DAILY NEWS PEOPLE; SYMBRIA PATTERSON.On this day of celebrating mothers, Patterson should be receiving extra kudos. Seven years ago, Patterson and her husband, Lynn, became foster parents to brothers Albert, then 9, and Michael, then 1, through the Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. Department of Children and Family Service Shelter Care Program. The program places children with temporary families for 72 hours, when necessary, before the children are returned to their parents. When Albert and Michael's sister Elizabeth, in the care of another family at the time, was brought together with her brothers during part of the boys' 72-hour stay with the Pattersons, the couple discovered the three siblings siblings npl (formal) → frères et sœurs mpl (de mêmes parents) were not going to be reunited "Reunited" was a #1 hit in the United States in 1979 by the Washington, D.C.-based group Peaches & Herb. Preceded by "Heart of Glass" by Blondie Billboard Hot 100 number one single May 5 1979 Succeeded by "Hot Stuff" by Donna Summer with their mother. Eighteen months later, the Pattersons became their full-time guardians. While the Pattersons had Sara, their own child, two years ago, they're still working on rounding out their family by adopting Elizabeth, Albert and Michael. AGE:33. RESIDENCE: Reseda. BORN AND RAISED IN: Reseda. OCCUPATION: Homemaker. CHILDREN: Elizabeth, 17, Albert, 16, Michael, 7, and Sara, 2. MARITAL STATUS marital status, n the legal standing of a person in regard to his or her marriage state. : Married to her husband, Lynn, for 7 years. VOLUNTEERISM vol·un·teer·ism n. Use of or reliance on volunteers, especially to perform social or educational work in communities. volunteerism : For the past year, Patterson has been a docent for Nursery Nature Walks. This is a volunteer outreach Outreach is an effort by an organization or group to connect its ideas or practices to the efforts of other organizations, groups, specific audiences or the general public. program that leads inner-city children on nature walks at various sites all over Los Angeles. ``It is a neat way to introduce children to nature,'' Patterson said. HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED: ``My 16-year-old was looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. a service program for her church, and I thought it was a wonderful program because I could take Michael and Sara.'' WHY DO YOU VOLUNTEER: ``Because my children will benefit the most. I also get to realize what a beautiful area the Valley is. It's a beautiful place to live. Within 10 minutes you are with birds, native plants and streams. You also get to be be out with all these moms who would never get out unless they were with (a trained guide). You're in touch with what is around; trees and birds matter, and we have a great time.'' BIGGEST DILEMMA: ``There is never enough time to do everything you want to do.'' MOST DIFFICULT DAILY TASK: ``To be present and patient all day.'' FAVORITE DAILY TASK: ``Learning with my children. They teach me as much as I teach them.'' BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: ``That I wasn't financially secure sooner. I wish I could do more for my kids financially.'' GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: ``Watching my teen-agers become secure adults. They like themselves, they are nice people, and I think I had something to do with that. It is neat to watch a 9- and 11-year-old come from a nondesirable environment and now see that they have above-average goals and dreams.'' GOALS FOR THE FUTURE: ``To raise my other two children, Michael and Sara. I would like to move someplace some·place adv. & n. Somewhere: "I didn't care where I was from so long as it was someplace else" Garrison Keillor. See Usage Note at everyplace. more rural, go back to school and one day teach teen-age girls independent living skills. I also want to spend more time with my husband.'' WHO DO YOU RELY ON: ``My husband. He gives me support. I couldn't do it without him. He is very good at making me believe that I am doing the most important thing in the whole world. He makes it possible for me to stay home.'' ROLE MODELS: ``Mother Teresa. She is pretty amazing a·maze v. a·mazed, a·maz·ing, a·maz·es v.tr. 1. To affect with great wonder; astonish. See Synonyms at surprise. 2. Obsolete To bewilder; perplex. v.intr. to me.'' HOW DO YOU DEFINE SUCCESS?: ``Liking yourself and raising children that function in society and like themselves.'' FAVORITE VALLEY HANGOUTS: ``Baja Fresh Baja Fresh is a restaurant chain of Fresh Mex restaurants founded in Newbury Park, California, United States in 1990 by Jim and Linda Magglos. Categorized as a "fast-casual" restaurant, the quality and preparation time of its food is between that of a fast-food restaurant and a (Mexican restaurant) in Northridge. It is casual, and everyone likes the food.'' FAVORITE ACTIVITIES: ``Music, going for nature walks, going to the library and gardening.'' WHAT WOULD BE A PERFECT DAY FOR YOU?: ``No contention in my home all day. That would be perfect, when everyone is getting along.'' CAPTION(S): Photo PHOTO Symbria Patterson is surrounded sur·round tr.v. sur·round·ed, sur·round·ing, sur·rounds 1. To extend on all sides of simultaneously; encircle. 2. To enclose or confine on all sides so as to bar escape or outside communication. n. by Sarah, 2; Albert, 16; Elizabeth, 17; and Michael, 7. John McCoy/Daily News |
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