View from a Child

My son wrote this paper as part of his senior project.  I was moved by what he wrote that I asked him if I could publish it here to share with you, so today's entry is written by my oldest son from his perspective.

2 is Not Always Better than 1

Growing up with one parent can be a blessing in disguise 

Growing up my family was the typical American family, happily married wife and husband with three amazing, young, and talented children. My sister, brother, and I were involved in sports throughout the year depending on the season, soccer in the fall, basketball in the winter, and, everyone’s favorite time of year, baseball season in the summer. My mom and dad were involved in everything we did. They would take us to practices and games not because they had to but because they wanted to. Some would say I had the perfect family growing up, and I didn’t disagree with them, but then suddenly my life was flipped upside down.

            My family was broken down and torn apart by someone that I looked up to and admired. My amazing family of five was now cut down to four struggling individuals. I had known people who only had one parent and I thought maybe that would be cool but I was totally unprepared for how hard it really is. The first year, which would have been my ninth grade year, was the hardest for everyone. My mom was struggling to raise three kids by herself that were used to getting what they wanted. I could see how bad it hurt her to not be able to buy us that one toy we wanted or going out to eat because she couldn’t afford it. Also adding to the situation, every social event we went to we were constantly being stared at and ignored. All the people we used to hang out with no longer were part of our lives. Fortunately my friends have stuck by my side and think nothing less of me because of the mistakes by someone in my family. I wish I could say the same for my sister, girls bullied and talked about her behind her back and still continue to today.

            After the first year things started to get better for my family, thanks to help of my mom’s boss for giving her extra money and also the ability to leave to get us places and attend all our games. My mom has kept this family together through the toughest situation imaginable and no one could have done that but her. As I grew up and become a sophomore and junior I realized what my mom sacrificed for my sister, brother, and I. I have also learned lessons that many kids will not learn for many more years. I have learned to persevere and fight through adversity. Growing up with only one parent showed me the true meaning of family and commitment that I wouldn’t have gotten if I grew up with that so called “perfect family”.

            Since that dreadful couple months when I was in eighth grade my mom, sister, brother and I have done nothing but push through and fight for each other. I had dreams of becoming a great athlete in high school and after I lost my family I thought that dream was gone. I persevered and remembered all those people that left my family when we needed them the most and that pushed me to show that the son of a thief and liar can achieve greatness. My sister and brother have also proved everyone wrong. My sister has played and started on varsity soccer and basketball as a freshman and continues to play travel league softball with only the highest level of competition while my brother is swimming on varsity as an eighth grader. I am proud of my family and how far we have come together and the future looks even brighter for a family of five that is just getting used to a family of four.   

Reading this I can not help but feel a great amount of pride in who my children are becoming and that the world is wide open for them to succeed in whatever they do.  They have always been my pride and my joy and will continue to do so.