Y'know, I am glad I can read.
My mother, on the other hand, can't. It's really handicapped her in a big way. She gets lost easily because she can't read the signs, and then, when she tries to call home, she often dials the wrong number; then she starts crying and has to have someone help her.
That must really be awful. My mom came here from Kenya, unable to read/write. She married my dad, an American, and this was how mom came here, ten years ago; however, she never did learn to read/write. I guess she felt she didn't have to learn; now she's starting to see the results of her "disability". It's really made her life a living nightmare.
Every night, I have to read to her, be it one of my own books, or one of my little sister's Dr. Seuss books; yet I'm wondering if the words/stories mean anything to her.
Whenever we go to the store, mom asks dad what the packages say; she knows what an item is more by looks than by words or what's printed on the packages. Or whenever we go to the doctor's office, I have to go with her (on non-school days) to help her with the forms because she can't read them. People stare at us like we're some strange space creatures, and I get very uncomfortable explaining that my mom can't read.
She never learned to read growing up in Africa, never went to school. Mom is uneducated, illiterate. It's really sad if you think about it because it's really hampered her world. She stays home and takes care of the babies (us, meaning me and my little sister, who's two), or, if she does go anywhere, she has to have someone go with her or else she could get lost or mixed up.
I often wish mom would learn to read; it would save her (and us) a lot of headaches!!
Mom could get a job, but then again, in order to fill out the job applications, you have to read the forms and then fill out the questions. Mom can't do that. She can't even read words like "cat", "big", or "the".
I don't know what's going to happen to her if her husband (my dad), or one of us kids die; she would be up the creek without a paddle! I often worry about this, and it's frustrating to have to explain to my kids why mom is the way she is: goofy-headed.
I know in a sense it's her fault, but at the same time, I wish there was a way we could help her change her mind about words or reading! She would really be doing herself a favor if she learned how to read or write!! It's like she's the kid and I'm the parent!
*to be continued.*
