in the world....and now ill use it for God.
    Thank you so much Mom and Dad for giving me a say. For giving me a life that has had its ups and downs, but has lead me down a road of happiness. A road where God walks beside me, and guides me. A life that I can use for great purposes and do great things. Thank you so much. I love you two so deeply!
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1 comment:

  1. JoatisMarch 25, 2019 at 5:24 PM

    11 that is a lot of kids and care. enjoy your independence

    ReplyDelete

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