As a kid, you always grow up thinking that everything is great. Problems that arise are most often dealt with without much hassle. This almost perfect state of mind can be a problem in itself though. Innocence is normally thought of as something “mature people” have. In my mind, it’s something that few people ever lose because to me, innocence isn’t something you want to lose. The longer you can hold on to that innocence, the longer you have an excuse for your problems and responsibilities. If thought about this way, I lost my innocence a long time ago. You never really know how nasty divorce is until you actually experience it.

            To most, it was just another day in “paradise.” Even to me, it seemed pretty normal. I came home from school, grabbed a Coke from the fridge. If I’m lucky, there would still be some Doritos left, so I would take those too. After looting the kitchen, I headed downstairs to watch TV like I always did. After a few hours, my parents would finally get home. Give it twenty minutes, and they’re fighting again. I was used to it by then, so I just turned up the TV. When it was finally time for dinner, I walked back upstairs and sat down. Like most nights, there were only four plates set for my mom, two sisters and myself. Tonight was slightly different though because my mom didn’t say much. I quickly dismissed it as nothing afterwards and forgot about it.

            The next day, Saturday, I woke up late in the afternoon. I went downstairs to the living room to see that the rest of my family was sitting there already, but in tears. Of course, I was curious, but had no idea what was about to happen. I sat down, and when my parents said they were getting a divorce, I was more dumbfounded than sad. It didn’t even really hit me until a few seconds later. Unlike my sisters, I asked questions, probably too many. In that day I learned more about life than ever before. Time, in a way just stopped.

            In time, I realized the true gravity of my predicament. I was left in a house of three women. Every responsibility my dad had, I took over. I basically took care of everything since my older sister wasn’t home much and my mom was always busy with other things. I learned almost too much about life and the problems it held for everyone. From then on, life didn’t get much more difficult. I figured I had experienced one of the worst parts and pretty much just took everything else as no big deal. In a way I’m somewhat glad that it did happen, because it taught me a lot about life and myself. I learned that you have to be able to do things yourself. If you do need help, there’s no shame in asking for it.

            The way I think has become a lot more literal since then and I like to think of myself as a pretty down to earth person. It may sound bad, but I think the divorce actually changed me for the better. It made me realize how fragile things in life can be, but with the right amount of work and emotion put into anything, it will turn out to be worth it in the end.