Garden of Jessie-Marie

AS TOLD TO BC PIRES

My name is Jessie-Marie Chaves and I take my young children to the Botanical Gardens for early-morning walks during their school holidays.

I’ve lived in Cascade for 15 years but I grew up in South. My family lived on Circular Road, San Fernando, a stone’s throw from the city, until I was ten.

After my Common Entrance, we moved to Palmiste, where my parents still live. We’d had so many burglaries on Circular Road.

Petty thieves would climb the fence to steal from the plum and avocado tree in our yard. Back then, not that it is much different from now, money was tight, so my parents would sell the avocados to help bring in extra. It would really upset my parents when the precious zabocas were stolen.

What would upset me was, I would look forward to coming home and picking my plums, but thieves helped themselves first.

One morning, my dad woke up and discovered thieves had broken into his car and stolen the CB radio he used to talk with his dad and brother. My father has always worked hard for what he has, no handouts or lucky breaks, just hard work and sacrifice. He sat in that front seat and wept. It was the first time I saw my father cry.

I was a little girl, sitting in the passenger seat, in my St Gabriel Girls' uniform, ready to go to school, watching him. His emotions were so raw, so deep. That memory has stayed with me.

I was married by 21 and motherhood began at 23. My husband, Nicolas, and I have three children, Michael, 12, Gabriella, ten and Daniel, seven. We met when I was 17.

I pursued a double major in Spanish and French at UWI, St Augustine, because I just loved languages. As a child in airports, hearing different languages, I would wonder what people were saying. I performed better in the sciences, but my heart was with the languages. I never gave a thought as to where it would take me. I never once had a career goal. My goal in university was to graduate with first-class honours and I did.

My husband encouraged me to become a teacher.

I wrote a children’s book, Big Tummy Mummy, about my family’s preparations for the birth of Daniel. My Gabz called me that one evening when I was pregnant with Daniel. We all laughed and I thought, “That would make a good book!”

It took over my every thought when I was at home with one-month-old Daniel, even while I was up at all hours, feeding, burping and changing diapers. (The baby was burping, not me.)

I am not much of an advertising and marketing sort. When some friends discover it, they can’t believe they did not know.

I am Catholic and talk to my Jesus and Mary daily. Mostly asking for patience, courage and strength in dealing with my lovely children.

I loved this year’s song Savannah Grass. Although my children would argue that the Savannah only has ti-marie.

I prefer watching movies at home than going to the cinema. If the movie is a true story, then I’ll cry. In which case, I rather be home, thank you very much. No red nose in public.

I started taking my first son, Michael, to the Botanical Gardens as a toddler, when I picked him up from daycare after work. To get him out of the house, to get some fresh air.
As each child came along, we just continued our afternoon outings. I encouraged the exploring, the climbing and the discovery of plants and insects.

I have never felt unsafe or threatened in any way in the gardens. I feel very comfortable. On mornings, the workers look out for us and call, “Mornin’.” They are very friendly. Everyone loves when the kids come along.

In the same breath, I am always observant and vigilant of my surroundings.

My kids enjoy the gardens. They run, they explore, they play. We are not always the happy family, holding hands and skipping along all the time. They squabble and argue and get angry with each other.

I often ask myself, “Why do I do this?” I could just leave them home on a screen, and get on with my list of chores.

But I take a breath, find some residue of patience, and try to help them find a solution. So the “family circus” can be exhausting, but it’s all worth it in the end.

A Trini, to me, is friendly, warm, approachable, and welcoming. Someone you may have only just met, but they are quick to strike up a conversation, feed you, or look out for you in some way. Trinis are kind people.

Not to sound cheesy or cliché, but Trinidad and Tobago is home. It is not perfect; some improvements are needed – but the foundation is solid. If everybody does their part, however, little or big their influence be, we can make it even greater.

Read the full version of this feature on Wednesday at www.BCPires.com