--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: So I've got mates I've known since I was…" description: "\"So I've got mates I've known since I was five years old. Their children know my children. There's something really lovely about it. When you're an immi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adf/ainsley-harriott-4936_brothers-and-sisters_so-i-ve-got-mates-i-ve-known-since-i-was_1210019.jpg" --- # So I've got mates I've known since I was five years old… ![“So I've got mates I've known since I was five years old. Their children know my children. There's something really lovely about it. When you're an immigrant - my parents were immigrants, their brothers and sisters lived all over the world, Florida, Jamaica, some in Europe - it's a grounding thing…” quote by Ainsley Harriott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adf/ainsley-harriott-4936_brothers-and-sisters_so-i-ve-got-mates-i-ve-known-since-i-was_1210019.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adf/ainsley-harriott-4936_brothers-and-sisters_so-i-ve-got-mates-i-ve-known-since-i-was_1210019.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adf/ainsley-harriott-4936_brothers-and-sisters_so-i-ve-got-mates-i-ve-known-since-i-was_1210019.jpg) > “So I've got mates I've known since I was five years old. Their children know my children. There's something really lovely about it. When you're an immigrant - my parents were immigrants, their brothers and sisters lived all over the world, Florida, Jamaica, some in Europe - it's a grounding thing. That community is critical.” [Ainsley Harriott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ainsley-harriott/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Long‑standing friendships across generations create a sense of belonging and stability, especially for immigrant families. **In simple terms:** Deep friendships give grounding and community. Key Takeaway Value and nurture multigenerational ties. Themes community family immigration belonging stability Mood warm reflective hopeful Type personal social cultural When to use this quote - family gatherings - neighbourhood events - support networks - cultural festivals Key Concepts social capital intergenerational bonds cultural continuity Questions to Reflect On - How do you maintain these ties across distances? - What role does shared heritage play in community cohesion? A Different Perspective Such bonds can be fragile if families disperse or lose contact. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brothers and sisters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brothers-and-sisters/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Europe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/europe/) [Immigrant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigrant/) [Immigrant parents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigrant-parents/) [Immigrants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigrants/) [Immigration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigration/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [In our country, being from immigrant parents, growing up black in the South, coming out at 16 years old, being a teen parent... you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karamo-brown/in-our-country-being-from-immigrant-parents-growing-up-black-in-the/) [Karamo Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karamo-brown/) > [As a child, I grew up the son of German immigrant parents, so I grew up being teased and called 'Fritz' at school. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-morgan/as-a-child-i-grew-up-the-son-of-german-immigrant-parents-so-i-grew-up/) [Peter Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-morgan/) > [Especially for Haitian immigrant parents, being a musician is not a job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaytranada/especially-for-haitian-immigrant-parents-being-a-musician-is-not-a-job/) [Kaytranada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaytranada/) > [In the 1960s, my first-generation immigrant parents were gifted the olive branch of a blue British passport when working for the British Army in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-paphitis/in-the-1960s-my-first-generation-immigrant-parents-were-gifted-the/) [Theo Paphitis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-paphitis/) > [I was raised to give back. I was born to immigrant parents and was fortunate to become successful at an early age. I've always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-iacocca/i-was-raised-to-give-back-i-was-born-to-immigrant-parents-and-was/) [Lee Iacocca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-iacocca/) > [I am a legal immigrant whose parents went from Russia to China to Chile to finally reach the United States and thereby give me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-medavoy/i-am-a-legal-immigrant-whose-parents-went-from-russia-to-china-to/) [Mike Medavoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-medavoy/) > [I'm the only child of immigrant parents, you know? So all the pressure is just kind of on me: You have to make it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cuco/i-m-the-only-child-of-immigrant-parents-you-know-so-all-the-pressure/) [Cuco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cuco/) > [I think it's so wonderful to show a child of immigrant parents who's proud of their culture and doesn't neglect it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iman-vellani/i-think-it-s-so-wonderful-to-show-a-child-of-immigrant-parents-who-s/) [Iman Vellani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iman-vellani/) > [I came out to my mom when I was 16. My parents are old school. They are immigrant parents, and when I came out,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karine-jean-pierre/i-came-out-to-my-mom-when-i-was-16-my-parents-are-old-school-they-are/) [Karine Jean-Pierre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karine-jean-pierre/) > [I was raised by extremely strict - but also extremely loving - Chinese immigrant parents, and I had the most wonderful childhood! I remember…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-chua/i-was-raised-by-extremely-strict-but-also-extremely-loving-chinese/) [Amy Chua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-chua/) > [“Immigrant parents, when they first move to North America, push towards whiteness, towards assimilation, to survive and thrive. Naturally, their children do too for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scaachi-koul/immigrant-parents-when-they-first-move-to-north-america-push-towards/) [Scaachi Koul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scaachi-koul/) > [I grew up in San Diego with immigrant parents, before the food blogs, before this kind of celebrity chef culture we know now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samin-nosrat/i-grew-up-in-san-diego-with-immigrant-parents-before-the-food-blogs/) [Samin Nosrat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samin-nosrat/) > [I was born to Chinese immigrant parents, who came from Taiyuan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-pang/i-was-born-to-chinese-immigrant-parents-who-came-from-taiyuan/) [May Pang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-pang/) > [Growing up as the youngest daughter to immigrant parents, it was instilled in me from an early age to not be wasteful and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konnie-huq/growing-up-as-the-youngest-daughter-to-immigrant-parents-it-was/) [Konnie Huq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konnie-huq/) > [With immigrant parents, they've had to sacrifice so much to survive, and they're trying to preserve the culture they lost, so there are just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupi-kaur/with-immigrant-parents-they-ve-had-to-sacrifice-so-much-to-survive/) [Rupi Kaur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupi-kaur/) ## More by Ainsley Harriott > [To me, Caribbean food is about fresh, seasonal produce - using what's in season to create vibrant and great tasting food. The spicing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ainsley-harriott/to-me-caribbean-food-is-about-fresh-seasonal-produce-using-what-s-in/) [Ainsley Harriott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ainsley-harriott/) > [I don't iron my underwear and socks, but I like things to be organised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ainsley-harriott/i-don-t-iron-my-underwear-and-socks-but-i-like-things-to-be-organised/) [Ainsley Harriott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ainsley-harriott/) > [We were lucky as kids - whenever we came home from school, Mum was there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ainsley-harriott/we-were-lucky-as-kids-whenever-we-came-home-from-school-mum-was-there/) [Ainsley Harriott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ainsley-harriott/) > [My dad was a great eater but Mum was the cook.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ainsley-harriott/my-dad-was-a-great-eater-but-mum-was-the-cook/) [Ainsley Harriott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ainsley-harriott/) > [I sometimes wish I was 10 years younger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ainsley-harriott/i-sometimes-wish-i-was-10-years-younger/) [Ainsley Harriott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ainsley-harriott/) > [Every cookbook can be a bit patronising.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ainsley-harriott/every-cookbook-can-be-a-bit-patronising/) [Ainsley Harriott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ainsley-harriott/) > [I haven't got tinted windows. I get the odd 'Oi, Ains' and 'What's he like,' or 'I do enjoy your programmes,' depending on where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ainsley-harriott/i-haven-t-got-tinted-windows-i-get-the-odd-oi-ains-and-what-s-he-like/) [Ainsley Harriott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ainsley-harriott/) > [To be honest, 'Ready Steady Cook' was a great opportunity, but I did compromise myself. 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My family and I were on a boat, catching fish. As one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-was-3-years-old-to-this-day-it-is-a-vivid-memory-my-family-and-i/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [There's no publicist, no advertisements, and no one's pushing us. 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He's an outcast, but has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-minkoff/mr-peabody-is-this-genetic-anomaly-he-does-have-brothers-and-sisters/) [Rob Minkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-minkoff/) > [Jeremiah Wright is one of the greatest prophetic preachers that black America has produced. What I find striking is that many white brothers and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/jeremiah-wright-is-one-of-the-greatest-prophetic-preachers-that-black/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [ What are you for? It may be, to a degree, consoling that white brothers and sisters did not vote for \[Donald\] Trump, and do… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/what-are-you-for-it-may-be-to-a-degree-consoling-that-white-brothers/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [How many years has it taken people to realize that we are all brothers and sisters and human beings in the human race? I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marsha-p-johnson/how-many-years-has-it-taken-people-to-realize-that-we-are-all/) [Marsha P. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marsha-p-johnson/) > [I have 10 brothers and sisters. My mother raised us because my father died when I was 8.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/i-have-10-brothers-and-sisters-my-mother-raised-us-because-my-father/) [Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) > [We have forgotten to be our brothers and sisters keepers. And we have forgotten that the Number 1 goal is to love one another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-richards/we-have-forgotten-to-be-our-brothers-and-sisters-keepers-and-we-have/) [Ann Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-richards/) > [The only siblings I have are half-siblings. My nuclear family would have been an extra-suffocating threesome. Instead, I have an interesting brother and sister,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-smiley/the-only-siblings-i-have-are-half-siblings-my-nuclear-family-would/) [Jane Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-smiley/) > [Brothers and sisters, white people will come in to chastise us. 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