By Yoselyn Refugio Estrada
Unfortunately, not everyone gets two parents. Chris, a junior at Yerba Buena High School, knows about this experience. Growing up, the bond between him and his dad was not strong, but over time they learned to stitch up those missing pieces.
Chris was eight years old when his dad, Porfirio, stopped living with his family. Chris’s mom kicked him out after an argument they had. He came back later that night, but his mom didn't let him in.
Chris understood why his mom kicked him out: “She had asked me if I would be okay if she were to have kicked him out and I told her I wouldn't really care since our relationship wasn't really at its best at the point.”
“The first two years I didn't feel much about it, but during those two years he started acting more like a father and a friend,” Chris said. “I actually started to miss him. I kept it to myself though, I never told my mom.”
Throughout those years, Chris would visit him twice a week. After three years, Chris’s dad started doing more for the family: “We went out to eat dinner and he paid for trips,” Chris said.
“He ended up asking my mom if he can stay a few nights and he just never ended up leaving,” he says.
Chris and his dad have always traveled together. Flying has made their bond stronger, “My dad is always planning on where to go next.”
A special memory Chris had while traveling with his dad is, “One time we went to Hawaii. He took me on a little ride looking for dolphins.” It was a special moment to him because dolphins are his favorite animals. “Experiencing it with my dad was really nice,” he said.
Chris says that was the only time they traveled together while he was gone for 3 years. When he came back, he says, they travel whenever they can.
“It would normally just be me and him. For the most part the rest of my family didn't like flying,” he says.
A year after his dad was already back, Porfirio asked the family to travel to Miami. Once they were there Chris says they went to an event at the beach where many people went to dance. He says there was salsa music playing.
“My dad asked my sisters if they wanted to dance, one of them said no, and I didn't end up going either until he asked me to go, and then I went. At that time I didn't know how to dance, so he was teaching me right there.” Chris says.
Chris says that Porfirio has always loved dancing. Porfirio would take Chris, as a child, to events where he would go dance.
Chris mentions how he felt while dancing with his dad at Miami, “I always saw how passionate he was about dancing, and so when he started to teach me, I felt that joy too.”
Chris says how his relationship with his dad is so much better than before, “I think he sees me as his last opportunity to be a dad. And he tries to cherish that time and because of that he has become more of a father with me than he was with my sisters and because of that he bettered his life which bettered our relationship.”
Unfortunately, not everyone gets two parents. Chris, a junior at Yerba Buena High School, knows about this experience. Growing up, the bond between him and his dad was not strong, but over time they learned to stitch up those missing pieces.
Chris was eight years old when his dad, Porfirio, stopped living with his family. Chris’s mom kicked him out after an argument they had. He came back later that night, but his mom didn't let him in.
Chris understood why his mom kicked him out: “She had asked me if I would be okay if she were to have kicked him out and I told her I wouldn't really care since our relationship wasn't really at its best at the point.”
“The first two years I didn't feel much about it, but during those two years he started acting more like a father and a friend,” Chris said. “I actually started to miss him. I kept it to myself though, I never told my mom.”
Throughout those years, Chris would visit him twice a week. After three years, Chris’s dad started doing more for the family: “We went out to eat dinner and he paid for trips,” Chris said.
“He ended up asking my mom if he can stay a few nights and he just never ended up leaving,” he says.
Chris and his dad have always traveled together. Flying has made their bond stronger, “My dad is always planning on where to go next.”
A special memory Chris had while traveling with his dad is, “One time we went to Hawaii. He took me on a little ride looking for dolphins.” It was a special moment to him because dolphins are his favorite animals. “Experiencing it with my dad was really nice,” he said.
Chris says that was the only time they traveled together while he was gone for 3 years. When he came back, he says, they travel whenever they can.
“It would normally just be me and him. For the most part the rest of my family didn't like flying,” he says.
A year after his dad was already back, Porfirio asked the family to travel to Miami. Once they were there Chris says they went to an event at the beach where many people went to dance. He says there was salsa music playing.
“My dad asked my sisters if they wanted to dance, one of them said no, and I didn't end up going either until he asked me to go, and then I went. At that time I didn't know how to dance, so he was teaching me right there.” Chris says.
Chris says that Porfirio has always loved dancing. Porfirio would take Chris, as a child, to events where he would go dance.
Chris mentions how he felt while dancing with his dad at Miami, “I always saw how passionate he was about dancing, and so when he started to teach me, I felt that joy too.”
Chris says how his relationship with his dad is so much better than before, “I think he sees me as his last opportunity to be a dad. And he tries to cherish that time and because of that he has become more of a father with me than he was with my sisters and because of that he bettered his life which bettered our relationship.”