Parents and their Priorities

Everyone has priorities in their lives. I do, you do, everybody does. But stupid me thought that my parents’ number one priority was the safety of their child- me. Or my sister. Clearly, I was wrong.

Our balcony is really, really worn through because six years ago (when it was built) my dad forgot to do the grouting. Oops. Anyway, now it’s really, really water damaged and we have to get it fixed. And to save a few bucks, dad decided that we could pull up the tiles ourselves.

So my job was to throw the tiles down off the balcony to the ground below- may I take the time to mention the balcony’s on the second story? It was boring as hell, but I was being a good daughter and doing my job.

Then disaster struck. As I stepped on a tile-less space, my foot went right through. In less then two seconds, my entire leg was hanging through the hole, with my butt stopping me from falling. Holy shit.

My response? Cue loud, embarrassingly high-pitched scream. I would have sworn (loudly), but my parents wouldn’t have approved. Anyway, only a thin piece of water-damaged wood that I had just proved was not capable of holding the weight of a sixteen-year-old girl (and I’m not heavy, people!) was what was keeping me from falling down from the second storey to the concrete below!!!!!!!

My dad’s reaction? He called out to mum, who was on the ground below, “is the light okay?” because underneath the balcony there’s a light- our outside light- that he was afraid I'd knocked down. In actuality, I was about a meter across from it (possibly more). My mums Mum’s reaction? "Don’t move Juni! (wait for it) Let me get the camera!” I know right??? Caring parents, much???

Now I have an embarrassing photo of my leg sticking out of the bottom of the balcony that mum texted to ALL my aunts, uncles, grandparents… sadistic bitc woman. And I have the knowledge that a fifty dollar outside light means more to my dad than the safety of his own daughter! I mean, he’s blind! The least he could have done was check I wasn’t bleeding, dying, or in severe pain! It’s not like he could see me!

Anyway, that little fall ended up costing my parents almost $500 dollars extra… oops. It’s also left me safe in the knowledge that my parents’ priorities are completely and utterly about my safety.

Love Juni!