With Valentine’s Day approaching, sophomore Janae’ Robinson has something to celebrate. Her parents, James and LaRita have been together for over two decades, and after 14 years of marriage, the Robinson family has a total of five children.
“I think my parents being married for a long time is pretty cool because it shows that there is hope out there for those who think that a marriage doesn’t last long and thinks that divorce is something that is going to happen,” Janae’ said.
The Robinsons first lived in Spencer, Oklahoma and moved to Missouri when James’ military base was moved in 2012. Even though the move was hard, it helped that the family was so close.
“It’s cool to have a big family because there’s never a dull moment,” Janae’ said. “You got so many personalities, you know that everybody has their own opinion in their own different way.”
Because Janae’ was born while her mother was in high school, she has seen how her parents have matured into the adults that they are today. But for James and LaRita, before marriage and the baby carriage, came love. They first met in middle school where James was the popular eighth grader and LaRita was the “different” sixth grader with an attitude.
“She wasn’t like one of the popular kids,” James said. ”She was totally different, you know what I mean. She didn’t dress like everyone else, she didn’t act like everyone else, she did her own thing.”
For LaRita, a popular boy who was on the stomp team and in band was not going to win her heart that fast. But eventually, when she saw a side of him that wasn’t desperate for her attention, she let her guard down.
“I didn’t find James really attractive until he changed and he stopped like hunting me or whatever, and he end up accepting me for who I was,” LaRita said. “He let me be me.”
During Larita’s senior year in high school, Janae was conceived. Although James was in the Navy the first few years of Janae’s life, LaRita was able to raise Janae’ and wait on her future husband to come home. Because Janae’ was born while her mother was in high school, she has
“I just admire that after all they been through, they’ve been together forever,” Janae’ said.
