Although I have two brothers, I grew up as an only child with my single mum (families are complicated). My mom often struggled to get by and usually had two jobs on the go, which meant I spent a lot of time by myself – don’t worry, this is not a sob story, it taught me to enjoy my own company. A few doors down the road was my classmate and best friend. His home life was the polar opposite: four siblings, mom and dad at home. Their home always felt like a warm hub of activity and gave me a different sense of family life. I loved to spend time there, so much so that it became a second home. Still, I probably didn’t realize that I must have been intruding sometimes, when I was there on Christmas mornings, for example but I never felt unwelcome – full credit to Dave and Roe. In a final twist, I find myself the head of a largish family: Jess, Zoe, Ian, Aiden, Molly the colly, and four cats. In hindsight, perhaps I had always craved such a life, I dunno. Anyway, this year my boys have befriended a young boy a few doors down the road; an only child, parents hardly ever there, a kid who seems to be calling round our home at every opportunity. My own past gives me an insight that I hope can help me be as welcoming as Roe and Dave always were.
Posted on: Sun, 10 Aug 2014 15:37:40 +0000
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