Its tough to raise a family on your own , I did what I had to do for my family to be ok. Can a parent be wrong for feeling content with his efforts. I fought, struggled , everything an average parent, did but with eight kids. Each of my kids saw my efforts different, each choosing there own path. A family this big was just hard to keep up with. We also had our good times , even through our troubles. Anything they needed I tried to provide, there is nothing I wouldn't have done for my kids. Their mother wasn't much help, and I guess I put us in a bad situation at first. From the oldest right down to the youngest I stood alone for.
Now it was 1973 I just finished high school, I got into Cal State San Bernadino. The start of my new life was just about to begin. I had two steady girlfriends at the time, Darlene and pam. I was too young to be tied down, and wanted to keep my options open. That all went well until pam got pregnant. Only eighteen and I had a baby on the way, and pamChose not to stay with me. There was no way to make child support, and attend college at the same time. Enrolling in the military was the best plan for me, responsibility was apon me now.
Aneshia was my first born baby girl, now six years old she was already helping by watching her younger sibling. Alicia and Robert(Four&Three) can along after I came back from camp. Darlene had come back to me, and gave me another chance after she found out Pam was pregnant. We lived on base housing provided by the military in which I was still an active member. Money was an issue, I worked days, Darlene worked nights because we didn't have enough for a baby sitter. Aneshia was my little captain, she trying her hardest to keep on top of the little ones(even though she was one herself). Her childhood was stripped,"Just because im the oldest doesn't mean I have to watch them,"she reminded me. Aneshia felt that I only bossed her around, all work and no play.
