Family

My name‿ is Henry. I was brought‿ up‿ in‿ a close-knit family,│ and‿ it‿ is‿ only now,│ at forty^for-dy,│ that I^{thad I} understan(d) how much my upbringing was shaped by my parents'‿ expectations rather than my own choices.

My father believed that‿ a man should have‿ a trade,│ so I was sen(t) to a technical school‿ at fifteen,│ although I wanted^wan-did to study history. Nobody asked me what‿ I thought. I was not rebellious,│ so I accepted‿ it,│ an(d) for twenty^twen-dy years‿ I worked‿ in‿ a factory that has│ since closed. My sister,│ who was‿ allowed to choose,│ became‿ a doctor. When‿ I mention this‿ at dinner,│ my mother says‿ I am being‿ unfair,│ an(d) perhaps‿ I am. They made sacrifices for‿ us,│ and‿ it was taken for granted│ that we would be grateful.

What‿ I have learned‿ is that‿ a family can be close‿ an(d) complicated‿ at the same time. My extended family gets together‿ every Sunday,│ and‿ if resentmen(t) were discussed‿ openly,│ the lunch would last‿ all night. Instead,│ my brother‿ and‿ I have quietly grown‿ apar(t) from‿ our cousins,│ an(d) nobody says why. If‿ I could change one thing,│ it would be this:│ I would‿ ask my own children what they want│ before‿ I decide what‿ is good for them.