What Home Means to Me

Home means I’m free to my own mind. I’m safe in my bedroom, comforted by imagination, love and pets. It is a place where my sibling and I can collaborate, chat, bicker and complain about our day. In the kitchen everyone shares their story of what has happened within the hours while enjoying a splendid meal that smells of spices and effort. In the living room, laughter and joy fill the air making everyone feel warm and fuzzy. Sometimes our home can be confusing and sad, but everything will get better as long as we care. Home means to me that people understand you, and listen. It means you have friends, and something to hold onto. It means helping your community and showing appreciation. Even in dark times the smell of home and the memories that stay inside your territory will stay in your heart and mind. Living in a home does not mean doing everything you want and taking everything for granted, it also means doing chores and having expectations, helping your family and respecting people. Rules lie on every surface, and sit above every corner. But they’re meant to help and keep everyone safe, no matter how extreme. Home means putting family first and learning new things. Our world will never get better if we don’t learn from our mistakes, and our roots will never grow if we don’t drink water and feel the sun on our leaves.