Ihadthemeanestmotherintheworld.Whileotherkidsatecandyforbreakfast,Ihadtohavecereal,eggsandtoast.Othershadcokesandcandyforlunch,whilewehadtoeatasandwich.Asyoucanguess,mysupperwasdifferentthantheotherkids’.ButatleastIwasnotaloneinmysuffering.MysisterandtwobrothershadthesamemeanmotherasIdid.
Mymotherinsistedonknowingwherewewereatalltimes.Shehadtoknowwhoourfriendswereandwhatweweredoing.Wehadtowearcleanclotheseveryday.Otherkidsalwaysworetheirclothesfordays.Wereachedtheheightofdisgracebecauseshemadeourclothesherself,justtosavemoney.
Theworstisyettocome.Wehadtobeinbedby9:00eachnightandupat7:45thenextmorning.Sowhilemyfriendsslept,mymotheractuallyhadthecouragetobreakChildLaborLaw.Shemadeuswork.Ibelievedshelayawakeallnightthinkingupmeanthingstodotous.Throughtheyears,ourfriends’reportcardshadbeautifulcolorsonthem,blackforpassing,redforfailing.Mymother,however,wouldmerelybecontentwithblackmarks.Noneofuswasallowedthepleasureofbeingadropout.
Sheforcedustogrowupintoeducatedandhonestadults.Usingthisasabackground,I’mnowtryingtobringupmythreechildren.I’mfilledwithpridewhenmychildrenthinkIammeanbecausenowIthankGodeverydayforgivingmethemeanestmotherintheworld.
小题1:Whichofthefollowingthingsdidthewriterhatetodomost?