Rosario, Carlitos mother, made the choice to leave behind a world of poverty and uncertainty and risk her life to go to a place illegally so that her and her son could survive together. She knew that her mother loved Carlitos and would care for him as well as he would care for his grandmother. She felt she had no other choice, even with the risks for her crossing the border illegally and the risks of leaving her son with her ill mother. I don't think she thought it would take as long as it did to earn enough money to bring her son to the United States. But she knew it was a better decision than to stay in Mexico and have to struggle with the poverty she faced.
Rosario wanted her son to have the things that she never had in her life and didn't want him to turn to the streets, like his friend Chito who sells gum in town.
Carlito missed his mother very much everyday. He was very focused for a 9-yr. old. He would wake up every morning and get his grandmother's breakfast while also getting ready for school. He also had a job so he could make enough money to go to Los Angeles to find his mother. Not many 9 yr.old children could stay focused on anything that intense for that long.
Rosario also missed her son every single day, especially since one of her jobs was babysitting a young boy. Through her daily struggles working 2 jobs and working for an ungrateful employer, she saved her money and thought of Carlito.
Not only Moms, but most people in the U.S. take for granted the life they have here. If you are a legal citizen, you have many resources that are not offered in Mexico. As a mother myself, I have done things to protect my daughter, but nothing to that extreme. I really couldn't say if a mother would go this far, but chances are they would.
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I agree that Carlito was very focused for a nine year old. I think he was in a situation where he had to "grow up fast" to a certain degree, but he was very mature and responsible and I think these qualities guided him, along with the love and guidance from his grandmother. He never appeared to be burdened by caring for his ill grandmother or working for Dona Carmen to be able to save money for when he would be reuinited with his mother. I also think his grandmother attempted to preserve his childhood as best she could, as depicted in the traditional birthday party with family and friends.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with your point that many Americans take life for granted here. Resources are available for those in need, but I also think many resources are abused. Many also get themselves into situations by being greedy and pretentious. Not that this applies to Rosario's situation, just my little soapbox.
Great input! Taking for granted life in America could be another point for discussion! great!
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