They are also Parents They Are Also Parents - A Study on Migrant Workers | Page 74

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
[A postscript from the interviewer]: The Chen family’s yard has been locked to do chores. But when I lived with the grandmother [paternal], they shouted
up for a long time. Chen’s grandmother told us there are no young people in at me when they were in a bad mood. I cooked every day and my brother
the village because they are all working as migrants. Chen’s father seldom tended the kitchen fire. My grandparents [paternal] never cook. My brother
comes home. Chen has many complains about his parents’ divorce, the car has similar experiences as me, but I think the grandparents like him more
accident that happened to his mother, and his father’s absence. He doesn’t because he is a boy.
talk to his friends about his family, but he told us many stories. Perhaps that
was because we were outsiders who probably wouldn’t come back.
“My parents never want to take me to Kunming, because their work is
unstable, and the education system and language are different. They are too
Case 4: I will take my children with me busy every day to talk to me. I have classmates who live with their parents,
Huan Qin, 16 years old and they sometimes argue with their parents. I still envy them a lot. When
I was young, I expected my parents to come back every day and called
Huan Qin is a high school second-year student. She was sent back to the them again and again. I always expected the good food and new clothes my
hometown to live with her grandparents at the age of six. Because the older parents would bring with them. In summer, my parents usually send back
generation favors boys over girls, Huan feels wronged. She usually talks about some presents. When I was in the fifth grade, they bought me a pair of pretty
her future with her friends. She has decided, no matter how difficult life is, shoes! But the shoes were too small for me. Since I’ve grown up, my parents
she will take her children to live with her. have stopped buying me new clothes.
“My grandparents farm in our hometown. They don’t need the money, but “I have peers just like me. The most important time of the year is the reunion
they want to work. during the Spring Festival. I feel so happy on that day.
“My brother and I live at the school, and only come home during the “When I graduated from middle school, my grades were not good enough
weekends. It’s a holiday today and my grandfather took my brother home. He to go to a good high school, but I still wanted to go. I asked many friends
didn’t ask me. I’m unhappy about it because I want to go home as well. and my parents, and they told me to decide for myself. I didn’t know what
to do, and hoped my parents could help me make a decision. The school I’m
“I don’t know why my parents work in Kunming. They work on construction
attending now is not very good, and the students don’t study.
sites. I have been there once and I know they really work hard.
“Before, I didn’t want to be shouted at by my grandparents, so I played in
“I was living with my maternal grandmother when I was one or two. Then my my classmates’ home. But then both my parents and my grandfather shouted
mother gave birth to my younger brother and sent me to kindergarten. When at me. Sometime my grandfather comes to school and shouts at me in front
I was in first grade and my brother was in kindergarten, they sent me back to of my classmates. I feel sad about it. If my parents were here, the situation
my hometown. Since then, I’ve lived with my grandfather. I go to school by would be much better.
myself. No one takes care of me.
“I cry in my room when I miss my parents, or when my grandparents shout
“My grandmother [maternal] gave me the most attention. She didn’t want me
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at me. I don’t know if my parents miss me and my brother. Maybe they don’t
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