Personal Narrative: Growing Up In A Home

Shouts and laughter echo throughout the kitchen as my grandparents recount stories of growing up in Mexico as young adults. Everyone’s eyes light up with animation as family members contribute to the conversation while eating homemade tamales and menudo. At each of my family holiday gatherings, the dinner goes beyond the consumption of a home cooked meal. These family gatherings are very important to me and have contributed to who I am today.
My grandparents masterfully orchestrate the discussions at the dinner table at each family gathering. When they are present, there is always a deep conversation, whether it is about the political environment in Mexico or family members who have long passed away. Ever since I was young, I have watched my family engage in conversations as I enviously dreamed about being old enough to partake in the discussions as well. As time passed, my cousins grew out of their position at the kid’s table and began engaging in the conversations at the adult’s table. During the gatherings, they now could sit down at the real dinner table and chat with the adults. From my seat at the small plastic play table, I watched jealously and glanced pitifully at the table where I was relegated to sit.
My family and I were gathered
together for a Christmas dinner, when my father served me a plate at the kid’s table. I was always seated at that table, but that day in an effort to assert my age, I asked to be moved to the adults’ dinner table. My family, laughing in disbelief, moved my plate to the adult’s table and added a booster seat to account for my size, or lack thereof. I quickly claimed my seat at the table. I made sure my entire family was aware of my presence by immediately contributing to the conversation. I loved the new privilege I acquired as an attendee of the adult table. I could participate in conversations about politics, family, or gossip during holidays and gawk at the truths that were revealed. I felt like an adult in my family; my opinions could be heard, my actions could be trusted, and my independence began to expand. Without a spoken word, my cousins allowed me to understand the true reason for my new independence; I was actually becoming a young adult.
My cousins did not forge ahead to the adult dinner table at an early age, yet they still earned the same increments of freedom, as they grew older. My position at the dinner table had nothing to do with it. I realized my position at the table was defined by my actions and natural maturation. Additionally, these family dinners have taught me to speak up and express an opinion without hesitation, regardless of the setting. They also provide me with the knowledge necessary to effectively share my ideas and keep my mind open to the new thoughts and opinions that are constantly being
shared.