Delilah Springer, Asha Springer, and Jailyn Springer

00:00 90's cartoons

00:03 My name is Asha rashay Springer and I am 44 years old. Today is Tuesday, January 28th, 2020. I am at storycorps, Atlanta.

00:16 I am the interviewer and I'm interviewing my family.

00:23 Hi, my name is Jaylen Juliet Rachel Springer. I am 15 years old today's date is Tuesday, January 28th, 2020. The location is storycorps Atlanta and I am here with my mom and my grandma.

00:39 My name is Delilah Springer. I am 70 years old. Today's date is Tuesday, January 28th, 2020. I am at storycorps, Atlanta.

00:54 The name of my interviewer is I should Springer which is my daughter and my granddaughter which is Jalen Julia Rachel.

01:04 We're here today three generations in one room Under One Roof.

01:11 To almost talk about what is it like living?

01:17 In three different sounds like different time zones, but we are three different generations and I think love is what fills the gaps sometimes the understanding. So when I say living with two generations two faces that you already been through I say to my mom, what is it? Like when you look at me and my daughter in the same living space do you see for me? You're a tease or do you feel like you're reliving some things with me or with her?

01:59 Well, it affords me the opportunity to reflect and to recognize.

02:06 What you going through?

02:10 And I have to admit that it does require a lot of restraint and love not to try to say.

02:21 I have to answer do it like this tell you how that goes, but I found that that's not the way and during the course of my living. I have discovered that.

02:39 A dimensional frame of reference in terms of spirituality allows you to to draw back and of course be reminded you're not raising her you living with another Adele back off.

02:57 Sometimes I know I come to you because I know that you've been 44 before and I expect you to have the answer and I realize what her answer doesn't necessarily fit me, but her answer has wisdom in it for guidance. And so I want you to know that I do recognize that and sometimes I wonder and this is to Jalen living with your mother and your grandmother on a daily basis. How do you decipher what information you take? And what you give back? Do you take all the council we give? I know we give so much at one time like almost like you can't move before one of us to say don't do that do this or do it this way. So I wonder sometimes how do you feel through?

03:54 What we give you?

03:57 Well, sometimes what you guys gave me, I don't always listen to and it's kind of just there in the back of my brain and it's not until I enter like a real life situation where that would apply do. I hear you or Nana saying or repeating a conversation or an opinion or a helpful comment and it's like oh that fits in there. So that makes sense. No wonder why they were telling me that I have to apply it so soon and then it's like I have to come home and tell that story in enough to hear you. Say I told you that I was right because my mom

04:39 How does it?

04:42 IRT Jalen all the time that I'm going to have a second life. So I'm have another kid and for a while she was not open to that. But lately I've watched it feels a little things that lets me know she's open and I know that you mom were there putting an X after I first had her and I felt like I can't do this. I can't do this. And so what have you seen in me?

05:12 Now at 40 that at 27

05:18 You saw any young mother that maybe has actually

05:25 I won't save all but actually grown into what you saw a spark of when I was 27 and I came home for her with her and I thought let me leave the hospital with her.

05:39 Oh my God, he know I was so startled.

05:44 But I know that.

05:46 Because of who you are when I come from that I was up for the task, even though playing times I felt weak me so as encouragement to me moving on and even say I want another one. What have you noticed? Have you noticed anything that might have not even been there or might have been there and now gone which is a good thing because I'm a mother

06:13 Play honestly.

06:15 Look back, and I think maybe that's the process because they told me that I was going to that I loved you and you're not a sad love don't know. It's like when I looked at you this little stranger, you know, and so I had to ask God, how do I love and he said, you know who is anticipating their needs. So that's what I took and and operated from and began to try to do that and it pretty much work. And as I saw you struggling with the same emotions, I just kind of stood there as as as the unyielding just kind of helping you sweat. Hey with the Winds of your thoughts and in coming back to Leyte Centerpoint, and now

07:10 You're not Santa you you've learned and you grown and you know that if you haven't shown her or told her or taught her that

07:21 You're not right. You need to show her you need to model for her. Not just assume being a sign that you kind of assume people know what you know, and so I just kind of went bad in the background and explain to her. This is what's going on. Now. You need to just do this in it or she's going through this and so you need to you know, you need to love you need to pray. So I've watched you grow and become more sensitive because you have to understand your profession does not necessarily nurture that kind of consideration.

07:58 Science not always. So with that being said Jalen, do you find that Nana has your grandmother has helped you with dealing with me? Yes. It seems like she's been your cheat sheet for your mom. Exactly. That's too funny. I believe that and I appreciate that. I recognize that.

08:26 Because at the same time I was learning myself.

08:30 And I'm still learning myself. So.

08:37 And she like that's was the initial question. She's been 15 and she's been 44 and so

08:46 Living Under One Roof. You have to wonder are you just a spectator? Are you watching are you did you pay to get in the circus or you know, do you want to stay in the circus at the who wants to do reruns or remixes of Lies as you watching them? And so that's one thing. Is there anything Jalen that you noticed once you're outside of the home?

09:15 When you interact with others, do you?

09:18 Recognize any of us in you

09:24 Definitely my attitude and patience when it comes to some people. I've actually come to a few times. I've got angry with people have acted like Nana and the kids like you're lucky I go to church you are so lucky cuz I have your temper and I have the ability to be able to drop information on someone and actually hurt their feelings. And then I have NaNa which is like, you know violence is not the answer. So, you know when it comes to handling a situation, get down. I have Nana when it comes to

10:05 Actually putting someone in their place and dropping information and kind of setting them right? I have you at least it's good to know as they went when I was raised. My mom was teaching and so they used to tell us that sometimes the most neglected kids are teachers children and Correctional Facility officer has kids and so when I look back, I think that's why I try to cover so many bases with you because I feel like she was blessed.

10:41 Because she couldn't cover all the bases, but she made sure I had the basics and she gave me the wisdom in.

10:51 In time as I was growing, so I asked you though Rachel. Is there anything that you ever wanted to ask me about as your mom but you thought there was a respect boundary or that it might hurt my feelings.

11:11 I know you kind of sat me down even so now you kind of associate comes like family stuff. You'll sit me down and tell me the real so there really are no questions. I have to ask because you've been telling me of this is what's happening. We can't do this cuz I don't have this but that doesn't mean that we're not this, you know, and we're moving again. Because we're do you know don't have that much money because I'm getting another job and you know going to New School see always sat me down in those situations and talk to me like I was an adult so your child, but made sure I knew what was happening. So really there are no questions wait actually at 1, okay.

11:52 Do you think you would be where you are now 15 years like before I was born. Did you think that you would be here now?

12:00 Living in Atlanta being retired teacher

12:04 No, 15 years ago leaving or not despise, Atlanta.

12:13 And

12:14 You are kind of when you left High School. It was like good riddance. And you you were going to make your mark somewhere. So when I came back with you was kind of like

12:27 Almost like a hit in the chest because I had to reconcile feelings of all you back here and you back here with the baby and you back here in the neighborhood. You grew up in what marks Did you make? What did you do? You just got started seem like so it took a minute to work through that but I thank God for you because having a kid in the middle of the throes of Life forces you not to

13:01 Peel the scab off any wounds you don't have time, you know, you can feel the scab off and watch every heal when you have a kidney or have time for that. You almost forget that you were hurt and just glad that it scabbed over. So I appreciate Atlanta and you because our came back with a lot of wounds and I didn't have time to pick at them because I had to be your mom. I had to do what my mom taught me. I had to anticipate your needs because that was my friend reference of Love at the time. So that's why I even now I can say who I can do another child because I never wanted to have one until you were fully affirmed and you knew where you stood in my heart. You knew that there could never be another Jalen.

13:53 And no matter who else if you first and because I'm an only child I didn't grow up with siblings wasn't real sure. How do you spread the love? And I'm not a multitasker. So we just stick out with one and then we go back to God and ask for another. So yeah coming back with you Forest growth.

14:22 I can't say that I would have had that growth without you in the middle of New York City in the best Penthouse with the most money. I can't say I would have grown to this person that I am now so you and Atlanta.

14:40 Have a together.

14:43 Can grape fertilizer so when I was your age I disliked church and I so love watching how you don't give any resistance on Sunday and we go and I think you're fortunate because when I first

15:08 Became conscious that we were saved. I lived it a Pentecostal household. I think I didn't get a chance to like it because we were at church from Sunday school 8 so, you know till 3 Church of God in Christ. And then we go home and play and then come back at 6. So i p w w and we used to live in California. So it will be all day thing. So we moved to Atlanta great. We're so far away for my church. We must not be going to church anymore and I was wrong and my mom found the church and they did the same thing stay there till 2. And so by the time I was your age, it was really cramping my style to be there only have Saturday and Sunday to talk on the phone possibly go to the mall.

16:00 Inside despise the fact that she would make me be at this place.

16:06 You know for so long and so sometimes I wonder

16:11 When we when you go through this with us on Sundays, have you ever thought you know, cuz by the time I was your age, I was trying to be a Muslim. I was trying to Muslim. I'll try to be anything that has shorter hours. If somebody cannot possibly be in this building all day Sunday, like somebody has to get out at 7. And so I remember my mom sending me down saying, you know, it's fine whatever you choose as long as you know, what they do with Jesus makes the difference. And so that's what kind of brought me back to okay. I'm happy with this Faith. You know, I like what they do with Jesus over here.

16:54 So I wonder sometimes when you go and participate have you awakened. Have you add an awakened until my sophomore year college of how important my faith was to me into my Foundation? Have you awakened? Have you had to cry out or understood how some principal top?

17:16 In our church or in our faith that has this kept you in the right lane and you little dealings at school or just in your thought process.

17:29 Yeah, I would say it's kept me grounded and since my generation we're kind of like the whole sex before marriage getting pregnant and drugs generation. I feel like it's good to have someone to keep me grounded where I can say. No, you know, I can't hang on to this with you on Sunday, cuz I have to go ask for forgiveness for all the lies. I've told this week and all the words I said this week, you know, I can't hang with you but I am people that I see that don't have a religious Foundation. I definitely see a difference in you can feel a difference to me and talking to them and it's it has I have I don't remember daylight where I've had to cry out really I have had a child talks with him like in the middle of class even sleep for exams after exams when dealing with somebody even with teacher sometimes but not really I don't care. I'm like talk to me like you guys do.

18:29 I'm sure when I get older I'll be able to have like a more firmer understanding of why.

18:35 But right now in my teenage years it's kind of like okay, he, you know looks out for me. I am able to

18:46 Talk to him and he will respond in mysterious ways.

18:52 Hahaha, so

19:02 I say to you, you know Nana was the person that brought our family to Atlanta in 1985. And I don't know if you know, but we came to take care of I don't know. I guess that would be a great great great great grandmother, and she's a hundred and four.

19:24 And I remember when we first got here everyday, you know, I understood was here for her. But when she passed I remember asking my mom everyday like okay, so we get to go back right we leaving for California, right? And in the way, I act at 11 A New Holland sensitive that was but I wanted to leave.

19:46 And I know that I've we've lived in Cincinnati and we lived in Maryland and they lived in Virginia. We've lived here where else that we live We Live Scan places. Do you see Yo DC because I'm a scientist and I found that most work is above the Mason-Dixon line. But in those places, I'm not real sure which place you might have awakened to know that who I like this place or who this place is different. So I wanted to know like what is the future recall any places that we've lived if we could go back? What place would that be C?

20:31 What did you like about that place? I love where we lived. I did. I don't remember my school ever some kids and mr. My teacher, but it was a better.

20:46 Environment I would say I love going to work with you on those days. And I was home-schooled four-point wasn't I told my nana and it was just it was fun. I don't know if it's I only miss it because I had my youthful somewhat chore free days their responsibilities free days there but I just miss it. It was home. It was happiness, you know.

21:21 And now we're here now. We're here interesting away said that so, you know, your nana says all the time we can leave at any point. And so I'm saying to my mom like

21:36 You've lived a couple of places.

21:40 You're on your you know, your lifespan. What have you noticed as a black woman?

21:49 He lives on the west coast is on the East Coast. What have you noticed that the black woman?

21:56 As geographically

22:02 I want it I want edifying is really not the word but something that likes oil what what places as a black woman were fruitful for you you bear fruit. Did you notice that that fruit-bearing maybe happened only in certain places?

22:21 No. I don't know about fruit bearing but I do know that I like California mainly because

22:29 The sun was up so so early and so high and somehow another that affects your attitude and how you approached a lot proust life and there everything was possible banana. The sun was very very high in the sky was it was just

22:47 If I everything was possible can anything was possible and in LA and and I liked it. I enjoyed it but you have to understand to what I've come to realize is that the economics of a region is Sickle and ten years after that. The economics of California wasn't good because when I was their mortgages went up to 16% I mean unhung prices on mortgages, but prior to that, you know, you could buy property in the schools were we're good. There was nobody there was it was a pretty good situation, but it changed my working as what but it changed I've come to recognize is the economics of the region and the

23:39 The overall because I enjoyed Ohio when we were there, but my economics Independence, Ohio, so I was able to enjoy it. So as a

23:51 As of

23:53 African American or black woman? I really enjoy the South because here it's not the the issues aren't mask in California. They were so

24:06 Educated and civilized until

24:10 Unless you add a

24:14 A spiritual kind of awareness you didn't know what was happening to you or why but down here in the South people told you exactly how they felt what it was and you didn't have to

24:34 Have any problems with that so I'd like down here as a as a minority because everything is on over if I don't like you. I don't like you if this is why I'm making this decision. This is want to make a decision, you know, you can take it or not. But up there it I mean out there is like you have all these convoluted dialogue and you know, I know you coming from why don't you just say it

25:03 I'm glad we're here today because I came to realize that you often say where you've already had your life and you've had these successes and and I have my life when exactly the way I planned it. I got exactly what I prepared to have the important things in life be with my kid and ice husband nicer, you know, the whole you live in American dream. So now it's just a matter of of observing and providing whatever support I can in terms of allowing you to experience it in this stage and reminding you in this time. I'm talking about and reminding you that Rachel is growing up going to be going up in a different time than even you

25:50 So my successes have been mostly behind the Mason Dixie Line in terms of

25:59 Being able to grasp control of my life and not have to

26:04 Drawback

26:07 I wanted that a lot. We moved here Jalen to take care of your grandmother. Your great-grandmother's.

26:18 Really grandma grandmother her mother died in childbirth, so I moved here for that. And so I remember when we came I just thought it was just the worst place ever.

26:30 And so I'm always self checking to make sure if I still feel like that and I really don't I love Atlanta now, I I I'm kind of like my mom when I say it ends up adding to your Fabric and enhancing your life. And so that's one reason. I want to put you in public school because I feel like I'm

26:59 You need to touch Atlanta proper Decatur proper in a way that in your environment. You do not necessarily getting a and I know a lot of parents can be scared of but I'm not scared because

27:17 Even with these questions I found out that you have an anchor you have that pole down the center that kind of guides and let you know. Okay, she has some a moral compass a compass at all. You going to find a lot of people in your age group. Some of them have a compass, you know, you have to help them find out where they're going. And so one of my other questions, you know, and feel free to ask me one but one of my other questions was wondering how have y'all really enjoyed.

27:53 The new setup of Nana working me picking you up and you know, is that as the life change style change and it's only for a moment, but how does that we're on you during the day?

28:14 Oh when you first kind of started really working working cuz you was in Georgetown and DC. It was kind of a you know, me and Anna go to pick you up. We wait in the car. You can't you get in the car. You give us a little rundown on your day. We give you a little rundown of our day and we go home.

28:31 You might cook keyword might and Nana Nana will cook and then you know we go our separate ways, you know, and then when you start teaching down here.

28:47 You you definitely changed since you've quit, you know, you have a softer face. Your attitude is more, you know, Mary Poppins, like instead of very Disney villain like

29:00 So you just change an attitude you're happy now. Actually happy, you know, you can still come home you started cooking again.

29:12 You knows and I would never say that that some people would kind of talk all that you coming home and going to sleep neglect. Now. I was never neglected. You know, I know that you know, you're providing for me. I know that even though you went to bed immediately the minute we hit the door you were tired from trying to provide for me.

29:35 You know, but definitely sense and picking you picking me up has been great cuz I get to give you the rundown of my day, you know, and we have a little time in the car switching to drop Nathan off.

29:47 So I honestly like you without a

29:52 Shopping on the movie phrase that I like you without a stressful job.

29:59 I like myself to I'm enjoying it because when when we came up your your dream was to be with your kids you went to school and you accomplished so you can raise your kids and

30:14 Now doesn't seem to be the goal and I was really excited when I thought they all say it's called your time, but it's those moments when you're talking with them and casual conversation that actually in Parts what they need. Is there such thing as quality time. Do you need to be there as much as you can cuz those teachable moments for those instructions. I'm enjoying it, you know, and because that's what it really should be about. Why do you go to school? What are you going to accomplish? Why do you have kids if someone that's going to razor, you know, and so I'm I'm proud of you that you've taken a deep breath and decided to

30:55 To do it to take your time to to allow her.

31:03 Access to you

31:06 And I know that is valuable in spite of what your peer group is saying those your friends that are

31:13 They have the you know, all the trappings that your education and your profession will provide you've decided what I'm going to slow it down and and take this seriously, so I'm enjoying it. You know and it's not work to me. I've been doing it so long until it's almost you know, just something you do and I enjoy it and it so it's it's it is what it is for now any conclusion we like you without a job. Would you like me in certain professions? And so that's why my titles entrepreneur I have to think of something cuz I enjoy being a part of and because I don't multitask. Well if I'm at work they get all of me. So when I get home to y'all I didn't really have much to give and I apologize for that but three generations in one room.

32:10 I remember they said that to us when grandma grandmother was alive and I didn't get an opportunity to address that until this moment is a dressing that is that three of us three generations representing three different mind-state going in the same direction, but soon we'll be off in our own but I wanted this to be recorded that you are loved. I try my hardest every day.

32:38 And

32:41 I'm glad we all made it. I'm glad your mama kept you I'm glad you kept me. I'm glad I kept you cuz I'm a 75 baby. It wasn't necessary optional. If you have a baby in you, you know, I'm part of the generation where

32:59 They were boarded enough in between the ones they had. So it was really when I decided to keep you. It really was a actual.

33:11 Study I had to actually convince my scientific mind even though my spirit knew I had to keep you I had to go find the article that said the moment life is created is when this happens that ensured logic Embrace spirituality and

33:34 But I'm glad you're here and I'm glad we're all here. And and I love you guys and I look forward because I believe I'm on the second part of my life as you begin the first part of your statement as my mother starts on her third one with me beginning my second and I wanted to mark this time. So I love you. Is there anything you want to?

34:01 Marcus appreciate your your allowing this because it means that you you have hope and you know that there is another day that there are other things in that there's a difference the spective in your mind stayed as to as change then you're more flexible than you've ever been and you're able to you've been able to take the good and not just how to throw away everything but you're learning to listen learning to appreciate that's what I want you to do, right and I'm proud of you you master this life gay. And so that's what I wanted to stop and take a note make sure we're all cuz we getting ready to go into something different and big and

34:47 Is new and I want us to be on the same page as three generations in the room three generations living under one house hold and one household.

35:02 Do you know?