The Native Iowan

We’ve seen it all before. And it’s all so sad. A nice family: Mom, Dad, and four beautiful kids. Both mom and dad are well-educated and work good jobs. The kids are the kind of kids that you enjoy looking at. Their golden curls and beaming smiles.

But there is a dark secret here. There is more than meets the eye of the casual observer. What looks like an educated and organized family is false. When we see dad and mom dressed for work they look like professionals.

But they have a problem.

Mom and dad like to drink and have fun. They’re still young. They like parties. Every payday there is a party. It lasts all weekend. There’s plenty of grog and heaps of food.

But come Monday, it’s a different story:

The neighbors know all about it. The neighbors actually care for the kids. Bath them. Feed them.  Give them support when mom and dad is either drunk, hung over or out of money.

Mom and Dad put a real good face on when they go to work. They are big-men in their offices. But at home they are beggars.
Always asking from money for school fees. When an illness strikes the neighbors help with transport, food and care for the kids. Most nights the kids stay in the neighbor’s kitchen. Sitting round the fire as the communal pot of cassava boils. The neighbor knows how tough it is. A family of their own to feed. But you can’t let the kids go hungry.

Some nights mom and dad visit the neighbor’s kitchen too.

But when payday comes it’s all good fun. There’s a big barbeque, beer and wine, soft drinks and ice cream for the kids. The neighbors come too. Everyone is invited. Everyone has a good time.

Until Monday.

On Monday the hangover clears and reality comes back shockingly clear and bright.

Mom and dad hang their heads for a few days. A bit shame-faced they ask the neighbors for the kids’ lunch-money. And the neighbors help. They always help. Perhaps that’s part of the problem?

Sound familiar? Sound like something we’ve seen before? Perhaps on an larger scale?

Makes me wonder when the current party on the hill will end? I hope it’s soon. I know there will be a huge hangover from it all.