Let's Meet Our Characters
All over the world, in all sorts of different situations, people are raising children. We have created a variety of imaginary families to help us on our way as we learn the Ready-Set-Go Gently technique!
Our characters live in an imaginary town called Sandy Bluff.
April and Benji Nelson are a young married couple. They were high school sweethearts. April went one year to the community college, and Benji went two years to the state university. College was fun, but sex was more fun. When April became pregnant during Benji's sophomore year of college, April was delighted to plan a wedding, and Benji was not sorry to come home from college and join the workforce. Their first child was a boy, Devin, who is now 5. The second baby was an angelic looking little girl, named Kyleigh, who is now 2, and not always angelic. Benji manages the local auto parts store, “Between the Bluff’s Bumpers.” April is considering starting a part-time job as a receptionist at a doctor's office.
Esther Martin is a stately and competent mother and grandmother. Her husband, Alford, is retired military and presently an officer in the National Guard. Esther is a manager for a medical insurance company. Esther and Alford Martin have 5 children, four of whom (Cassandra, Deidra, Isaiah, and Geneiva) are grown with careers of their own. The adult children, and several grandchildren, visit frequently. Their youngest son, John, is in the high school band, and Esther and Alford are still “band parents.” Just about everyone in our town knows and likes Esther!
John Martin is a good student and a talented tuba player. John is also a father. He and his girlfriend, Chantelle Taylor, became the parents of a beautiful baby, Zylvia Johnette Taylor (“Zylvie”), during John's junior year and Chantelle's sophomore year.
Chantelle and Zylvie live with Chantelle’s mother, Aleicea Taylor. Aleicea works as a Certified Nurse Assistant and often works double shifts at Sandy Bluff Community Hospital. Aleicea insists that Chantelle take most of the responsibility for the baby. Chantelle is a bright, attractive, and capable girl. She was head majorette in the Marching SeaDragons Band, and she wants to become a Registered Nurse. Chantelle has a lot going on in her life at age sixteen. She would never admit to anyone that adding the care of a baby is difficult. But it is.
Fortunately, John Martin is a responsible young man. He is doing his best to help both financially and with the hands-on baby duties. John has nieces and nephews, so he has some experience with small children. But John will soon be leaving for college.
Manuel and Rosalia Ramirez are in their late 30s. Manuel and his brother, Jorge, own a restaurant. Jorge, Manuel, Rosalia, and numerous other family members work long hours. They are very proud of their 3 boys and one daughter: Manny, Jr., Alejandro, Rafael, and Maria Rosita. They have high expectations for the children! The children need to keep their grades high, earn college scholarships, and help at the restaurant. Manny is exemplary in all regards, but Alejandro (Alex) would rather play sports than study or work, and Rafael states that American children do not help their parents work in restaurants, and he is an American. Maria Rosita loves to eat at the restaurant, but she seems to be getting overweight. Her teacher called to inform Rosa that Maria is not progressing well with her learning.
Nicole Collins owns and runs the local day care center, Sandy Bluff Super Stars. She and her ex-husband, Marvin, have been divorced for about 3 years. Their children, Christopher and Meghynn, attend the middle school. The children are supposed to visit Marvin every other weekend; but lately, this hasn’t been happening. Christopher seems to spend all his time playing video games, and his grades have dropped. Nicole is exhausted. Some days she feels like she does nothing but deal with other people's problem children, and her own children are turning into problems themselves! If the kids would help some, she could fix nutritious meals and they could eat dinner together. But it is so much trouble to even try to drag them out of their rooms. It is easier to pick up fast food on the way home and eat it in front of the TV! Nicole wonders when and how did life become such a struggle?
Kristen and Derek Gordon have moved to Sandy Bluff to work for a nearby auto manufacturing company. Derek is an engineer, and Kristen is a computer programmer. They have two very bright children named Matthew and Makayla. Kristen and Derek consider themselves progressive parents. They have both spent several months as the "stay at home" parent. They try to divide all family responsibilities equally, and they believe in letting Matthew and Makayla (ages six and four) make all their own decisions. At present, however, Kristen and Derek are both working, and some of the children's decisions have been problematic. Matthew recently decided that he wanted a pet gerbil. The gerbil was duly obtained, and things went well for about three days, until Makayla decided that she would bring paint home from school and paint the gerbil purple. Matthew then decided that the gerbil should not have to live in a cage, and since then, the gerbil has been heard (frequently) but not seen. Makayla has decided she does not wish to sleep in her own bed since a purple rodent might join her, so she is sleeping in bed with Kristen and Derek. Well, not exactly sleeping, because very little sleep is being obtained at the Gordon house now!
Your family may be like one of these, or it may be completely different. You may or may not be a “biological parent,” but if you are someone raising a child, you are the most important person in that child’s life! For simplicity, the term “parent” rather than “parent and/or caregiver” will be used. Also, “he” or “she” will be used alternately rather than constantly using “he/she.”
You will notice that our families are diverse. This is one of our strengths in America. As you picture the characters in your mind, try not to imagine all of them the same ethnicity as yourself. This book is intended for all Americans! We all share similar struggles and similar hopes as we raise our children.