I was alone with my four-year-old son, unemployed and with a very depressing job market in my country. The outlook was not encouraging. And my siblings, who never collaborated in anything for my mother's benefit, when they saw that I could not get a job, began to tell me that I was a failure, lazy and a support person. When they were not even there to help me change her diaper or take her to her dialysis.
However, I did not let myself be defeated. I devoted myself to my son, to his education and principles and to trying to make up for his father's financial and emotional absence. The venomous comments, especially from my sister, remained and I felt sad because I could not understand why she was like that with me. And I always made an effort to please her, to be there when she needed me and when she faced breast cancer, I often took her to her chemotherapies and when she recovered, one day she commented that thanks to her children, she was never alone. That broke my heart, but I began to wake up.
Hoy, con mi hijo de casi quince años, puedo decir que he hecho las cosas bien, él es un gran chico. Lo he levantado yo sola, sin malos ejemplos. No volví a tener pareja y hoy me doy cuenta de que eso fue un gran error. Él, pronto dejará el nido, hará su vida lejos de casa, como es su meta, porque sabe la difícil situación que atraviesa el país, donde la tasa de desempleo crece cada día más. Bueno, ya pensaré en eso cuando llegue el momento.
Desde hace un tiempo para acá, menos de un año, he aprendido a decir que no, sin sentirme mal por eso. Cuando mi hermana me ha invitado a alguna reunión en su casa, a la que antes iba sin tener ganas, pero solo por educación, hoy simplemente digo "gracias, no me provoca" y ya. Me estoy comenzando a dar el lugar que me corresponde.
He crecido como ser humano, cada herida, cada lágrima, cada golpe en mi corazón, a pesar de que en ese momento, me haya dolido y me haya hecho derramar lágrimas, en el fondo me he ido endureciendo, me he fortalecido por mi hijo, que es quien me mantiene a flote.
Today, with my almost fifteen year old son, I can say that I have done things right, he is a great kid. I raised him on my own, without bad examples. I never had a partner again and today I realize that it was a big mistake. He will soon leave the nest, he will make his life away from home, as is his goal, because he knows the difficult situation the country is going through, where the unemployment rate is growing every day. Well, I will think about that when the time comes.
For some time now, less than a year, I have learned to say no, without feeling bad about it. When my sister has invited me to a meeting at her house, which I used to go to without feeling like it, but only out of politeness, today I simply say “thank you, it doesn't provoke me” and that's it. I am beginning to give myself my rightful place.
I have grown as a human being, every wound, every tear, every blow to my heart, even though at the time, it hurt me and made me shed tears, deep down I have been hardening, I have been strengthened by my son, who is the one who keeps me afloat.
Y aunque a veces, casi siempre, me siento sola y la sensibilidad la tengo a flor de piel, trato de darme ánimos a mí misma, diciendo "esto va a pasar".
Sé que la vida sigue su curso, como las olas del mar, a veces suaves, a veces turbulentas. Y aunque muchas, muchísimas veces he cuestionado la utilidad de mi vida en este planeta, porque mis días transcurren así, entre lágrimas y mucha soledad. He aprendido a aferrarme a mi fuerza interior y a ese amor incondicional que siento por mi hijo. Y aunque mi camino ha estado lleno de sombras, he decidido escoger los pequeños destellos de luz que, a veces, han estado presentes, incluso en la oscuridad.
And although sometimes, almost always, I feel alone and my sensitivity is at the surface of my skin, I try to encourage myself, saying “this will pass”.
I know that life takes its course, like the waves of the sea, sometimes smooth, sometimes turbulent. And although many, many times I have questioned the usefulness of my life on this planet, because my days go by like this, between tears and a lot of loneliness. I have learned to hold on to my inner strength and the unconditional love I feel for my son. And although my path has been full of shadows, I have decided to choose the small glimmers of light that, at times, have been present, even in the darkness.
Porque al final, siempre he logrado salir adelante. De alguna manera, mi fortaleza ha sido mi mayor legado, esa misma fortaleza que he logrado transmitir a mi hijo. Mi vida ha sido una historia escrita con lágrimas, sí, pero también con la tinta indeleble de la esperanza y el amor por ese jovencito que depende de mí.
Tengo la convicción de que todo va a cambiar, de que, en algún momento, la vida comenzará a abrazarme con cariño.
Because in the end, I have always made it through. Somehow, my strength has been my greatest legacy, that same strength that I have managed to pass on to my son. My life has been a story written with tears, yes, but also with the indelible ink of hope and love for that young boy who depends on me.
I have the conviction that everything will change, that at some point, life will begin to embrace me with affection.
Este ha sido mi pequeño aporte a la temática del mes, la cual, debo decir, me encantó y los recuerdos volvieron a sacudir mi alma. Sé que todo saldrá bien.
Quiero invitar a participar a
@zhanavic69,
@zhanavic69, germanandradeg y
@zhanavic69 Hagan clic
aquí y comiencen a escribir, a hacer catarsis.
This has been my small contribution to the theme of the month, which, I must say, I loved and the memories came back to shake my soul. I know everything will be fine.
I want to invite @zhanavic69, @zhanavic69, germanandradeg and @zhanavic69 to participate. Click here and start writing, doing catharsis.
! [FYI]
Photos of my property.
Cover edited with Canva for the frame.
Translator used, DeepL.
Image of the vital sign, taken from Pixabay, edited with PhotoScape.