Even though Andre’s salary wasn’t too bad, we had been unable to save any money. My parents were now living with us and my children were growing up; expenses were on the rise. Michael was five and a half and in kindergarten at the time, and Thomas was a year old. My mother agreed to look after Thomas while I was at work. She was good to my children and gave them the love she had never given me. With my first paycheque—about three hundred dollars—I bought a swing set for the boys. I was so proud of contributing to my family’s finances. When my parents first arrived in Canada, they were happy to be with us. But they had expected life here to be easier than it was. I simply couldn’t meet their expectations. I was too busy working, and when I was home, I spent most of my time with my children. I had vowed to be a good mother, and I tried to accomplish this by being present in my children’s lives. The boys and I went to the park, swimming pool, library, and movies when they were old enough.
