[April 29, 2035]
Today is my eighth birthday. Mom and Dad took me to the park, to watch a movie, and we also ate my favorite pizza.
When it comes to birthdays, Mom is different from me. If Dad didn’t insist every year on buying a cake and gifts, Mom herself would never take the initiative to mention her birthday. Luckily, Dad always remembers.
I don’t really understand it. Birthdays should be one of the happiest times of the year. But after thinking about it later, I understood. That’s just Mom’s personality. She rarely asks Dad for anything. As for me, I wish to Dad every day, asking him to buy me new shoes, preferably high heels that make nice sounds when walking. Some girls in my class wear them, and I want them too.
Maybe inspired by me, Dad buys Mom bags and shoes every year. When Mom isn’t home, I secretly wear them.
[May 20, 2035]
There was way too much homework today. Grandpa even picked me up from school, and I was unhappy.
The desk at Grandpa’s place is too tall for me to sit at properly. Grandpa’s cooking also isn’t as tasty as Grandma’s. I asked him to buy chicken cutlet rice downstairs, but he insisted on buying wontons and roujiamo. He’s just as annoying as Dad. I’ve decided that next week I’ll bring my pocket money with me and buy whatever I want to eat myself.
Mom and Dad went traveling. I have school, so I couldn’t go. At night, Grandpa took me to the plaza to dance, but my mood was still bad. Actually, I hadn’t finished my English homework. I lied and said I had, just so I could watch TV for a while. Who knew he would insist on taking me downstairs? He might as well have left me at home to do my homework. But now I can’t tell the truth, or he’ll know I lied.
At night, Mom video-called me from the hotel. She even specially let Dad talk to me for a while. I kind of missed Dad, even though he’s really annoying.
But they looked very happy, and that made my mood better too.
Grandpa said he’ll buy me jianbing guozi to eat tomorrow morning. I said I’ll get up early. He praised me for being sensible. Actually, I just want to get to school early to make up my homework.
[June 10, 2035]
The last diary notebook is full. Mom bought me a new purple notebook with a lock. I’m reluctant to even write in it, so I specially chose a scented, colorful pen to record today’s feelings.
Summer vacation is coming soon. Dad said if I do well on my exams, he’ll take me abroad to Disneyland. I’ve never been abroad before, but I’ve been to many places in China. I’m very confident about the exams. I want a Vanellope doll and hair clips.
Today, lunch at the after-school care class was eggplant and stir-fried beef. I thought it was very tasty. There were also fried potato balls, but everyone only got two. I told Mom about it, and she made fried chicken pieces for me in the evening. I felt very happy and ate a big bowl of rice. Dad said I’m Peppa Pig’s younger sister, Jiazhi.
Dad obviously eats more than Mom and me, yet he still makes fun of me. If I really eat less, he begs me to eat more and says I can’t skip dinner. He’s such a contradictory person. I don’t take his words seriously.
[June 24, 2035]
Tonight, Mom was doing a big cleanup and found photos from when I was little. I was still a baby, and Mom was holding me.
In the photos, Aunt Jiabao, Aunt Yangyang, and Uncle Wang Quan look so unfamiliar. So that’s what they looked like when I was little. They look similar to now, yet also not the same. It’s just a pity that back then, I was still lying in a crib, drinking milk and couldn’t remember anything about them.
Dad said he met Mom after her car accident. That really made me nervous! I’ve never seen Mom injured. Dad protected us very well. But car accidents on TV look extremely painful. Mom must have been in a lot of pain back then.
But I guess giving birth to me was even more painful.
[June 30, 2035]
In May, the school selected students to perform a sign language song. The whole grade only needed fifteen students, and they said we’d go to the city to participate in a competition. I was selected and even stood right in the middle of the front row. The teacher taught us sign language. It was very complicated, but I already knew it. When my classmates asked me, I told the truth. Mom has hearing impairment, so at home I often communicate with Mom using sign language.
They all admire me a lot, but I don’t think it’s that hard. Mom taught me all of this.
We’re going to perform on Saturday. This Friday afternoon after school, we have to stay at school to practice extra. Originally, the teacher said I could go home first, but Dad said group activities should be participated in together. He said both he and Mom will come pick me up at night.
At eight thirty in the evening, I got home. Mom made rib noodle soup, stir-fried greens, and roasted chicken wings, and allowed me to eat while watching TV. I watched The Legend of Nezha again. It was really good.
I’ll do my homework on Sunday. For now, I’ll go play on the tablet.
[July 5, 2035]
Ever since I changed to a new notebook, I’ve been liking writing a diary more and more.
The sign language song performance is over. My elementary school won first prize, and there was a certificate and a trophy. I’m really happy. And my final exam results were indeed amazing. The teacher even praised me specially during the parent meeting. Dad was very happy, and then our family of three is going abroad to travel tomorrow!
I’ve been having a lot of fun during the first few days of summer vacation. Writing a diary feels like writing a weekly journal. There’s one thing that still really bothers me. Why can all my classmates’ moms hear sounds, but my mom can’t hear clearly when she isn’t looking at me? My mom is the prettiest mom of all. I really hope Mom can have a healthy body, so she can hear me talking in my sleep.
Grandpa has asked me this question before. But I’m not jealous of other people’s moms at all. Take my deskmate and Su Yiqi, for example. My deskmate says his dad and mom always keep straight faces and rarely play with him. At home, they often ignore each other.
Su Yiqi has it even worse. Dad says his dad is an egg born from a bastard. I’ve also seen Aunt Shi. Her husband hits her, and sometimes he also hits Yiqi and his sister.
But there’s good news. I haven’t seen Yiqi’s egg dad for a long time now. Dad said they got divorced, and the egg dad was kicked out (I don’t know how to write “nian”). From now on, things at home will be peaceful.
No one’s family is better than my family. My family is just like a family in a cartoon. Dad loves Mom more than he loves me. Mom loves me a little more than she loves Dad. I love Mom a little more than I love Dad.
When I was in preschool, I once had a dream. I dreamed that when I was still in heaven choosing a family, a familiar older sister sent me a message. She said she had found her own family in the human world. When she was lying in her mom’s arms, she saw my future dad and mom at the hospital. At that time, they didn’t have me yet. So I spent all the money in my piggy bank and quickly chose them.
Alright, I’ll stop writing here today. I almost don’t recognize the words “Dad” and “Mom” anymore. I should sleep early. Tomorrow I still have to go out and play.
[July 18, 2035]
I had so much fun at Disneyland. We’ve been back for many days now and have taken a lot of photos.
But Dad stepped on my hamster today, so I’m not in the mood to write a diary.
[July 30, 2035]
I originally didn’t want to write today either, but Grandma from the south called and said she bought me a new pair of pants online. Mom asked me to say thank you, and I did.
Actually, I want a phone watch. The old one Grandma bought me is outdated now. I like blue these days and don’t want pink anymore. When National Day comes, I plan to tell Grandpa. He’ll definitely buy it for me.
The weather has been so hot this whole week. I don’t want to play in the yard anymore. I’m watching Journey to the West at home. Last time Dad stepped on my hamster Xixi. Xixi broke a bone, and at the pet hospital, they wrapped its leg up. It squealed like crazy, and after coming back, it even had diarrhea. I hate Dad.
It still can’t use the running wheel. Mom helped me bring it into the room to take care of it. Poor Xixi.
[August 21, 2035]
School is about to start, and I still haven’t finished my homework. I’ve been writing very late these past few days.
Dad doesn’t let me sleep with Mom anymore. Last night, I got up to go to the bathroom and heard sounds coming from Mom and Dad’s bedroom. But they had the door closed. It seemed like they were talking. I listened carefully. Mom seemed to be crying, but it wasn’t the same as when I cried. And Dad seemed to cover her mouth too. I couldn’t hear clearly what they were saying, so I went to the bathroom.
I hope he didn’t bully my mom, and I hope they weren’t fighting. But what I should be most worried about right now is what to do about my homework.