Dad

(I interviewed my Dad, Alan Kay Springer, in December 2006)

What do you know about your birth and infancy?
My sister, Sylvia, died when I was only 5 weeks old. I know I was loved, but I'm sure I didn't get much attention because the family was grieving.

Aside from your parents and siblings, who had the most influence on your childhood?
My scoutmaster, Ed Richardson. He was not a member of the church, but was the Scout Master for our ward. He taught me a nice balance between having fun and being disciplined. He was a truly great man.

What do you remember about your Grandparents?
Grandpa Springer had passed away before I was born. Grandma Springer was industrious and devoted to the church. She lived with us for a while before she died when I was a teenager. She would sit in her room and listen to KSL radio until a commercial came on that she found offensive, for things such as cigarettes. She would promptly turn the radio off. She was a very devoted member of the church. She came from Holland, so she had a heavy accent. She baked a lot of bread. Grandpa Young was the greatest influence in my childhood, once I wasn't a little kid anymore. Many people tell me my personality is like his, which is an honor, but I don't see that. He was sensitive, optimistic and patient. He was the grandson of Brigham Young, and the only son of Brigham Young's wayward, drug-addicted son. By the time I was 13, I knew I wanted to be just like him. Grandma Olson Young was very different from Grandpa. Her heart was in the right place, but she had limited patience. She seldom came to our house, because she couldn't handle the chaos.

Did you get along well with your siblings when you were growing up?
Yes, we got along very well. My siblings, especially the girls, were my best friends. I felt very supported in my family. I felt safe. I wasn't a social kid. I was immature for my age, so I didn't fit in when I was away from home.

Which school subject came easily to you when you were a child?
Music. None of the others came easily to me. I truly believed I was dumb. Even as an adult, school is very hard for me.

Who were your close friends when you were growing up?
Ronny Fennema was a friend of mine. Ron was short, and I got tall. His parents weren't active in the church, so other kids decided he would be the rejected one. I went along with it to fit in. Ron dropped out of high school and started hanging out with the drinking/smoking crowd. On my mission, I started realizing what a jerk I had been to Ronny, but I found out he was dead. He had gotten married and moved to California before being killed in a construction accident.

4 events changed my life for the positive more than anything else:
1) The family I grew up in.
2) I changed wards when I was in high school. Suddenly I had no reputation in the new ward, and I was ready to become more assertive. I was accepted as a cool kid in the new ward, which helped me develop social skills and self-confidence.
3) Going on a mission.
4) Going to BYU, because that is where I met your Mother.

What did you do during the summertime while growing up?
I worked at the family-owned tamale shop, got bored, and weeded the gardens. We would sometimes go up to Brighton to camp, and on the 24th of July we always hiked Timpanogos Mountain.

What was something fun you would do as a teenager?
Have sleepovers at my house. It was such a fun place to be.

When you were in high school, who were your best friends?
Steve Cope, Diana, Annette - we were a tight-knit group of friends.

Tell me about your relationship with your parents when you were growing up.
My Dad didn't say much. He wasn't mean, but he wasn't nice. When I was eight years old, I tried out for little league, but was quickly cut from the team. After leaving the field, I went to work at the tamale shop. Dad pulled me aside and handed me a new baseball glove. I tried to smile and say thank you. I never could admit to him that I'd been cut, because it felt so good to have him show interest in me. My Mother was always building everyone up. The most memorable thing she ever did is the now-famous night that we were arrested for swimming at the tennis club at night. She saw the whole thing from the living room window. When I ran in the house, she said, "Interesting that you are hiding. Do you think they don't know you are here?" She smiled as the cops drove off with us. My friends couldn't believe my Mom wouldn't react. She was the perfect example of choosing to act, and not be acted upon.

What is a difficult situation you have dealt with in your life?
Overcoming my belief that I was dumb. I didn't really believe I wasn't dumb until I was accepted into the Doctoral program. From then on, I haven't felt dumb.

What has surprised you?
I was astounded when I had the ability and credentials to be a therapist. Now I just take it for granted.

What has helped you the most during the ups and downs of life?
Loving Christ. Really loving him and feeling his love back.

What is your greatest accomplishment?
Being a therapist and being a teacher. I'm good at both. It's my gift. That's who I am.

What is a lesson you learned from your children?
Unconditional love. I remember how amazing it was that you loved me unconditionally from the time you were small. You just knew that I would be there for you. I'd never experienced that unconditional love before, besides from my Mother, before I had kids.

What has been a disappointment in your life?
I haven't really had any huge disappointments. I've had struggles, but I've overcome them. I really felt like I started off with nothing in many areas of my life, so I didn't expect much. Everything has been a bonus.

What is the greatest thing you've learned from life?
That the church has been restored and the gospel is true. The atonement is something I use today.
The picture above of my Dad and Brynlie was taken in the spring of 2006.