Childhood: Between Protection and Independence

French Caribbean childhoods blend protection with early independence:

Community Raising

"It takes a village" isn't metaphor but daily reality: - Neighbors disciplining and nurturing - Relatives sharing childcare duties - Children circulating between households - Safety net of multiple adults

"I ate at three different houses depending on who cooked what best," remembers artist David Damoison. "Breakfast at home, lunch at Tantie Marie's if she made accras, dinner at Grandmère's. Everyone fed everyone's children."

Early Responsibilities

Children often assume adult tasks: - Caring for younger siblings - Contributing to household economy - Managing school independently - Navigating between adult conflicts

"Childhood is luxury we couldn't always afford," reflects teacher Sylvie Symphor. "By ten, I was cooking, cleaning, helping raise siblings. Made me strong but stole something too."

Education Pressures

School represents mobility hope: - Intense academic pressure - French-language dominance challenging Creole speakers - Limited local university options - Success often means leaving

"Every report card carried family dreams," recalls Dr. Marlène Hospice. "Good grades meant possible escape from poverty. Bad grades meant condemned to struggle. No pressure, right?"