I am a teenage girl residing in South Africa. Well, I can’t say this is the story of my life because I still have a long path to travel; I will say it is the introduction of my life story.

I have a very strict mother and a little sister. I have a father, but I don’t think it is important to talk about him because he is not part of my life. When I was young, my mother had depression, leading her to do bad things, like drinking alcohol and beating me. You may see it as abuse, but I don’t because I know she was not in her right mind then.

I don’t party and date like my peers, and I don’t see any issues. The attention my peers seek from friends and boyfriends or girlfriends is what I get from my mother, including love.

My father and mother broke up many years ago, which did not affect my sister and me as she was still young. My mother became a single parent trying by all means that survive. My father sent money when he wanted or would make excuses like he no longer worked, didn’t get his payment, etc. Still, we survived because of my mom.

There was a year I became a troublemaker to my mother because of friends. I stole money from people we lived with to impress my friends. My mother gave me enough money for lunch or packed me a lunchbox if she could; above that, we got free lunch at school. Therefore I wouldn’t say stealing money was because my mom refused to give me, but it was peer pressure. My mom found me one day and beat me till I exposed the truth. She cried, asking me if what she gave me was not enough. I could see the sadness in her eyes while she said that. I told her the reason. Instead of beating me again, she hugged and comforted me.

When I am hurt, my shoulder to cry on is my mom before anyone else because she knows and understands me. My mom loves her children the way she loves herself. Her being strict is what made me today. I am a very strong girl, raised by a very strong woman.