Women’s Chronicles

“I knew it was happening. I closed my legs tight as if to stop it from happening.

“It is not that I don’t love my mother. I do feel something because if she calls right now I would drop what I am doing and go and help.

“I just wanted you out there to know if you are stepmother or a stepfather, sometimes you would try to protect that child, but you should only protect that child from their biological mother or biological father [if he/she] is a threat, if that mother is an abusive mother or that father is an abusive father…” These were the words of a young woman who posted a video on Facebook where she spoke about growing up without her mother and how difficult it was being denied knowing her mother as a child.

“I used to get licks for tea, breakfast and dinner. You think is two cents I went through in this life?

“Looking back now, I don’t know if I should have done it because I am now burdened with this thing.

“I don’t have no more fight in me. Before, I felt like I was going to die.

I recently witnessed a horrifying incident at the Awen (8) Supermarket, which is located on the Railway Embankment in the community of Enmore.

“I was on my back step teaching my son when he turn to me and say, ‘Mommy look some children hiding in the bush.’

“All this time I was with an idiot and sometimes I feel that way about myself too because look how long I have been with him and now I have four children, four daughters, and I have to move on.

“With this period, only the fittest will survive. As harsh as it might sound, that is just the way it is.

“I help out because there comes a time when we all need help and I am just doing my part even though I must tell you it is very hard, but I try,” she said almost breathlessly.

“I don’t say anything but to tell you the truth sometimes I can’t describe the pain, it hurts me bad.

“I am very worried about what will happen to my child being out of the school setting for so many months.

“I don’t mind. It just become like a norm for me.

“Is like I just working to feed them,” has been the refrain of many mothers – myself included – as they struggle to upkeep their children’s eating habits over the past few months.

“I really can’t take this thing. Is like I sick and all and should take a bed in the hospital.

“I am faced, with a very bad, bad case of defamation of character—that portrays me as a prostitute, publicly [and] widespread,” she said.

“I feel a bit encouraged because some persons have reached out to me telling me a bit of their story and I have tried my best to encourage them to have faith and stay strong,” the mother of one said.

“The first time he hit me was the last, it had to be.

“The rain wet me through and through. You see, I had to take off me socks today.