They are also Parents They Are Also Parents - A Study on Migrant Workers | Page 76

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
have time. My parents said they will come back when they are too old to Every time he comes back, we’re both pretty happy, although he usually
work. Now I’ve got used to it. doesn’t talk a lot. For example, when he came back last time, I said to him ‘Hi
dad! You’re back!’ He replied, ‘Yep.’ And then, without saying anything else,
“I guess I will work in a city when I grow up, but I will take my children to live we just watched TV together. The last time was in March, and since then until
with me because I know how unhappy it is to be left here. I talked about this now – June – we have only spoken on the phone once, and he asked how I
with friends. I’m going to teach my children many skills. I’m good at dancing, was doing at school.
but my parents never gave me a chance to go to any special interest classes.
I like piano but I don’t know how to play. I am in charge of all the art activities “My grandma loves and cares about me the most. I go to school in my county
in my class. every Monday and come back home every Friday. Every weekend when I’m
back, grandma always prepares a lot of delicious food for me. My grandpa
“I don’t have a dream. I hope my parents stay healthy.”
also loves me a lot. He helps me with difficulties in homework. When dad
calls, he asks about school, and I would ask about his work. He always says
[A postscript from the interviewer]: She was at home alone when we met it’s fine. I don’t really know if he has regular weekends, or whether he has any
her. She had only spent very limited time living with her mother. She doesn’t difficulties in the workplace. However, I don’t dare to ask those questions on
like her grandparents, but she has learned to understand and be tolerant. the phone. In the past, I’ve tried questions like, “How’s your work dad; do you
She is very mature because she has experienced the pain of separation. She get breaks?” But he doesn’t want to talk about it, and just tells me to focus on
insisted that she would never let her children go through the same things. It my studies. I miss my father a lot – perhaps three or four times a day. Once
was possible to sense her endurance when talking with her. It is worrying to I told him so. I said over the phone: ‘Dad, I miss you so much, please come
wonder what would happen to her if she were not as strong as she is now. back earlier.’ He seemed really surprised, and he said, ‘I’ll come back after
finishing work’. And then I said, ‘Fine.’
Case 5: Dad, I love you
Wang Yuan, 12 years old
Every time I miss my father, I tend to become more considerate to my
grandparents. I help them to do things. When I tell my father this on the
Wang Yuan is in the fifth grade. His father works in Chongqing. His parents phone, he’s always happy. My father is the closest person to me in the world.
could not get legally married because couldn’t get the blessings of both I want to live with him. But I don’t have any friends in Chongqing. So it is a
families. His grandparents (maternal) did not approve of their marriage. As hard choice for me to move. But he can’t move back either, because there
a result, Wang Yuan was born out of wedlock. When he was four, her parents are no job opportunities for him. I wish he worked closer so we could live
called his mother back to her hometown because her mother was sick. From together, and I could also play with my friends here. I haven’t shared this
then on, she never came back, although the boy’s grandmother (paternal) thought with my father, because I don’t want to put an extra burden on him
wants him occasionally. when he is already working long hours. This is a really tough situation. If
one day dad asks me to move to Chongqing, I think I would, even if it meant
“I’m in fifth grade, and I’m the only child. My mom left when I was young,
leaving my friends behind. I desperately want to live with him.
and I don’t know where she is and what she does now. My dad is working
in Chongqing, and he comes back and sees me every three or four months.
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“I dream about becoming a chef, and I want to cook for my dad, because he
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