These Vegan Watermelon Jello Cakes are light and refreshing to have for those hot summer days when you do not want to turn on the oven. It requires no baking and only a handful of ingredients.

I couldn’t wait to get out of the house.

Out of everyone in my house, I am the most free-spirited one even when I was little. My siblings and especially my mom would prefer to stay home or if they head out, not beyond Chinatown or our local shops. I wanted to go everywhere I could and would always ask my mom if I could go into the city, day trips to other cities, concerts, or to the theater with friends, but 99% of the time, she would say no, preferring me to stay home and always afraid something would happen to me if she could not watch out for me.

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Even when she did say yes, when I get home, she would often not speak to me until a day or two later, making me afraid to even ask her for permission, knowing she would not be happy or say no. On the contrary, my dad would always let me go anywhere and drive me anywhere I want. I never really understood why back then so when it was time for me to head to college, I could not wait for the day to get out of the house.

When it was time for them to leave, I was surprised that my parents were teary-eyed, me being the first in the family to leave home. My mom stayed home for the majority of her life to take care of my siblings and I and I know she had things she wanted to do or places she wants to visit, but being a mom, caring for her family, became more important than her other wishes. She feels more at home and safe being in her own home and with her family and never thought about pursuing any other dreams she may have had.

I always worried a little about how my mom would react when I would tell her I would go somewhere or move to a new place, but over the years, as I traveled to different places, she placed more trust in the world and in me, knowing I can take care of myself, and feels more at ease whenever I head somewhere new. To her, her world revolves around her family and nothing beyond, but I think one of the reasons why I am more free-spirited and enjoy traveling and learning new things is to show her there is so much more to experience in this world, so much beauty around us and that it is okay to step beyond the confines of her home.

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Let’s make these No-Bake Vegan Watermelon Cakes!