Empowerment. Engagement. Authenticity.

Character Transitions - Remembering Change

On My Own

I remained blissfully unaffected by the emotional turmoil of pubescence. I spent sunny Saturdays at the racetrack with my Dad and long hours shopping with Mom at the mall. I sat patiently on my parents’ bed every morning as Mom applied my makeup and arranged my dark hair in elaborate coiffures. Then we would walk hand in hand to the train station, where Mom would kiss me goodbye as I headed off to my job at Bank of Montreal. I lived for weekends when I would sit on the front balcony of my parents’ house, reading while Dad washed his minivan after our weekly grocery trip.

I had two best friends who would sleep over occasionally, with Mom and Dad hovering good-naturedly over us, serving lavish meals and trying to sound informed on the topics of teenage girl-talk. I was an adolescent angel who never went anywhere without her parents, who couldn’t steal the family car for joyrides, who never even thought of sneaking a sip of wine.

At twenty-three, I moved out of my parents’ house in Ontario, to live with my boyfriend in British Columbia. Armed with no more than A five-hour flight and three time zones later, I was shown groceries from which I was expected to create hearty meals. My overstuffed shopping bag broke as I walked home from my first solitary shopping trip, scattering cleaning supplies on the sidewalk. That night, I fought back tears as my boyfriend valiantly chomped on a half-baked potato I served for dinner. At that moment, my rebellious independence fell flat on its ass.

Three years later, free from pubescent emotions, I know that moving was an important step in my growing up. I love my parents but I need to be more than their little girl. Cutting my finger while opening a can, burning my arm when the iron tilts, spilling spaghetti sauce on my sweater, getting lost in the grocery aisles – these lessons in self-sufficiency define a life that I can finally call my own.

 

 (c) Kristy Kassie, 2006


Quick Links

The Kristy Corner Handouts

ESL Instructor Experience

Educational Administrator Experience

Accessible Media Portfolio

Kristy Wins 2009 BC TEAL Writing Contest

A Piece of Kristy's Story

From the Wordynerd

Daily Facebook Posts

Find The Kristy Corner on FacebookFind The Kristy Corner on TwitterThe Kristy Corner on LinkedInFind The Kristy Corner on Pinterest