In Our Words Canadians Reading Together

Betsy’s stepfather moved away and remarried so the house her mother had worked so hard for and pair right up front with her hard earned money, was just standing on the corner lifeless. Instead of letting it go, Betsy and the kids moved into the house in October 1997, Halloween night. It was a really horrible nasty day to move, as it was raining that stinging rain and the wind was blowing some of the things off the truck. But they finally got moved in. There were only three kids that came to the house trick-or-treating that nasty night.

This was a small house with only three bedrooms, a living room, a small narrow hallway by the front door, a kitchen and a little dinette that was big enough to put a fridge, deep-freezer and a china cabinet. This was the downstairs. Upstairs was a little bathroom, and three small bedrooms with no closet space, no where to put clothes. The rooms all had those oldtime slant ceiling walls.

By now Betsy’s children were growing and getting older, and Betsy wanted to do more with her life. She took a program called W.I.N.G.S. (Women Investigating New Goals for Success). That was in August 2000. She graduated with about eight certificates, and went on to Adult School to further her education. She started in Level 3 program and last year graduated with her G.E.D. This year she is in the process of finishing her last Level 4 and hopes to graduate, to be very proud to walk out on the stage one last time to receive her Level 4 Diploma, and to have all the children to watch and hope that one day they too will make it to the stage to receive their grade 12 Diploma. Betsy will sit back proudly with admiration and satisfaction of what she accomplished with the upbringing of all the kids, and will hope that they will continue on in life with that same family spirit and drive.