Exploration One

Sarah Watzke
ENGL 102.048
Melissa Keith
2/21/09
Exploration One
In my first two hours of observation, I went to an apartment to visit a single mother and her son in their home. I kind of found out how parents talk to their children, when it is only the two of them. When the mothers are the only ones raising them, I have seen that they really try to implant good manners, habits, and morals in their children.
The single mom that I was observing said sayings such as: “hush, we are talking,” “please don’t play with your food,” “please take three more bites,” “make sure you wash your hands,” “what do you say after you burp?,” and “I want everything pot away now.” I really got a sense of a single mom and her son in their normal environment a normal night just the two of them.
I noticed that the son and mom have a great relationship. He had an understanding that this is his mom and this is how things are, he never argued back. But they look like they have a lot of fun together. The mothers have to be very good at explaining, they don’t want their children have the wrong understanding of why things are the way they are.
I noticed a couple things around the two bedroom, one bathroom apartment. It was in a very nice neighborhood, very safe and pretty. Also, there were school books on the counter, a laptop on the couch, her son’s pictures and school work and art all over the apartment. It looked like before I got there she was working on her homework because the blackboard web page was on the screen. As I got there she was running around the kitchen making dinner. She made chicken, green beans, and mashed potatoes. It was really good, and not to hard, but nutritious. As the mother was making dinner, the son who was playing in the living room grabbed my attention. He wanted to show me all of these things he made. He had quite the imagination, using paper towel rolls, construction paper, cardboard boxes, tape, and other things. I think he plays by himself a lot being an only child, and I think that contributes to his creativeness. Also I know his mom has school work to do, but I know they have a lot of fun when the get the chance to play together.
She did mention something about her son having more chores then other kids, one because he is an only child, and two he doesn’t his parents are divorced, so the parents can’t tag team it. Him and his mom split the chores, and he folds his laundry when it is done in the dryer. They have to bargain a lot, but it works for them. I think that with single college mothers they have to find a system that works with them and their children. And it takes a lot of patience and understanding.