MG?.your narration forced me to go back to a very unpleasant memory lane of my own; a place buried within me. Each experience is different therefore I dare not say that I grew up in the same situation. It was similar though, the only difference would be support of my older siblings. The part where you expressed crying quietly and softly as something you learnt from your mother touched me the most. My mother has passed on some such traits I live with each day. I hope you are just a good fiction writer and you did not have to go through it. But hey, that which does not kill you, make you strong, right???