The Burden
The little boy sat straight up in his chair, quiet and unflinching. His eyes were staring at a point on the wall but it was clear that his mind was elsewhere... his happy place, his 'anywhere but here' place.
He couldn't have been more than nine years old, his sister maybe seven. She was restless, dancing in place, leaning on first one parent and then the other, running to the window and back again. She was scolded more than once but it barely phased her. She would halt for a moment and then dance off again as soon as she knew the others were distracted.
Her parents were standing, one on either side of the boy, talking over his head as parents often do. They were arguing in tones that ranged from hushed to embarrassing. I was seated just to the side, not wanting to eavesdrop but having no choice. I was told to sit and wait so I was sitting and waiting. And listening.
"Have his eyes really changed that much? Can't he get by with the glasses he has?"
"Yes, his vision has changed, the doctor said so. Plus, he's told us he can't see the front of the classroom. He needs new contacts, too."
"No! Not glasses and contacts! One or the other. We can't afford both, we can't even afford one! Not with the new truck and my fishing trip coming up. You know our insurance doesn't cover this."
The mother sighed.
The father glared.
The daughter danced.
The son stared.
burden, family, life glimpses, vision in About My Day 
Reader Comments (6)
That breaks my heart when I hear people putting their frivolous needs over the basic needs of kids. If he needs glasses, then you don't go on your fishing trip. Simple decision (in my mind, anyways). And how awful for that little boy to know exactly where his father prioritizes him. So sad.
I know, Jenn, I was instantly angry at the time, too. But then I got to thinking, I don't know the whole story so I shouldn't judge. Perhaps the fishing trip was something he felt he had to go on for business or personal reasons (maybe his dad is dying and it's a last wish or something) and the truck was needed to get back and forth to work... I don't know. It's just sad that we don't have a way for children in this country to get the medical and physical help they need without being made to feel guilty about needing it.
xoxo
I see your point. But still not the convo to have in front of your kid. Kids are smart. They understand. They remember. And they hurt. And even if the truck was needed and the trip was a dying wish, you know all that little boy will remember is he didn't get the glasses he needed.
Definitely agree. Kids never forget how you made them feel -- good or bad.
It makes me grateful to live in a country that for all its faults would still see this little fellow right.
My heart aches for that kid. :( Sounds like two people that are so used to fighting that they don't even register the presence of their kids anymore. :/