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My Birth
LIFE EVENT
This is when I first entered this world and my journey began! -
First Day of School (JK)
INSTITUTION; SOCIAL RULE/NORM; COHORT; TRANSITION
This was a period of transition for me as I entered into the school system at the age of 4. This is where my cohort of classmates and I began to learn how to act appropriately within social circles. -
Parents Separated
LIFE EVENT; TRANSITION; ROLE STRAIN/CONFLICT
Close to my 8th birthday, my mother and father split. This was a major change in my life and I had a difficult time adjusting. There was constant conflict as emotions flared between my parents, and I remember feeling confused about who I should be loyal to. This completely changed the dynamics of my family and created a lot of unrest within myself that I struggled with behaviorally. This was definitely a unhappy time for me. -
Grandmother McKinnon Died
LIFE EVENT; TRANSITION; SOCIAL NORM/RULE This was the first time I experienced death. I was so young and confused. It felt so surreal. I learned how society dealt with a death, and I was exposed for the first time to the expectations of others during loss. I felt deep sadness and grieved for my grandma. -
Entering High School
SOCIAL RULE/NORM; INSTITUTION; ROLE SET; ROLE STRAIN/CONFLICT; STATUS; COHORT
High school is hard! I learned what it meant to have a good social status. I didn't, as I was grouped as a loser. I was bullied which allowed me to learn some rules on how to treat others. I also juggled work and school, and split time between friends and boyfriend(s). Some relationships suffered due to bad management. -
Grandmother Legge Died
LIFE EVENT; TRANSITION; SOCIAL NORM/RULE
Unfortunately my other grandmother passed away from Alzheimer disease. I was 15 years old and in high school (grade 10). Her death revealed to me how to properly support family throughout loss and what was expected of others in society after a death. I had a close relationship with my grandmother throughout my life until the last few months before she was overcome by her illness and I struggled to adjust to her death. -
First Serious Boyfriend
SOCIAL NORM/RULE; ROLE STRAIN/CONFLICT; STATUS; COHORT
I had my first serious boyfriend! He was a popular guy at my school, so when he asked me out, my social status was upgraded. We had a rocky relationship; on again, off again. We developed friendships with the same people which caused issues in managing our friends and relationship! I ended up pregnant with his child when I was 19, after 4 years of being together. -
Motherhood
SOCIAL NORM/RULE; ROLE STRAIN/CONFLICT; STATUS; LIFE EVENT; TRANSITION
Addison entered my world. I was a young mother, and I struggled to juggle responsibilities of mom life. I became a single mother shortly after giving birth as the strain and conflict was too much or her father. I decided to go back to school when Addison was just a baby which was very difficult but I was successful! -
Dreamie Stevie
SOCIAL NORM/RULE; STATUS; COHORT; LIFE EVENT; TRANSITION I met Steve in the summer of 2009 and we began dating in the fall. It felt like love at first sight! He was so supportive of me being a mother and was patient in meeting my daughter. We established some rules and expectations in our relationship right form the start to protect Addison, however we fell hard for each other and I became pregnant just 8 months later! -
Motherhood x2
SOCIAL NORM/RULE; SOLE STRAIN/CONFLICT; STATUS; LIFE EVENT; TRANSITION Steve and I welcomed a baby girl named Miah! At this point I became very included in Steve's family affairs, and they lovingly threw me a baby shower even though this was my 2nd baby (but their 1st). As Steve family is Italian, there were many social rules I needed to learn in order to show respect. It was overwhelming, but they graciously guided me and helped me to transition! -
Becoming Mrs. Bozek
SOCIAL NORM/RULE; INSTITUTION; STATUS; LIFE EVENT
We got married! Planning a wedding was super stressful. There were many things that I had to include for others and our guests to follow social protocol and to remain respectful. I also got married in a Roman Catholic church to please my soon to be in-laws. Although I had to sacrifice a lot of things for others, I was still unbelievably happy to be marrying the man of my dreams! -
Sold!
INSTITUTION; STATUS; LIFE EVENT; TRANSITION
We bought our first house! We were so proud and ready to settle down as husband and wife with our children! It was stressful dealing with the financial side, however everybody celebrated with us when the sold sign went up! -
Baby #3
STATUS; LIFE EVENT; TRANSITION Now that my husband and I were home owners, we decided to add to our family. We found out that I was pregnant at the beginning of 2014! We were so excite, and we began the process of preparing for a new baby! -
Tragedy
SOCIAL NORM/RULE; INSTITUTION; ROLE STRAIN/CONFLICT; STATUS; LIFE EVENT; TRANSITION This day changed the course of my life forever. At 34 weeks pregnant, I was hit by a car with my other 2 daughters. My oldest daughter Addison passed away as well as my unborn child (who turned out to be a girl). Miah and I survived, but were both severely injured. Becoming a bereaved mother has been devastating to my life, and I struggle everyday to adjust. -
University
INSTITUTION; ROLE STRAIN/CONFLICT; COHORT; TRANSITION After the accident and my loss, I decided that life was too short to wait for your dreams so I went back to school in order to become a registered nurse. It was a challenge to get back involved in society, but I persevered and obtained the requirements to apply to university. I just found out that I have been accepted! Now I am in the process of readying myself for the next step of education!
