A writer who chooses to be anonymous has shared the following e-mail:
_________________________________________
Today, I considered changing my middle name by including my mother’s name along with my father’s. After all , whatever I am today is because of her efforts. I thank her for raising me all alone braving the dark days of loneliness, loss of spouse, humiliation of being a single mother and the lewd and discouraging remarks passed on us by our alleged well wishing relatives/ friends/ acquaintances. 🙂
Not many knew the truth about my father absence’s in our life. One fine day, she found herself left with only me – a six year old to cling on. Even lady luck did not favor her. Her father passed away two months after her spouse left her. Since then, she braved everything all alone, while she ensured that I have a good education and was raised as a better human being.
We made sure we hid this fact to avoid many troubles at work and school. His absence was camouflaged by transfer to some rural area. We made sure we did this so that the world does not bother us with unnecessary threats, advice, advances, gossips, lewd remarks.
It would have been difficult for her when her colleagues would ask about her spouse and she had to build a story. It would have been difficult for her when she was often reminded that she was raising a girl child all alone.
Today when I recall all this, I only wished that our society was less penalizing on single mothers. I wished friends and especially relatives stopped pointing fingers at the women for the loss or mishap. I wished people stopped looking down at them as inauspicious. I wished schools were more sensitive in such cases rather than pestering for father’s signature in the report card.
Today, I want to raise a toast to all single mothers. Destiny would have given you a hard life ahead. However I really urge you all to stand up and keep going. Trust that there is light and one day you will find it in your child’s eyes, when she/he would have grown up to be an independent and confident person.