Growing Pains

School End of Year Parties were not on my list of fun activities. School Educational Trips were my worst nightmare. Break Time and Lunch times, I did not look forward to.

The Primary School I attended comprised mainly of kids from the middle to upper class of society. My Dad passed away when I was in Grade 2, and him being the sole breadwinner of the family, things took a nose dive after his demise. My Mom was unemployed.

Whenever schools closed at the end of the year, we would have a Class Party to celebrate. This meant ditching our school uniforms for the day and rocking our Civvies. Only I didn’t have much to ‘rock’. I hated it because honestly I had nothing nice to wear. And so I would try to find the most decent looking dress I owned from my little collection and would pair it off with my school shoes (and socks) and join in the party. It was the best I could do really. My fellow class mates always outdid themselves and came dressed to the nines. It made me feel very uncomfortable. To this very day I will always remember a comment passed by this girl in my class who happened to come from a well to do family, “Erica, why aren’t you wearing a party dress” she snickered (the nerve!). I was embarrassed because as far as I was concerned, I had tried to look the part, under the circumstances.

I never looked forward to Break Time or Lunch Time because I hardly ever carried food to school. And if I did, it was always mixed fruit jam. Yes that, that red thing! To this day I cannot stand the sight of it. Yuck!  School Educational Trips to the Game Reserves were my worst nightmare. You see this was the day where all the other kids would show off all their goodies from home… Kentucky Fried Chicken, Fruit Juice, and all the Snacks you can think of. I recall a particular day our school was scheduled to visit Hlane Game Reserve. I woke up very early in the morning on the day and carefully thought about and strategized as to how I was going to throw the other kids off my back because I had nothing to carry for the trip. They always came with their school bags bulging and filled to maximum capacity with mouth-watering goodies. I came up with a cunning plan; I gathered my school jerseys, tracksuits and raincoats and stashed them inside my school bag up to the point that my school bag looked nice and fat. “That should keep those inquisitive rascals off my back” I thought to myself. But Noooo!!!! No sooner had I entered the school Bus than those peeping toms wanted to see what I was carrying for the trip. Lol! I had to put my foot down and refused to let them inside my bag.     

Looking back now and reflecting… Those were the most difficult years of my childhood and my self-esteem was wounded quite a bit, more so because I had absolutely no control over the situation. Nonetheless, I am grateful that I never allowed this experience to bring me down or deter my plans for the future. Things improved at home when I got to High School and life got back to normal. I no longer had to endure the embarrassing situations I encountered during my Primary School days. Most of my teachers liked me and I was performing well academically. I was also very well behaved and was even appointed Class Prefect and Ultimately, Vice Head Girl in my Final Year of school.

Sadly, my final year of High School is the year my Mom passed away. It was during the time that I was preparing for my final O’Level Examination. Thankfully and by God’s Grace, I managed to perform well and was accepted into University. Being orphaned at a young age forced me to grow up quickly. It taught me how to be strong and it brought my siblings and I closer together than we had ever been. It also taught me to take charge of my destiny regardless of what I had experienced and not to ever feel like a victim but rather a victor of my childhood circumstances.

The reason I have decided to share this with you is because it will be Christmas in a few days’ time. Families come together during this time and enjoy food, drink and presents aplenty. Very few people take time to think about the families who are less privileged, the child headed families out there and the destitute. I know what it feels like to be without, and therefore I am grateful to my creator for being with me, for guiding me, for protecting me and for blessing me with two beautiful children of my own. I am what and who I am today because of his grace. 

On Christmas Eve, my siblings and I, together with other friends will be visiting an Orphanage located at Elwandle in the Manzini region where we will, as we have been doing over the years, have a Braai and refreshments with Orphans of that area. Some good friends and companies have donated presents as well so the children will receive Christmas gifts too. It may not be much, but I know it will bring a smile on their faces and plant love in their lonely hearts. Merry Christmas Everyone, I pray that the grace and protection of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ be upon you today and in the New Year. Till next week, Much love and God Bless.