Hello ladies, I am interested in the contest, I want to participate because I also want to share with you my experience as a breadwinner.

I am a breadwinner in my family. I have three older brothers and I have one younger sister. Even though we were struggling so much, our parents still insisted that we all study and finish elementary school.

I finished elementary school at the age of 14, turning 15 years old because I always stopped studying. Weeks before my graduation in elementary, my father suffer from dementia. I think he was about 70+ of age at that time.

I decided to work in the city as a maid or housekeeper. I ask my Mother if I will work in the city so that I can help at least pay for my father's food. Mother didn't want to agree but I forced her and I also ask permission from my father, I don't know if he understood that or not.

I told my father and mother that with my first salary of P1500, I would buy food for them, and I would make them taste delicious food. But after a few weeks, my older brother called that my father was gone, he passed away. I hadn't even been in my job for a month.

To make my story short, That's when I started being the breadwinner in my whole family. My employer allowed me to study high school in the Alternative Learning System (ALS) and every salary I send to my family. Feel free to send money and help them. No one in my family, especially my mother, ordered me to do that.

I graduated High school through ALS. Six years later, I decided to go on a mission an 18 months mission in our church, Voluntary work, and no salary. At first, I hesitate if I'll continue with my plan because what about my family, no one will give them money for their food.

But I asked my mother and my older brothers if I could do a mission in the church as voluntary work, with no salary. They immediately answered me "We support your happiness, as long as you are happy, we are happy for you, go for it don't worry about us, we will survive without your help when it comes to the money support."

They did survive while I was on a mission. After my 18 months of service in the church, I studied college at a university and at the same time worked in a bakery shop to support my studies.

![Screenshot_20230822_152335.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/dpmeriam/23wWu6JSCzvMcsbXrMG9vZ4W97fsb7BmTLNxvcsvbKzhhhRBDBSembroLkzBYR3xbq1Do.jpg)_This is my mother, I took a video of her while she was cleaning her vegetables garden last June 2023, my family got a chance to visit her in my home province. She is very hardworking ever since in order for us to survive. I love her so much._

But in my second year in college, my mother always got sick and even ended up in hospital admission. I can't bear not being able to give Mom financial help for her medicine and food.

My salary from my part-time job is just not enough for my needs while studying in college. So I decided again to stop studying and work full time so that I can give my mother financial help for her medicine and food so that she won't get sick and won't go back to the hospital again.

I don't want to regret it in the end, I still want to be with Mother for a long time, even though we are far from each other because I work far away, at least I know she will be there when I come home and I can talk to her on the phone.

![Screenshot_20230822_152445.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/dpmeriam/23wX3FBnS8MDiKMNHB4zP6W8MwrReCxYxf3Sbg9JQQ5hG4CDZctUsnLNjmyqGAoBxES9f.jpg)_My mother's one of her source of income now making a broom stick and making the native mat is one of her source of income since I was a child until now._

Years later, I got married, and my title as a breadwinner stopped Because my husband stopped me from working so I can't give them anything. But when we got extra from my husband's salary, he always told me to send it to my mom.

![IMG_20230822_150622.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/dpmeriam/23wX3nUeZdWrJFsaBBU1TA3twLKpBqZoHjAprmRAREx65EchU6HWgbpeVLEGUpkqV1VAy.jpg)_A night before my wedding day, I spent the night with my mother in the hotel._

Now we still give to Mom even though she doesn't ask as long as we have an extra way of showing our love to her and since we live far away from her. I am grateful for my husband because he is mindful of my mother's needs.

![Screenshot_20230822_152412.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/dpmeriam/23vhuB3x5foWx8QXcG2ZY2VYr5oSH2MNVvx4k6XP6q3jdMeKaBi4dFJxcUzVTVhTdNQn2.jpg)_One of her source of income since I was a child and until now, planting and selling vegetables._

I can still remember that I was still able to buy what I wanted when I was working and at the same time supported my family financially. Every time I got paid, I would separate a budget for Star Magic's newly released magazine hahaha I used to follow the Kimerald love team then hahaha. I'm so happy when I buy it every time I get my salary hahaha.

When I stopped going to college to support my mother financially, I still manage to do what I want, I was able to roam around with my roommates who became my close friends when we had the same day off from work, there was no stress or pressure even though I couldn't buy what I wanted, only needs.

I only get stressed when one of my family members or especially my mother gets sick because my salary is not enough for it. That's why I always pray that God gives a protection and good health every day.

I will do everything so that someday my children won't be forced to help their parents or will feel that he needs to feed and support us financially after his studies. So while there is still time, work hard and save for retirement and not force children to feed and support financially to their parents or younger siblings.

Let us give our children the freedom to choose and guide, and support them. I am a Korean and Chinese drama lover and I always watched a scene that makes me have high blood pressure, they always make their children an investment and always have a business marriage. But of course that's just a drama hahaha maybe that's not true in real life.

Thank you ladies for reading my story. This is my first post on this amazing community since I am new here and still exploring the platform.