I had no childhood. I grew up with divorced parents, I have witnessed thousands of scandals. I lived in a home for abandoned children, where childhood does not exist and time stops. My childhood never came. I was forced to grow up.

I had „life” as a teacher.

And it was this life that gave me the opportunity to experience childhood among the little and big ruffians in our family. We laugh, we play, and we have fun. I learn from them how to be a child and a parent.

Sometimes I cry. Tears of pain because of my helplessness before these children’s destiny, pain coming from the incompetence of those responsible for the children to have a normal way of life and a real childhood always, not just at the moment. Sometimes I cry tears of joy, when I see the change in them, how the long awaited emotions are expressed, the first word, the first tooth, the first steps and the first time their little hands reach for a hug.  And the eyes shining with happiness, radiating peace and confidence give me the strength to fight, to withstand every difficulty, to continue with tenacity, perseverance and love for their sake, so that they may have what was taken from me - a happy childhood.

This is my reward, these are the fruits of my labour. It is both thrilling and highly responsible when you know that you are being watched and followed every single day. Children are a white sheet of paper on which we as adults write every day. I am not afraid of their questions children should have questions. Sometimes they ask about hilarious things, at other times the topic is very serious.

I hope I will succeed in my effort to teach them to dream and to follow their dreams. To be able to find who they are within the turmoil surrounding them. I try to teach them to forgive the past, to forgive destiny and those who have caused them pain and taken away their most valuable thing, to use these experiences as a stepping stone for the future. I teach them to have values and be moral, which would guide them so that they may live a worthy life. Every child arrives as a character from a horror movie, filled with fear and nightmares but in the end leaves free, happy, and full of dreams.

That’s why separation is the most difficult thing for me. I carry each child in my heart. Every one of them leaves a lasting mark and has a special place in my heart. I try to instill in them a part of me as well, to sow a tiny seed of love. Children are one of the most important textbooks written by life, and I would like to learn from them.