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Every now and then, my brain goes traveling down Memory Lane for no specific reason. And it comes back with a totally random very specific piece of my past.

Usually something that has to do with my childhood.

Chéri is very familiar with these Family Flashes, because I always feel the need to share them with him, when they happen.

I thought I’d start a little series, like a scrapbook of these tiny bits of my life.

***

When I was born, Mom decided that she wanted to be a stay-at-home mom.  Back then, she and Dad had good jobs, and they had enjoyed their early married life. Two pay checks were obviously better than just one, but hey! She had to choose between money and getting to raise me full time. And she made the right choice (if you ask me).

Just before getting pregnant again with Little Bro, the government ”forced” her to try to go back to work. And she did comply by scheduling several job interviews that she brilliantly sabotaged.

And then came Little Bro. Who gave Mom a little more time to consider her options.

When the benefits ended, Mom decided again that she prefered to take care of us two, than go back to working. Even if Dad had a respectful and well-paying job, it wasn’t always easy for them to make ends meet. I remember that at the grocery store, Mom would always put items on the conveyor in order, from the most important to the least. She humbly mentionned to the clerc how much money she had to spend, and to stop adding food to her bill if she couldn’t afford all of it.

Fast forward to my early teen years…

Mom still wasn’t ready to go back to work. And while other kids like J, my (still) bestfriend had a key around their neck to get back home while their parents still worked, Little Bro and I walked back to Mom each and afternoon. Which was so ”un-cool”.

Looking back now… We were the cool kids. Loved enough that our parents would cut back on their priviledges to be present. Everyday, when we walked back from school.

We were the cool kids. And we didn’t know it.

At least, now I know.