By Marlene Briseno
I was about six years old when I had woken up early on a warm Sacramento morning to pack all my clothes and toys to prepare for our move to San Jose. It was a drastic change for me because I wasn’t able to see my mom anymore, and I had to start a fresh new life. It took me some time to adapt, but I couldn’t be any happier knowing that I have a wonderful father who never lets me down and is there to support me.
At first, taking me going to school made it difficult for my father, Gildardo, because he had a busy work schedule and there were times where he couldn’t pick me up. Luckily, there was an after-school program that I could take and it lasted until six o’clock, which my dad found helpful so I could have someone to help me with my homework as well.
I could still picture my dad in his black work uniform as he waited after school for me on a green bench with a bag of food in his other hand. Even if my dad was always in a rush, that didn’t stop him from bringing me lunch because he knew that I would get hungry. Once I was done eating, I would give him a hug and wave my small hand around until his figure wasn’t there anymore.
According to the website Family life | LoveToKnow, ”More and more parents are raising their children on their own these days, either by choice or due to circumstances beyond their control.”
Gildardo says, “When your mom and I started going to court for the divorce, the first thing that came to my mind was that it would be nice to have custody of you one hundred percent instead of seeing you once or twice a week.”
Leading up to the time when my mom decided it was best for me to go live with my dad made me feel happy knowing I could spend more time with him. My dad explains, “It was easier for her to leave all the responsibility and pressure to me.” I can’t imagine how hard it is having both roles as a parent and not having anybody to support you. One of the reasons why I always try to do my best at school is because my dad works so hard so I can have a better life.
According to the website India Parenting, “Financial problems is perhaps one of the biggest challenges forced as a single parent.” It was upsetting to know that my mom didn’t help my dad with me, or even pay child support.
As the years were going by, my mom started caring even less about me, to the point where not even a phone call appeared on my birthday or Christmas.
I thought it was better if my mom and I didn’t talk because she would always make up excuses for not being there for me such as, “I always tried calling you but your dad never answers the phone” and “It seems as if he doesn’t want me to talk to you.”
Visiting my mom was no use either because I was always left at home due to her having to go to “work.” I knew that wasn’t true because her friends wouldn’t show up to leave with her. Why go if she’s just going to leave me at home, instead of spending quality time with me?
My grandmother, Livier Serratos, says, ”Your father became more responsible and never failed you when you came into his life. He would get off from work late at night and drive from San Jose to Sacramento everyday just to go see you.” It hit me hard knowing that my dad would do this just so he can see me, I don’t think anybody has ever cared about me that much.
Healthofchildren.com states, “One out of every two children in the United States will have a single-parent family at sometime before they reach age 18.”
Nobody in my mom’s family believed that my dad was going to be able to take care of me on his own and just believed that in a few months he was going to send me back to my mother. I’m proud to say that didn’t happen because we never gave up. I consider my dad my greatest asset and I couldn’t thank him enough for being the best father a daughter could have.
At first, taking me going to school made it difficult for my father, Gildardo, because he had a busy work schedule and there were times where he couldn’t pick me up. Luckily, there was an after-school program that I could take and it lasted until six o’clock, which my dad found helpful so I could have someone to help me with my homework as well.
I could still picture my dad in his black work uniform as he waited after school for me on a green bench with a bag of food in his other hand. Even if my dad was always in a rush, that didn’t stop him from bringing me lunch because he knew that I would get hungry. Once I was done eating, I would give him a hug and wave my small hand around until his figure wasn’t there anymore.
According to the website Family life | LoveToKnow, ”More and more parents are raising their children on their own these days, either by choice or due to circumstances beyond their control.”
Gildardo says, “When your mom and I started going to court for the divorce, the first thing that came to my mind was that it would be nice to have custody of you one hundred percent instead of seeing you once or twice a week.”
Leading up to the time when my mom decided it was best for me to go live with my dad made me feel happy knowing I could spend more time with him. My dad explains, “It was easier for her to leave all the responsibility and pressure to me.” I can’t imagine how hard it is having both roles as a parent and not having anybody to support you. One of the reasons why I always try to do my best at school is because my dad works so hard so I can have a better life.
According to the website India Parenting, “Financial problems is perhaps one of the biggest challenges forced as a single parent.” It was upsetting to know that my mom didn’t help my dad with me, or even pay child support.
As the years were going by, my mom started caring even less about me, to the point where not even a phone call appeared on my birthday or Christmas.
I thought it was better if my mom and I didn’t talk because she would always make up excuses for not being there for me such as, “I always tried calling you but your dad never answers the phone” and “It seems as if he doesn’t want me to talk to you.”
Visiting my mom was no use either because I was always left at home due to her having to go to “work.” I knew that wasn’t true because her friends wouldn’t show up to leave with her. Why go if she’s just going to leave me at home, instead of spending quality time with me?
My grandmother, Livier Serratos, says, ”Your father became more responsible and never failed you when you came into his life. He would get off from work late at night and drive from San Jose to Sacramento everyday just to go see you.” It hit me hard knowing that my dad would do this just so he can see me, I don’t think anybody has ever cared about me that much.
Healthofchildren.com states, “One out of every two children in the United States will have a single-parent family at sometime before they reach age 18.”
Nobody in my mom’s family believed that my dad was going to be able to take care of me on his own and just believed that in a few months he was going to send me back to my mother. I’m proud to say that didn’t happen because we never gave up. I consider my dad my greatest asset and I couldn’t thank him enough for being the best father a daughter could have.