I remember hearing my parents yelling in the basement. They thought that my sister and I couldn’t hear them but we could. The house felt like it was shaking and their voices soared through the vents. We heard them loud and clear. I don’t remember what they were always arguing about but it seemed bad.
Eventually, the yelling stopped. It seemed like it was going to be getting better soon but then my dad took all his stuff and moved into the basement. My mom was alone in her room and we didn’t have dinner together anymore. As a little kid, I had no idea what was going on but I was soon going to find out.
They were a lot of ups and downs. My parents weren’t close with each other anymore but sometimes when my dad came home from work they would kiss each other on the cheek. They still talked and still went to my sister’s and I events together but it wasn’t going to be like that forever.
On the last day my whole family would be under the same roof, my parents called us down and told us that they needed to tell us something. My mom proceeds to say that they were getting a divorce. I was still too young to understand but I knew it was not a good thing. My sister started crying and my parents continued to tell us how things were going to change and that my dad was moving away.
Soon enough, my dad, had his stuff packed up and gave my sister and me bracelet’s that read “Never forget me.” He kissed us goodbye and drove away. That sounded dramatic but it was a dramatic scene. My dad actually didn’t move that far away just the next town over. We still saw him every other weekend and whenever he picked us up from school. I still had both my parents in my life but it felt weird. I never got to see my parents grow old together or how a man should really love a woman. I missed out on a lot of things with divorced parents but I also learned a lot.
I learned how to be strong for myself and to understand that everything doesn’t always go according to plan. I learned how to be careful with who to let into my life. I never truly loved a boy when I was younger. I focused on school and didn’t distract myself with a boyfriend. I learned that two birthdays and Thanksgivings were really cool but I always felt that I missed out on family events when I was a certain parent on weekends.
I missed out on a lot but it has made me who I am today. I’m not sure if I would ask for my life to be different. It was a hard life but also a good one. My parents both love my sisters and I. We may not be a family but I still have memories from when we were.