They are also Parents They Are Also Parents - A Study on Migrant Workers | Page 72

CCR CSR | A Study on Migrant Workers with Left-behind Children in China | August 2013
CCR CSR | A Study on Migrant Workers with Left-behind Children in China | August 2013
my friends value happiness, most just care about getting what they want or mother is paralyzed due to a car accident, and his father works in Guizhou
money.” Province. Only Chen, his younger brother and grandmother, live in the
hometown. His grandfather passed away long time ago. Chen’s mother came
“My mom and dad only care about my school performance. I think they think
from Guizhou Province.
have already fulfilled their duty for me. In my opinion, if one gives birth to a
child then abandons her, and another woman adopts the kid and takes care “Since I can remember, my father has worked away from home. I’ve asked
of her, the kid would be more grateful to the stepmother than the birth one. what kind of job he does, but he told me to just concentrate on my studies.
I shared this opinion with my mother once, but she said I was wrong. They I don’t care what my father says to me and I don’t want to know what job
must have their own reasons for treating me like this. I don’t know what those he’s doing. He never tells me anything. I contact him by phone. Sometimes
reasons are, but I can accept the idea. I call him when I’m sick. Once when I told my father I was sick, he came
back the second day. I’d forgotten what my father looked like when he
“Whenever I have a secret, I share it with grandma, if it is a small one, but came last time. He comes back once or twice a year, but sometimes he
I keep it to myself if it’s a bigger one. I wouldn’t talk to my sister about this doesn’t come back for the whole year. I don’t have any feelings about this.
kind of stuff, because she wouldn’t want to listen. When I was in sixth grade, To me, tomorrow, today and yesterday are the same. I don’t want to live
I had a best friend, and I shared a lot of secret with her. I had another good with my father. I’m used to living alone, and I don’t miss my father because
friend when I was in fifth grade, but we didn’t hang out as much after we I am not familiar with him.
had a big fight. It’s easy for children to make it up after a fight, but hard for
adults. I think I’m already half-adult. The fight happened more than one year “Since I was born, I have been to Guizhou less than five times. I remember
ago, and I am still really mad, but I don’t show that. If I feel down, I share once I went to Guizhou with my father to visit my grandfather. That time my
with my toy bear. I can’t remember when I got it.” mother was with us. After their divorce, when I was about five or six, my
mother was paralyzed in a car accident. I don’t have any special memories
[A postscript from the interviewer]: Xiaoli seemed like an adult sitting in front about my parents. They seldom played with me.
of me. She could understand that life is hard for her own parents, but she still “I only have one good friend in school. I might tell my classmates about my
couldn’t accept that they left her back at home, alone. This is because she is worries, but not everything. I don’t tell my father. Once he asked me and I
still a child, and she needs intimacy with her parents. However, her avoidance, told him, but his reaction hurt me. Now I only want to finish my education. I
her attitude of “I don’t care” only gives the impression that she actually does don’t like study because there is always a lot of homework. I feel alone and
need her parents. She likely really wants to be able to live with them, like her often sit by myself in school.
older sister.
“When I was young, I lived in my grandmother’s house, but I haven’t been
Case 3: I forgot what my father looks like there for about three years. My grandmother is the only one who cares about
Chen Guishan, 15 years old me. My grandfather died long time ago. I don’t have a good relationship with
my brother. I usually watch TV at home, but it’s boring. Bad things happen to
Chen Guishan is in the second year of junior middle school. He is from
me and give me a lot of pressure. I don’t have anything to say to my family.”
Chongqing, Changshou. His parents divorced when he was very young. His
70
71