Home Is Where I Feel Most
Sonia Mazariego
When I Win the Lotto
My ideal home (when I win the Lotto, ha ha!) would have many bedrooms and bathrooms. Each of my children could have their own bedroom. I would also love a big, fenced-in yard for my children and their dogs to run around. There would also be many trees and space to grill. My daughter-in-law likes to eat organic food, so I want a small garden for her.
One ritual that we share at home is when everyone cooks together and then finds a place to sit down to eat. Many of our special moments happen at the dining table. Sometimes, some of us have to stand because there is not enough space at the table, but that is okay because we are still close to each other. In my ideal home, we will have a big kitchen and a very large dining table so we can all sit down together.
I love having nature around us, so my dream home would have many windows where we could see birds of different colors. This home would make me feel so happy because my whole family could live there. And since I bought it with my Lotto winnings, we wouldn’t have to worry about paying for it. We could focus on building a better life.
What Really Makes Home Special
It’s fun to think about my ideal home, but the most important feature of my home is my family. What makes me feel at home is being surrounded by my family. I work hard to provide for them and to build a happy life. My children are everything to me. I love all my siblings, my mother, and my mother-in-law.
We are a large family, and the best feeling is when we spend time together. Sometimes our schedules make it hard to bring everyone together, but it is very special when we do. That is the best feeling, and it makes me so happy to be home. What makes my home special is not that it has many rooms or windows or a
fenced-in yard or a big dining table. What makes my home feel special are the good memories and the love of my family.
AFTER YOU READ:
1. This story has a big transition. Describe what she starts out writing about and then what she transitions to.
2. Imagine you won the lottery, what would you change about your living situation? Discuss.
3. Look online for images of neighborhoods, houses or apartments, rooms, or furnishings. Pick three images and write captions for them. Explain why you would want this for your home. Put the information in a slideshow and share it with your class.
Sonia Mazariego is a student at Literacy Volunteers at Family Centers in Stamford, Connecticut. She is originally from El Salvador. She has three wonderful children and an amazing, supportive husband. Family is her greatest support system; she calls them her “A Team.” Now that her children have graduated from college, she is focused on building a better future for herself. She joined Literacy Volunteers at Family Centers to improve her English skills, speak and write with greater confidence, and build new friendships with fellow students and tutors.