Geneoalogy woes

*sighs* Is it just me or does pregnancy lead to thoughts about your parents and your childhood and all the things you'd like for your children? The thing is, I know almost nothing about either of my parents. My father is not in my life and unknown and the only thing I know about my mother is that she came from Turkey, and past that nothing. And it's not like I can ask her, she's deceased and has been since I was a toddler, and so I have not a clue where I'm from! And being here, with all the rich history and the familes who can trace back like twelve centuries...I'm envious of that! I'm sad that my children, like me, won't have roots to trace back. I mean, it's like my mother just plopped in from the middle of nowhere in Arizona by way of California and had us with no explanation.
I really wanted to vent that somewhere *takes deep breath*

Oh, wow. That must be really hard - but at the same time it's kind of a detective story! Isn't there some paper trail that your mother left? There has to be some record of who she was (if not why she was there) somewhere...

I hope you find what you're looking for. And remember, you'll be able to give your child the kind of history that you weren't able to have - and maybe when the child's older, the two of you could unravel the mystery surrounding your own family together.

Cellar Door is right about the paper trail. Does your mother have relatives whom you can speak to? When did she arrive in the US? Did she become an American citizen? You can request her immigration file from the federal government using a Freedom of Information Act request, even if she did not naturalize. This will give information on her parents, birthplace, etc.

I'm researching my own mother's family history right now. I know a fair amount already, because my family is close and talks about the past a lot. But like most Americans, we have an immigration in our history, and searching old Italian records from America, especially when you know only ten words of Italian, isn't the easiest thing to do. I'm jealous as well of those British families who have been in the same place since William the Conqueror.

And yes, you will be the roots for your own child. It might be a good idea for you to start documenting the pertinent details and stories of your own life, to give that gift to your child. Sometimes it's harder to do that as we get older and our memories get hazier.