The object I chose is my diamond stud earrings, because it reminds me of my father when he wore diamond stud earrings. I remember asking my mother to get my second ear piercing for my birthday at bay plaza mall because I wanted something to remind me of him (my father). 

My story connects to my childhood and my father because my father was barely in my childhood and when he was there he wasn’t really great, he was aggressive, wasn’t kind, he was narcissistic, he was verbally abusive but he was also given life lessons and taught me what not to say and do. He taught me not to say anything, especially when it was disrespectful, he taught me not to do bad things like harming others and things kids my age shouldn’t do. The things that me and my father have done together, we have gone to Ohio, we have had daddy daughter days where it was just me and him, we went to get icecream, we went to parties together, things fathers and daughters should do together.  I miss when he was around and when he acted like a dad should. I wear these earring to remind me of him and to have a part of him with me everyday, I wish he was still in my life if I have to be honest but at the same time I’m glad he’s not, just because we have build up good memories together doesn’t mean we had a good relationship. Our relationship was not good but it wasn’t bad either. I love when he would just be a dad, to this day i’ll forever feel the love he had for me even if it wasn’t real. 

– JM

Relationship:  Child of im/migrant Child of im/migrant