Little Miss Independent

This month, I joined the 9 to 5-ers and there's this African proverb that goes like 'Its the one with the scrotum, that knows where it itches him', I never related better. It means that it's only the person experiencing something that knows what he or she is facing. Others can only imagine.

Before I started this work, I always thought working 9am to 5pm wasn't going to be that hard. After all, I did it everyday back when I was in school (secondary school). Doing 7 to 6 is an old habit, and old habits die hard, don't they? Well, in my case, the old habit died very easily. 9 to 5-ing is so hard that getting back, all I want to do is take my bath and sleep. I feel so distant from my family even though I see them everyday, when I get back. But I'm usually too tired to even come out to do anything, talk more of bonding. So, when the #Thoughtfuldailypost community asked what I do when I'm away from family, my current situation popped into my head. I'm sort of away but not away from them.

Aside gaining admission into the university, I've not stayed away from my family for a long time. It's either my mom is with me, or my dad is, for the duration of that travel. It's not like I don't enjoy travelling. It's as a result of lack for places to go (I don't have money for my dream places yet). The first time I travelled to a place without my mom, dad or brother around me, it was to my grandma's. I was so excited to go there because she liked me a lot and seeing how strict she usually is around kids, I knew she liked me and spoiled me even. I reached there, the kids that lived with her, were happy to have someone who isn't grandma around them. I was happy too, because my kid brain believed that I had finally taken my first step to independence.

I went alone. As soon as I called home to let them know I've reached, I heard my brother's voice and I began to miss home. I took with me, a small Nokia phone and it was so hard, resisting the urge to call my mom every now and then, to ask my brother, what they were doing at home. I and my mom aren't the emotional/best-friend mother and daughter duo, and I knew if I overdid things by calling, she would shun me and tell me to stop disturbing them.

So, I kept to myself and played a little with kids that weren't my age, and answered grandma when she called. I waited till the next morning so I could hear my brother's voice again, and then, at night. Sunday came eventually, and I left. I didn't know I was going to miss home so much because at a point in my life, I was the one begging my mom that I wanted to go to a boarding school so I could become independent. So much for being independent. I narrated everything that happened to my brother, every meal I ate, who came to visit and what I did, all to my brother. Although I enjoyed it, I didn't long for the experience again.

My next time away from home, was to school. I'm sure many have read the story of how I cried on my first day in the hostel. I had no one to really tell the story then. That wasn't the kind of story I told my mom and dad so when they asked how was school, I said fine to everything. The days went by really fast, and soon enough, it didn't feel like I was missing a lot at home. But I still wanted to go home though. Away from the stress and all.

My response to this prompt is quite simple. When I'm away from home, I don't really do anything except the regular checkups and ensure everything is going as they should. Nothing much, nothing less.

Image is mine

Posted Using INLEO