“Sometimes, I wish that everything’s free”

“Maan gising ka na, malalate ka sa school.” I remember waking up to the voice of our househelper, reminding me that the school service is about to arrive. I was in high school back then. I would rush to the bathroom and prepare for school. When I’m ready, I always ask where my parents are and our househelper will say that they went to the office early or that they are still sleeping because they arrived home late last night. It seems like I only see my parents twice a week and during weekends. They are always busy with their work and they barely have time to stay at home and watch tv with me and my siblings. We grew up with our househelper. She takes good care of us; she is a part of our family. But, isn’t it much better if our parents are also there with us?

How does it feel to wake up every day and have breakfast with your whole family? It’s not that we’re not able to do that but it is very seldom, like in weekends only. How does it feel like to tell your mom stories on what happened to school? How does it feel to be helped by your dad in your math homework? How does it feel to watch even a single movie with your whole family? How does it feel to always have your parents at home?

I understand that they are working for the well-being of our family. Yes, they are giving us what we asked for. They are doing everything to provide us with food, clothing, etc. But, I’m contented with what we have now. I know that money is very essential everywhere today, but why is it? Sometimes, I wish that everything’s free. If that happens then maybe my parents could just stay at home and be with me and my siblings. We can have breakfast together every day or even lunch and dinner, we can watch tons of movies, we can do the household chores together, and we can be a simple and ordinary family. If only, everything is free and they don’t have to work all day and all night.

I don’t know if I’m just being selfish, but I really miss my parents now. If when I was in high school I get to see them 4 times a week, but now that I’m in college and I’m living in Baguio city I can only be with them once or twice a month. I need my mom’s hug and my daddy’s comforting words. I wish that I could’ve spent more time with them before I went to college. I wish that they were not very busy with work so that our family will be complete most of the time. This is, actually, one reason why I want to finish school with a great degree. I want to find a stable and perfect job so that my parents don’t have to work harder than ever. I will help them in everything. I’m waiting for the time when I can give back to my parents. I’ll work hard for this to happen. Having everything for free may seem impossible, but looking for a good job and helping my parents is something that I know that I can achieve. In this way, we can always be together.