Pre-Write/Post-Write Essay- The House That Built Me
Haley Lewis
English 101
Pre-Writing Essay
August 26, 2016
The House that Built Me
The house was a faded blue color. The faded blue house had a tree in the front yard that was perfect for climbing, and a basketball goal in the driveway. There were bushes that lined the front of the house. Behind the house, there was a raised deck overlooking a tree with a tire swing attached to it. This house was all the way across town from my old house. When I moved into this house, it was the summer before third grade. I learned valuable lessons while living in this house, including: change can be good, family is about love, and children are fun.
The first time I saw this house I was only eight years old. In the summer of 2007, after watching “Ice Age” at the movie theater with my mom, my sister, and my brother, my mom told us the news. My parents were getting a divorce. Of course I was only eight years old; therefore, I did not fully understand what was happening at first. I was just excited about getting double the presents at Christmas. Soon after I found out about the divorce, my mom, my siblings, and I moved into this house. We moved into this house with my mom’s new boyfriend, and soon to be my new stepdad, Ashton. All of this change was sudden, but it was for the best. I began to notice that as time passed, my mom was smiling and laughing more than she had in the past. Seeing how happy my mom had become made me realize that maybe this change was not bad after all. Although the change was easy for my mom, the change was challenging to my siblings and I.
Getting used to living at two houses was a challenge. The environment at my mom’s house was different than the environment at my dad’s house. My mom’s house was more relaxing, it felt more like a home. Ashton and my mom always asked how school went or how my day was. At my dad’s house the environment was more stressful. He did not have as much interest in my siblings and I. He was more interested in what he was going through. At my dad’s house, we would typically just watch whatever my dad was watching on TV, then we would eat dinner and go to bed. The different environments made me realize that family is not just about sharing DNA. Family is more about the love and care shown for one another. Ashton showed more interest in my life than my own dad was at the time. This taught me to be smarter in my decisions of who to allow in my life.
Fast forward to the year of 2009. My mom had better news for me this time. I was going to be a big sister for the first time. I was almost 11 years old and I had been the “baby” of the family. I could not wait to have a little brother, but this meant we had to get this house ready for a baby. My little brother, Braden, was born December 16, 2009. A few years later in 2011, I was told that I was going to get another little brother. My other little brother, Bentley, was born February 2, 2012. I helped take care of both of my brothers when they were babies. I thought that it was fun to babysit them. Babysitting them is why I signed up for the Child Care program at the Grand River Technical School. Babysitting them is also the reason that after high school I plan to become an Elementary Teacher and work with children. My little brothers sparked my interest in working with children and they helped me realize I should become a teacher.
This house will always hold the best memories, but last summer we moved to a new house outside of town. I will always be grateful for memories I made when I lived in that faded blue house. I am grateful whether the memories were good or bad because all of these moments helped make me. That faded blue house will always be more than just a house to me because I learned: change can be good, family is not about being related by blood, and I love working with children.
English 101
Pre-Writing Essay
August 26, 2016
The House that Built Me
The house was a faded blue color. The faded blue house had a tree in the front yard that was perfect for climbing, and a basketball goal in the driveway. There were bushes that lined the front of the house. Behind the house, there was a raised deck overlooking a tree with a tire swing attached to it. This house was all the way across town from my old house. When I moved into this house, it was the summer before third grade. I learned valuable lessons while living in this house, including: change can be good, family is about love, and children are fun.
The first time I saw this house I was only eight years old. In the summer of 2007, after watching “Ice Age” at the movie theater with my mom, my sister, and my brother, my mom told us the news. My parents were getting a divorce. Of course I was only eight years old; therefore, I did not fully understand what was happening at first. I was just excited about getting double the presents at Christmas. Soon after I found out about the divorce, my mom, my siblings, and I moved into this house. We moved into this house with my mom’s new boyfriend, and soon to be my new stepdad, Ashton. All of this change was sudden, but it was for the best. I began to notice that as time passed, my mom was smiling and laughing more than she had in the past. Seeing how happy my mom had become made me realize that maybe this change was not bad after all. Although the change was easy for my mom, the change was challenging to my siblings and I.
Getting used to living at two houses was a challenge. The environment at my mom’s house was different than the environment at my dad’s house. My mom’s house was more relaxing, it felt more like a home. Ashton and my mom always asked how school went or how my day was. At my dad’s house the environment was more stressful. He did not have as much interest in my siblings and I. He was more interested in what he was going through. At my dad’s house, we would typically just watch whatever my dad was watching on TV, then we would eat dinner and go to bed. The different environments made me realize that family is not just about sharing DNA. Family is more about the love and care shown for one another. Ashton showed more interest in my life than my own dad was at the time. This taught me to be smarter in my decisions of who to allow in my life.
Fast forward to the year of 2009. My mom had better news for me this time. I was going to be a big sister for the first time. I was almost 11 years old and I had been the “baby” of the family. I could not wait to have a little brother, but this meant we had to get this house ready for a baby. My little brother, Braden, was born December 16, 2009. A few years later in 2011, I was told that I was going to get another little brother. My other little brother, Bentley, was born February 2, 2012. I helped take care of both of my brothers when they were babies. I thought that it was fun to babysit them. Babysitting them is why I signed up for the Child Care program at the Grand River Technical School. Babysitting them is also the reason that after high school I plan to become an Elementary Teacher and work with children. My little brothers sparked my interest in working with children and they helped me realize I should become a teacher.
This house will always hold the best memories, but last summer we moved to a new house outside of town. I will always be grateful for memories I made when I lived in that faded blue house. I am grateful whether the memories were good or bad because all of these moments helped make me. That faded blue house will always be more than just a house to me because I learned: change can be good, family is not about being related by blood, and I love working with children.