I had a kid at 20, I was very naive, homeless, with a crap job and no plans for the future(except not to have children!) and I had to adjust to the idea of becoming a single mother at that age. I read one book, this baby book by a Swedish writer Anna Wahlgren who is a single mother of nine children. Her advices were very down- to-earth and simple: lots of love, routines and not making the child the centre of the universe, but a member of the family.
I learned to cook(I got a flat 1 week before labour) and take care of the baby.
Later I got maried, we moved abroad, I studied and worked, got divorced, worked even more and became extremely guilt-ridden about working all the time and not spending enough time with my lovely son. Then I had a burn-out and decided to make it with less money but be there. I was home after school, spending more time with the kid and he got happier and more secure by time. He was never uncared or neglected, but I was away too much.
Now I´m at home, write and get myself together and know that I´m never going to get so work-oriented again, if it´s not good for us as a family.
Now he´s thirteen and happy, lovely boy, who loves animals and draws beautiful pictures.
I think our children are our children even when they´re 50 and we´re 70…I want to be there for him always, as long as I live.
It´s not about money, you can give your kids a happy childhood with little money, it´s not about material things, latest games and toys and clothes, but that parents really are there for their kids, in good and bad, always.
minh
Lady J cheered this 6 years ago
