Growing up with a single mom and 2 older brothers and a sister was really tough in many ways. I was born in July 1985, I was brought into this world by an amazing mother Willa. The day I was born was the same very day that my father lost his job. My mom had to find work and come home and breast feed back and forth for months. Doctors say that the first 3 months of being born is crucial for a mother and the child to connect. I was unfortunately under the care of my father for many years he didn’t have any milk for me what good was he! My mom supported all of us for years. My parents got a divorce when I was 6, it was a blur for me and was very clear in many ways. We moved from Canada to US-FL in 1993, my mom had to work full time and which meant that my brothers and sister were present during a lot of my years growing up. From what I remember my mom was always so tired. She did her best, she kept food on the table, roof overhead my head and clothes on my back. Throughout many years of typical sibling fights, watching my brothers and sister grow up I was left in the dust. My family would disagree with me but who really knows what happened, might have been in my head! But I felt it for sure.
Growing up for me was nice and when I say nice it was a lot of rejection, abandonment, but there was such a bond that my family and I shared throughout the years. I remember the first day of school in Florida my brother Derek and I went to the same school, he was in 5th grade and I was in 3rd, I was very nervous that day. He held my hand and protected me the best way he knew how to. Walked me to every class change and picked me up to get the bus home. Derek has a sweet and giving soul. Fifth grade came fast, I was ready for middle school I met some great friends one friend I will never forget is Lindsey Folladori. We met on a blanket at our brother’s soccer game in 3rd
grade; we loved each other so much and couldn’t be apart. When fifth grade started Lindsey and I was getting ready to be “big girls” we were on our way to Middle School. Until the day we had one of those lovely parent teacher conferences. It was mainly about how I am different from all the other kids and didn’t “get it” like everyone else did apparently I was slow learner. A decision had to be made and my mom decided to hold me back in 5th grade again. What a joy that was, walking to the bus for the second year in a row, let me remind you all my friends went to middle school and here I was getting on the elementary bus with the bus driver Mrs. Bass saying,
“ Alexa what are you doing here, again?” with her long black hair and eyes bulging out of her head when she saw me. Shit didn’t she get the memo or at least a heads up to not embarrass the stupid kid.
It was a great bus ride, I broke out in hives, nervous as hell, started my sweating issue, could have peed myself and best part of it I sat in the front of the bus, we all know that you must be really cool to sit near the bus driver who knows your damn name. The second best part about repeating 5th grade was the principle called me in the office and said,
“Since you’re the oldest and you were here last year you can say the pledge of allegiance every morning on the intercom”
Like that made me feel better. Great now everyone can see I didn’t go to Middle School no confusion at all now. Shit hit the fan starting then.
Second year of fifth grade turned out to be kind of fun for me, I was the cool kid who knew all about Rawlings Elementery , because I was there for fifteen years! Well really 4. Still a long time to be learning to multiplication and subtraction numbers!
This is just the begining of my story! I hope you enjoyed the humor in this. Have a good day!
Thanks for reading
They will be a garland to grace your head
and a chain to adorn your neck.
Proverbs 1:9
-Lex-
