SHADIRA: I’m trying. It’s not always as easy as you think. I have so much going on in my life and I can only do so much. I know you think I am Wonder Woman, I know how things look to you and everybody else on the outside, but I am still only sixteen and sacrificing so much of my youth for what I want in my life.
I get that this is what I want and I’ve brought this upon myself. You are right, it is what I want but you can’t continue to burden me with things you need me to do for you. I don’t have time to run to the store on the way home from practice, when I have exams and homework. I don’t have time to have hour-long dinners with you and the family, or do chores or all the other things that other girls my age do…I can’t have a boyfriend or go to house parties or any of it.
(beat)
It’s not that I don’t want to do those things, well, I can do without the chores, but I need to be disciplined and fully committed to figure skating. You know this Mom, you know what this means to me. Please try to understand me better. I’m not your typical teen
