Title Response
Author Witi thema
When I read this story I felt sad for the kids, they probably feel neglected and scared. The Parents fight everyday, drunk parents, mum and uncle Pera always going out abandoning them to look after themselves. 5
Their dad also left them, they probably want to see their male role model, I can't imagine my dad leaving after a decade and a bit in my life.
I am angry with the mum because she knows she's a bad mother and she's not doing anything, evidence is when she goes out she relies on Hema to look after Janey and himself, and Hema is still a child as well.
Another reason I'm infuriated is she knows she's giving them a bad life even though she could make their life better. They have been through this life since birth, and Hema being the big brother he is… he basically took the parent role at the age of 12. Mums always leave them for uncle Pera, she's always drunk when she gets home, so they had nothing to eat, their mum showed that she doesn't love them anymore, she would rather uncle Pera other them. I think children should be allowed to be children and not have to be adults. I think they should have a childhood, Hema doesn’t really get a childhood instead has to be Janey’s parent.
I can't blame Janey and Hera for running away, I would too if I were getting treated like that, I would run far FAR! away just to give Janey a better life. Hera is already at the maturity level as an adult, she understands people's problems and drama, other kids are still playing with toys and crying over falling. He is also selfless giving his money, food, everything good to janey, he even carries her half a mile to a train station at 12-13. Janey I feel bad for as well because she's young and she's already experiencing this.
If I was in this situation I would try my hardest to make sure that my little sister is healthy and not sick, I would also not jump my dad because he left the kids for probably alcohol and prostitutes.
Second, I would make it to my grandparents house. I'll get an education then I would try to be rich and rub it in my mothers and fathers face, nevermind im joking, I would probably keep my little sister going and working, making sure she's ok. If we had no more food I would do anything to keep us moving to get to the train tracks, if someone tried to steal or touch her I would absolutely body slam them. I would try to have a growth mindset and make sure Janey is raised better so one day if she has kids she would treat them how I treat her.
What needs to change around Hema and Janey is the people thinking its alright to neglect them, because if Hema and Janey didnt run away they would of raised their kids to become like there mum and dad, neglectful and always fighting, or… they would of stayed and mum would of had no money for food and water, and the kids would potentially go homeless. So I can't blame them for running away. There are over 130,000 New Zealand kids in the same situation as Janey and Hema. It's honestly sad because how they're gonna be brought up is how their kids are gonna be brought up because their childhood was normal to them. That's just an example for my point, if mum kept raising them like this they potentially would have raised their kids the same, and then they raise their kids the same, and so on…
I really like Hema for tryna escape the Pattern of poverty, it shows us that he's more mature or on the same maturity level with adults and he has a growth mindset of growing and doing better. I also like that he protects his little sister Janey with his heart and never lets her go, unlike mum always relying on Hema to do everything for her. Hema showed me that you can turn your life around no matter what, you just have to realize what's happening around you and make a change like a true champ.
Poverty is probably one of New Zealand's saddest problems right now with over 130,00 kids suffering from neglect and abuse from parents, not just in New Zealand but all around the world. If I had the power and money I would change kids' lives around just like Hemas and Janeys childhood, I would find good people to look after them, and make sure this problem is solved because I feel sad for all those 100,000 kids in new Zealand suffering from poverty. I would make sure they have a roof over their head, clean water, and good eating food for energy so they can learn at school.
