Two years later, in October of 1970, Paul became a brother to Jeffrey. I wanted another son and boy oh boy I got myself a big baby,Jeff weighed in at a whopping 9lbs. & 7oz. Lucky me, two beautiful boys and they were so different; Paul with dark brown hair and Jeff with his light blonde hair. I won't even get into personalities, so different in that respect too. AT the age of 5, Paul was diagnosed with diabetes.There were many anxious times with Paul,he was in and out of the emergency room with insulin reactions and other related problems with his diabetes.There were doctor visits for care and control of his diabetes. I had to make sure he got his insulin shots and followed his diet. Paul handled it so well and never complained. The worry was always there for me, along with the usual scrapes and stitches for both of them.Going through adolescence and their teens wasn't easy, they weren't always so perfect, they were typical boys.You know they really should have had classes on parenting then, especially for a single mom. But I got through it all, so did they. My poor kids, I grew up along with them!!
When I was in my teens I used to do a lot of babysitting and I enjoyed it. A couple neighbors said that I would be a wonderful mother. I didn't take much stock in what they said, but later my sister Rose told me that when Paul was born, you would have thought I was the only woman in the world that had given birth to a baby. I don't know how true that was, but in September of 1968 my life changed, Paul was born. He was beautiful, perfect, and I fell in love immediately.
I was born and raised in Chicago. Oh yes, that's me on the right standing behind my mother. My parents were both deaf, but I have forgotten how to use sign language, I only know a few words now. I have one sibling, a sister. My mom died when I was 19 years old, my dad, when I was 25. It was then when I first learned the real pain of losing a loved one. I met my ex-husband soon after my mom died. Deep inside I knew it was a mistake but I got married anyway, that was in 1967. Paul, my first child was born in 1968 and Jeff in 1970. In the same year my dad died, 1972, my marriage failed, and the divorce was final not long after. The boys were just 2 and 4 years old. I didn't realize the responsibility I took on being a single parent, but as I look back, I wouldn't have changed it. With just a just a high school diploma I set out to work and provide for my children and raise them the best I could. BTW, after being divorced for two years my ex, his new family, and the child support disappeared.
They are on the right along with my mom's best friend & her son.
Catherine & Leonard James