Running Head: TEENAGE CAREGIVER
Teenage Caregiver, The Beginnings of a Life in Care: Maria Cardinale’s Life Story
Interview
Ted Sheehan
EDU 6920: Education Research
September 27, 2010
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Abstract
The author uses McAdams’ (1993) Life Story Interview process to examine, report, analyze and discuss a Turning Point in Maria Cardinale’s life. The author will use analysis and reflection to connect the interview to the McAdams (1993) text as well as the author’s work as an educator.
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Introduction
In this paper, I will attempt to give an accurate accounting of the events identified by Maria Cardinale as a turning point in her adolescent life. I will use parts of McAdams’ (1993) life story interview process to help construct her story. The entire interview will not be conducted. I hope to draw parallels and similarities to characters in the McAdams’ (1993) text and Maria’s life.
Currently, Maria is a fulltime nursing student at Norwich University in Northfield , Vermont
Maria is both a friend and confidant. She currently resides in Montpelier , VT. Norwich University fulltime and volunteers her leisure time to the local EMT service located in the Mad River Valley
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Background
Maria Cardinale was born in Medford MA US
Maria remembers moving around the country with her father’s work as a child. She lived in Medford Montana , and ages nine through fifteen were spent in Alexandria , Virginia Medford
Maria remembers her childhood fondly. She had one younger sister and one younger brother on those trips across the country. She fondly remembers the trip across country in the family station wagon visiting places such as Yellowstone National Park , Mount Rushmore , the Badlands of South Dakota, and Amish Country. As a youngster, Maria found these trips exciting and adventurous. Maria speaks highly of her memories of Montana
beach and Washington DC
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childhood memories; however, extended family was not situated nearby in Virginia or Montana
It was during freshman year of high school in Virginia
This was the beginning of a change in Maria’s life that would span many years. As Angela went further into pregnancy, complications with her health developed regularly. Maria remembers her mother in bed, nibbling on saltines and drinking tea. When Angela conceived Maria’s younger brother Dan, Angela developed multiple sclerosis. Maria and her siblings were unaware of this development until Angela became pregnant with the twins. The knowledge of knowing your mother was pregnant as well as
sick was a big concern for Maria and her younger sister. David, Maria’s brother, was a bit too young to understand the circumstances Maria said.
At the time of Angela’s pregnancy, the Cardinale’s bought their first home, a three bedroom house that required a lot of work. Maria recounted details of her father’s efforts remodeling the house while maintaining a fulltime job with the government. Cosmo spent evenings and weekends stripping wallpaper, knocking down walls, and reconfiguring a house for a growing family. November was the birth month; there were lots to do before the twins’ arrival.
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It was that summer before the twin’s birth that Maria’s mother decided the family should move home to Medford MA
For Maria, news of moving back to Medford after seven years in Virginia Virginia Medford
The move back to Boston
a country girl. Simple tasks like going to the girl’s room at Medford High School
victims of abuse, both physical and emotional by the older students on a regular basis. Maria missed her old school and her friends.
At home, Maria’s life was very busy. As her mother’s pregnancy progressed, so did Angela’s needs for Maria’s help on a regular basis. Cosmo at the same time was looking for work. The move back North had cost him his job. Maria was beginning to spend inordinate amounts of time at home doing chores. At the same time, Maria would worry about her Mother’s health.
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In November, Angela would give birth to two healthy children, a boy and a girl. Her own health was not so lucky. Angela would not return home for a while. Her pregnancy had placed undue stress on her physical well being, and the multiple sclerosis appeared in the form of paralysis. The labor had brought out countless symptoms of her mother’s multiple sclerosis. Maria’s role in the family changed considerably with two infants at home and mother in the hospital.
Maria remembers the hours necessary to feed the twins. David was a fussy eater, Natalie was not. Maria noted it took between two and three hours to get the babies fed at a sitting. The infants sleep patterns were different as well. Maria was responsible for picking up the slack in the household while Angela recovered in the hospital. I asked Maria if she missed any time at school during this period. Her reply was this, “my parents would never let us miss school, we had moved to Medford
Eventually Angela would return home, but things would never be the same for Maria. School in Medford was ok, but a possible return to Virginia
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and more involved with their development. Maria fondly remembers packing them up in the car and taking them to the store with her to do errands. She had become a second mother to her youngest siblings.
Maria was never far away from the twins for the next fourteen years of her life. She would maintain a residence in that house looking after her mother and siblings well into her twenties. What could have been, what would have been, are all parts of the past now.
Analysis
McAdams’ (1993) life story interview is an interesting in depth process. Initially, I tried to conduct the entire interview with Maria. After getting halfway through the interview, it was decided it was in Maria’s best interest if I just focused on a couple of points she was interested in discussing with me.
From a McAdams (1993) standpoint, I think Maria’s story took on an optimistic tone. There were moments of despair and longing in Maria’s life, but love and commitment kept the whole family together. McAdams (1993) stated “an optimistic story can be optimistic because good things happen, or because, even though bad things happen, the person remains hopeful things will improve” (p. 48). Maria underwent tremendous changes in her school life, her social life and her home life. What was considered a routine day at age fourteen was no longer a routine day at age sixteen. Faced with a growing family, a physical move, and the ailing health of her mother, Maria assumed responsibilities of an adult. There were moments in our discussion where I sensed unease and unhappiness, but I also know the bonds with her family are very
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strong. Life proposes many difficult challenges; Maria rose to her challenge, and successfully handled them, possibly at the costs of her own immediate plans of the future.
McAdams (1993) mentions four myth forms, comedy, romance, tragedy and irony. I think Maria’s tale best conforms to the ironic myth. “An ironic myth attempts to sort out shifting ambiguities in human existence” (McAdams, 1993, p.52). High School is a time of ambiguity for most students. To be confronted with birth, the health of your mother, a new school, your own personal identity changes as well as a new home is quite unnerving for most adults, much less a fifteen year old. McAdams (1993) mentioned that ironic myths typically have a pessimistic tone, but I did not hear that in Maria’s voice. I heard some hints of resignation, but I did not hear pessimistic attributes. To navigate waters of uncertainty with such dignity, love and devotion is inspiring. Maria had to grow up very fast when most students are worried about getting their driving license.
McAdams (1993) says, “An individual can be some important things for some important people, at a particular time and in particular places. Furthermore, he or she can be these things in a way that is unique, self consistent, coherent, meaningful, purposeful and gratifying” (p.122). Maria had to be quite a few things for a lot of people at a very delicate time of their lives. I would say according to McAdams (1993) this was a communal period in Maria’s life. “Some imago types are highly powerful, suggesting personified idealizations of the self as an assertive, dominant, and individuated agent. Others are highly loving, personified idealizations of the self as a provider of care, compassion, and friendship within a community of other selves (McAdams, 1993,
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p.123).” Sometimes, it is easy to think we all would do what is asked of us at particular times of trouble or need. In actuality, many run from these moral obligations, much less
family obligations. Maria handled family matters and needs before her own personal needs and desires. That is what makes Maria myth so inspiring.
Maria’s personality and life story reflect a few of McAdams (1993) Imagoes. First and foremost she reflects the image of the Caregiver (McAdams, 1993). Her current life reflects many similar aspects of her teenage life. She is devoted to those in need, as well as those who at a time needed help. Her imagoes are positive (McAdams, 1993). There were many opportunities for Maria to say I wish I had done this, or why didn't I do that. Maria never uttered anything remotely close. Her characters take on a Communal form, but that is not to say that Agentic forms are not present as well (McAdams, 1993). McAdams (1993) discusses Demeter, a mother goddess. Many of Demeter’s qualities, Maria possess instinctually. It could be said that Maria’s care giving to her siblings and family deprived her of her own aspirations and needs. But caregivers are givers first, takers last. Maria’s devotion to her family had her living at home well into her twenties. It wasn’t until the twins became teenagers that she moved on in her life. She returns frequently however to tend to her mother’s ongoing welfare.
Maria exhibits characteristics of the Friend as well (McAdams, 1993). She is a person many people divulge concerns and secrets to. She is loyal. The Ritualist Terri discussed by McAdams (1993) is similar to Maria in some ways. Maria’s return to school to become the professional caregiver she wants to be is reminiscent of Terri’s desire to
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return to school. By getting a degree and working at a hospital, Maria will take on much more responsibility, similar to Terri’s desires (McAdams, 1993).
In McAdams (1993), a character named Curt is discussed as a Maker. Some characteristics of Curt’s character are evident in some of Maria’s makeup. McAdams (1993) details Curt’s makeup which is one of distance even to his closer friends. Maria exhibits some of these same characteristics as well. She is highly likeable, attractive, funny and witty, but there is a barrier that exists and acts as a buffer. Few people are fortunate to get past that barrier. So in retrospect, although I would say Maria is a Communal figure, I would also say she posses’ traits and characteristics commonly associated with Agentic Characters as well (McAdams, 1993).
Discussion
The McAdams (1993) Life Story Interview is an interesting well thought out roadmap for inquiry into a person’s life. Imagoes, Agentic characters and myths are not terms I often associate or discuss with friends or family (McAdams, 1993). From this point forward, I will think a bit differently as I listen to the chapters and stories of the lives of my friends.
It was an honor to learn more about my friend Maria Cardinale. McAdams (1993) Life Story Interview is a practical noninvasive tool that allows people to talk and express themselves in a very casual manner.
When I reflect on my own life, and the path’s I’ve chosen, I can see a lot of McAdams (1993) characters present in my past. This exercise or assignment wasn’t about
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me, but now that I’ve read the text and completed most of the interview, my perspective on my own life and its progression and developments has become a bit clearer. My own
myth and story has changed many times, what was once important in some cases, no longer registers as important now. It’s funny, as time passes, the individual stages or chapters of our lives grow or diminish in importance and detail (McAdams, 1993).
From an Education standpoint, I see the relevance and importance in allowing students the opportunity to grow, develop and live their own personal imagoes and myths (McAdams, 1993). We must stand firm in nurturing and aiding our students’ needs.
At the Middle School I teach at, we recently had the seventh graders write an “I AM” poem. The process took a few days, and there were two main parts to the exercise. The first part of the exercise was to write and detail their concerns about coming to a new school. The second part was to discuss and describe who they are, and who they want to be. They were to use “I Am” through five sections of their poem. It was interesting to see how the students viewed themselves. It was also interesting to hear their voices and concerns about attending a new school, in a new town, with lots of students. In the “I Am” poem, I saw lots of Imagoes, I read lots of positive tones, and I saw lots of dreams (McAdams, 1993). If we could capture and hold onto the spirit and resolve so many of these youngsters exhibit at this grade level we could do wonders. I wonder how many “I AM” poems have been read at the conclusion of high school. That would be an eye opening experience for both students and teachers.
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As I become a teacher, it is important that I let these dreams and aspirations play out for themselves. It is not for me to say what is possible or impossible, and it is not for me to judge who is right and who is wrong. These children have already established some
personal myths and it my responsibility to open the door for more myths and imagoes. Sometimes in this world we are quick to judge. It is easy to say “no chance” it is not so
easy to say nothing. A wise person once said “if you can’t say something positive, don’t say anything at all”. That statement resonates with me on a daily basis in the classroom.
By better understanding my own myth’s and others’ personal myths, I hope to be more effective in the classroom and the world.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I found the McAdams Life Story Interview (1993) a valuable tool to use when listening to individuals recount their life stories and myths. The interview itself progresses in an orderly fashion (McAdams, 1993). The questions McAdams (1993) poses allow the subject to answer at varying levels of emotional depth. Both the McAdams (1993) text and the interview contained in Chapter 10 are useful tools in deciphering personal myths.
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References
McAdams, D. (1993). The stories we live by. New York and London : Guilford
