They are also Parents They Are Also Parents - A Study on Migrant Workers | Page 68

CCR CSR | A Study on Migrant Workers with Left-behind Children in China | August 2013
Appendix 2:Voices of left-behind children
CCR CSR | A Study on Migrant Workers with Left-behind Children in China | August 2013
“When something makes me unhappy I just keep it to myself, I don’t find
someone to talk to about it. I’ve thought about talking to dad or to my aunt,
but in the end I gave up on that idea. Once I came across an injured bird.
Case 1: I want to know how my dad’s doing I fed it insects, and in the end it flew away. I didn’t tell my aunt about it
Xiaohang, 12 years old because she doesn’t agree with me doing something like that. I didn’t tell dad
either, but my friends all know about it.
Xiaohang’s mother died of cancer when he was eight, and his father makes a
living selling flowers in Guangzhou. The boy currently lives with his aunt in the “When I do talk to dad, I want him to talk about what he’s up to over there. I
family hometown. want to know how he’s doing, if he’s okay, but I’ve never asked him because I
don’t think he wants to talk about it. Aside from stuff to do with school I don’t
“My mum left me in 2009 when she died of cancer. I was eight then. My older know what to talk to dad about. I think he’s only interested in how my studies
sister works in Yongchuan. She’s married and has a three-year-old child. are going. Maybe next time I’ll try asking him about something else, and tell
him what I’m thinking.
“I came back here to our hometown when I was in primary school. The last
time I saw dad was on National Day in 2012. That’s over six months ago. I “During holidays and festivals, I miss my dad. I don’t know why he has to
went to meet him at the airport in Chongqing, I was really happy to see him, work in Guangzhou. I’ve never asked him. My aunt cares about me. When
and dad was really happy too, but I can’t remember what we talked about. we’re eating, she gives the me best bits, and the bits that aren’t so tasty she
keeps for herself to eat. I sometimes pick up the tasty bits and give them to
“I don’t get in touch with my dad myself. Every other week or so he calls. He her. I’ve lived with her for about four years. The most important thing here,
asks me how my grades are in school. He asks what I’m having any problems where my aunt lives, is doing farm work. My dad does migrant work, and it’s
in my Chinese classes and he helps me. For example, if I have a problem the only way to take care of your family. When I’m not at school, I sometimes
with reading something, dad will tell me how to sort it out. He also tells me go and help my aunt with the farming, picking weeds and planting seeds.
I should do some stuff around the house to help my aunt. Dad comes home
once every other year, usually during the summer holidays, because then he “I’ve never really thought about going over to live with my dad before. I
can spend more time hanging out with me. don’t have any friends over there, and I can’t really speak the local dialect
[Cantonese]. My dad’s talked about getting me to go over to Guangzhou –
“Dad’s working in Guangzhou. Since I came back home when I was in primary he says it every time he calls. To begin with, I didn’t want to go, but this year
school I’ve been there twice – once in 2008 and once in 2010 – and I stayed I want to go and spend some time over there. If I get on with the people,
for over a month. I once went to see my dad when he was at work. It was where he lives, I could live there. When I grow up, I’m going to go and live in
really buzzing with activity and sometimes I helped out. My dad took me out a big city; the environment’s better there. But I haven’t thought about what I’ll
sometimes, but I’m not really sure where to; I can’t really remember. He do when I grow up.
leaves at 6 or 7am and gets back at 7pm. Sometimes I’d go with him, and
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other times I’d stay at home by myself doing some homework or just chilling “What I think about most is how my mum was so good to me. From my
out. I make my own food. second year to my fourth year in school she came back home to look after
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