As informed to Jacquelyne Froeber and Noelys Mendez
August 14 is National Financial Awareness Day.
I grew up within the countryside of Cuba in a conventional Cuban family.
My father was the supplier for the household. He labored — lots — on the small farm we owned and he took care of all of our funds. My mom additionally labored extremely exhausting ensuring we had every part we would have liked. She took the cash my father gave her and magically tracked down meals, cleansing provides, clothes, and so forth., which was a full-time job contemplating the place we lived.
Life moved at a gradual tempo in our small city, however once I turned 19, I fell in love and issues began transferring very quick. I went from my household dwelling to married life and I grew to become pregnant quickly after the marriage. Two months after I turned 20, I gave start to a child lady. I fell in love along with her the second I noticed her, and I knew I’d do something to guard her and hold her pleased.
Sadly, I wasn’t pleased in my marriage. I wished to maintain the dream of our household alive, however we weren’t proper for one another, and we separated simply two years after getting married.
I used to be devastated, however deep down, I knew it was the proper factor to do. I knew we may each be happier than we have been.
Nonetheless, it took me unexpectedly how pleased I may actually be. I met the love of my life about two years after the divorce. We had an prompt connection, and I knew he was my individual.
Damian was good-looking, considerate and type. Most significantly, he handled my daughter like his personal.
We moved naturally into our acquainted, conventional roles. He was the supplier, and we by no means talked about payments or funds earlier than or after we received married. However once I received pregnant, we began speaking about transferring to the US. Cuba has its financial limitations, and we wished our ladies to have extra alternatives and freedom to do no matter they wished.
Osleidy and her daughter(s) and husband Damian in Cuba, 2008
In 2010, we have been in a position to make our dream a actuality and we moved to Florida. Damian discovered a full-time job as an auto technician, and I stayed dwelling with the children.
Damian continued to care for all of the payments, the home and the automobiles. All the things was in his title.
Like my mom, I did all of the buying with cash he’d give me. Once I used a bank card, he paid the invoice.
Cash wasn’t tight however I by no means took it without any consideration. Damian labored lots — typically nights and weekends. I felt it was my job to assist save us cash, so discovering the most effective bargains and offers grew to become my tremendous energy. I by no means wished him to suppose I’d make the most of his extremely exhausting work.
We had 12 superb years within the U.S. earlier than he was identified with liver most cancers in 2022. The information was an absolute shock. I informed the physician that it have to be a mistake. He was simply 41! “Too younger for most cancers,” I insisted. Additionally, we had plans. We had an awesome life. We had two lovely ladies and locations to go and issues to do.
However most cancers didn’t care.
The illness was relentless and merciless. For months, Damian stayed in mattress at dwelling, unable to work. I stepped in as his full-time nurse and stop my part-time job. There was all the time the hope that possibly issues would flip round and he would miraculously get higher. However that didn’t occur. And with no regular revenue, we went by way of cash shortly.
I used to be in caregiving mode so I pushed the looming monetary issues away. Then sooner or later, out of the blue, it hit me. Damian wasn’t going to get higher. All the things was on me now. My mom and my youngest daughter have been residing with us. I used to be answerable for maintaining a roof over our heads. How on this planet was I going to do this?
A flood of panic gripped my physique and I gasped for air. It was all an excessive amount of. “I can’t do that,” I whispered out loud. I used to be grieving. I used to be exhausted. I didn’t have the power to push ahead. I didn’t even know the place to begin.
However I knew who to ask. My eldest daughter was 25, and though she’s married, she’s in an equal marriage the place she and her husband break up the payments and possession of their property.
I didn’t wish to inform her that I wanted assist, however I had no alternative. I needed to step up and study to do issues for myself. For our household.
Osleidy along with her mom and two daughters, 2024
With my daughter’s assist, we made a plan. The very first thing I did was get each invoice and a pocket book. I added up all of the bills to see how a lot cash was going out per thirty days. I transferred all of the payments into my title and the bank cards. I additionally had to check out my life-style. Since my husband had an excellent paying job, I needed to be sensible that once I received a job, I wasn’t going to herald as a lot cash as he did (however hopefully sooner or later!).
After Damian handed, I took a short time to grieve after which I began working full time at a components meeting manufacturing unit. There have been moments once I thought I couldn’t do it. I used to be 45 getting into the workforce in a brand new profession, however I’m so happy with myself and the power that us girls have, of our skill to reinvent ourselves for our household after dealing with the adversities of life.
I nonetheless have exhausting days the place I battle to even get out of my mattress, or all I can do is consider Damian and the lengthy life we thought we had left. However then I bear in mind my daughters, my mother and my power. And I’m reminded irrespective of how darkish the trail seems to us, with effort and battle, girls change into extra highly effective and unbiased every single day.
