Just a little recollection

I saw something a little while ago that made me grateful that when I was a child, my mother never exactly...how do I put this- treated me like a kid. Not meaning she left me alone for days with my younger brother, what, that would just be irresponsible. She always respected my independence, and ability to figure things out and understand topics that most people would think little girls shouldn't be able to comprehend. The only time I think I ever really felt the weight of it all was when she was diagnosed with leukemia, and roles were reversed. I didn't want to go to school anymore, or have to do anything to associate with the world actually. It was terrifying, leaving and coming home everyday, in constant fear for the life of my most important person. That woman wanted to keep it from my siblings and I, but something like that is impossible of course.
She's okay now and what is past is passed. But sometimes it feels like that shadow is still there. I wouldn't mention something like that to her, because she will just tell me to cheer up and stop being so negative. As it has always been and might very well continue being.
Maybe it has to do with being a single parent, she didn't have very much time to be affectionate in outward ways. I do still wish that I had more of a childhood, but that's probably common among people everywhere. Why not, that time of life is great.