Always take advantage of time. It’s something that I regret not being able to do. I was raised by a single mother with two of my younger siblings and was forced to grow up at a very young age. It’s something some people don’t have much of a choice about. I know that I didn’t.

I learned how to understand a lot of things from a different perspective, which was often extremely challenging. I had to help out around the house more, and I used to hate that because I would’ve rather been playing outside with friends. I would feel left out a lot when I did get the chance to go out because I wouldn’t know anything, like inside jokes. Also, even though I was doing okay in school and had a semi-good family life, I still felt as if a lot was missing. It took me a while to realize that it was because my mom wasn’t around much. The only time I spent with my mother was when she woke me up for school, which was only an estimated twenty-five minutes a day, or on the weekends. On weekends, my mom would take us to parks, movie theaters, or on picnics. I loved having those rare moments because they would make me feel loved.

By the time I was eleven or twelve, I started to be in my own little bubble and would isolate myself since I didn’t understand why my mom wasn’t a bigger part of our lives. Every time my friends or students in class would talk about their parents, I would stay quiet since I knew that I couldn’t truly relate with them about my parents not being around. For one thing, I only had one parent who was “mostly” there–my mom–and, for another, my mom was mostly always busy.

Things changed when another family member, our usual caregiver, couldn’t take care of me and my sisters anymore. Then, my mom was around more. One day, I came home from school and found her there waiting for me. It was very strange because I was not used to that. I didn’t know how to feel or react, so I just kept quiet.

I learned that the reason my mom had been gone so often was that she went to school during the day and worked at night. When I came home from school and saw my mom on the couch waiting for me to eat dinner with her, I noticed how all this time, rather than appreciating the moments I had with her, I was focused on how I felt and how it affected me.

Now that I have grown up to have a better understanding, I realize how much my mom worked to keep my siblings and me happy, and how she worked late every night to buy us anything we wanted. Even though I didn’t get to spend as much time with her as I wanted, I value her support and the sacrifices she made. Without her, I don’t think that I would have accomplished the things that I have. For instance, if it wasn’t for my mother pushing me, I don’t think I’d be in the school I am in today. She helped me through tough moments by telling me that I could do anything I wanted if I believed in myself.

Now my mother and I can spend much more time together. We now take good advantage of time and appreciate the moments that we have.

© Jenny. All rights reserved. If you are interested in quoting this story, contact the national team and we can put you in touch with the author’s teacher.