The Poet X Chronicles 1

The Poet X Chronicles 1

One of my favorite books from last year is Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo. One of the things I loved the most about the book was how the main character loves writing and the way that writing helps her cope with the challenges she's facing in her life. We see this through different writing prompts that Xiomara gets assigned in English class. I am going to be answering these writing prompts through a series of blog posts.

First one: Write about the most impactful day of your life.

I came to the United States when I was seven years old with my father, my older brother and younger sister. My mom was not able to come with us at the time because she did not have her visa. The plan was for my father to marry my mom and bring her to the United States. We would never have guessed that it was going to take 9 years for that to happen.

From the moment I came to the United States my life changed completely and some of it was for the better but I also struggled a lot. I had a nanny in the Dominican republic who would wake me up, make me breakfast and lunch and escort me to school. She would dress me and comb my hair and did the same for my sister. Here I had to make sure to set the alarm for 6:30 am shower my sister and I and prepare us for school. I would walk out on my own in the cold to wait for the bus to pick us up and take us to school. I would pick up my sister and make sure we made it back home and that her home work was done and that she ate. I became a mother because I had to assume her role. I would do most of the chores as the oldest and had to run the home. I didn't have a regular childhood it was full of responsibility.

I needed my mother growing up to show me how to better care for my body and self. To spend holidays with like the rest of my peers. To share stories, tell secrets and make jokes. Specially to take care of me - children need to be cared for by their parents. I learned about my period from a book and a neighborhood girl showed me how to wear pads. That was just one of the many moments when I needed my mom and she wasn't there.

Through all that struggle we waited with hope and anticipation for the day my mom would be able to come to the USA. It was what kept us going through every challenge even though I never felt like my happiness was complete because my mom wasn't there. Finally in 2003 our moment came. After any years of back and forth my mom got her green card and 4 days before my 16th birthday arrived in the USA. It was a cold winter day in New York. We weren't prepare to receive her- we didn't buy a coat for her. I didn't believe she was really coming. I wouldn't believe it till the moment I could see her with my own eyes. The wait for her to come out from the double doors was eternal but the moment she came out we rushed at her and started hugging her. I was so happy I remember things moving fast and a lot of talking. We talked for hours. Finally our house felt like home.

This day was impactful not only because my mom was finally here and all the years of waiting and missing her were finally over.  I was free! Free to just be a daughter, a teenager not the matriarch of a household.  Free to live my dreams and a huge weight lifted from my shoulders and the beginning of my independence came with her.