Living a childhood as an adult/NGarcia

A Mexican women who’s father passed away when she was seven years old. Her mother had to work on the field planting corn to maintain her five children. She had to take care of the house chores and her siblings.

What does “Woman” mean to you?

When I see or heard the word “Woman” I can only think that is the only person that can give life. Strong, hard worker and the only one who treat their children with love.

Tell me about an event that challenged you as a woman.

Unfortunately, my father passed away when I was seven years old. In that time my mother was four months pregnant. Even though her pregnancy she had to work on the field planting corn under the extremely hot sun rays to maintain her five children. Because I am the oldest daughter I had to take care of my siblings and the house chores. At seven years old I was able to cook, to clean the house, and to take care of my siblings because my mother didn’t had time to take care of us. I didn’t had the opportunity to go to school. My childhood wasn’t like any little girl playing with her dolls I felt like a mother taking care of her children.

In that time, how did you feel about your mother?

I tried to understand and helped her. I knew that planting corn was the only solution to survive. Practically, my mother was the man who bring money to the house and I was the mother who took care of the children.

How was your relationship with your mother?

We don’t really had a good communication because of her strong character and because most of the times she never was at home so, I didn’t had the confidence to tell her how I was feeling.

As a teenager did you had the opportunity to met young people?

No. I was too busy taking care of my siblings and my mother didn’t want me to had a boyfriend or friends. When I was sixteen years old I met Julio my only boyfriend and my today’s husband. I had a lot of problems with my mother because she wasn’t agree on my relationship with Julio. Even though my mother wasn’t agree I got married with him. At that time I didn’t know if I really loved him or was just a solution to escaped of my problems with my mother. However, the time passed and we formed a big family with eight children around us.

Getting back to your mother you know that you never had a close relationship with her and that she never was agree with your marriage, in that time did you felt any rancor to her?

At first, I didn’t understand her attitude. I was a seven years old girl and the only person that was able to help her with my siblings and the chores of the house, but now I am a mother an I understand her. I think she might felt scared that I was getting older and that one day I am going to leave home to make my own family. Now my mom is 86 years old and I thanks God that she still with me.

After having the intervew with my grandmother I noticed that she is a stronge womn, even though she suffered when she was a little girl she always had a big smile on her face. I learned that no matter what happened life had to go on.