Divya Tamang
“Being a single mother is twice the work, twice the tear and twice the stress.”
Being a single mother is not easy; the life is always busy with the burden of responsibility. The day when my beloved one left this world, I felt as if the life is almost finished. But my eyes go on my kids with the pulp of tears in their eyes saying ‘Papa, come back!’. The crowd of people seeing at my children and saying about the helpless future of ours demotivated me that time. The sweet memories with my beloved one and dream of our happy family smashed there. Somehow, I raised myself up thinking that I have to stand for future of my innocent kids.
Being a single mom is difficult; but being a homemaker when your hubby dies is the toughest. I couldn’t find any job but had to search for one to feed my children. Some good persons in society bought sewing machine for me and I started stitching clothes. I used to earn very little which was not enough to raise my kids. Days were tough but I had to work hard for my kids. I was determined to raise my children with courage and confidence. The struggle at that time was beyond imagination and I was inconsolable.
The Money that I made from stitching was not sufficient for proper care of my kids. Beside stitching, I started doing some part time work in factory (packaging foods) thinking that if I earn more, my children will get more facilities that they require. As my idea, somehow the money from factory helped for paying the fees of school of my kids. I reduced the doses of medicine thinking that remaining money can help me in paying the school fees. My kids were so disciplined in school. They were interested and talented in studies. My hard work was paid off with their better studies.
But Today, I am lonelyfor ever. I think it is my karma that I’m suffering from. My kids when they were young, the age when youngsters enjoy, that time they suffered from financial problems. I can’t even afford pair of new clothes during festival. They didn’t even eat good meal. Maybe I’m getting my punishment for making my kids child-life improper and unhappy. But only their papa knows from heaven, that Iwoke up the whole night killing the mosquito and covering them with a blanket so thatthey could get a proper sleep. I’ve skipped innumerable lunch given by the factory in order to feed my kids during tiffin time.
I have given my best for shaping up the future of my kids as my hardwork is paid off today, they are the successful people with lots of facilities. They are living happily with their family. Being a mother, which is a powerful and beautiful word, I don’t have any complaints to my children. I’m proud of myself that being a single mom I made my kids’ future bright. What more does a one mother want! For sure I will die one day as I’m getting old day by day. I’ll pray with God that may my kids not get same from their children what they gave to their mother.
Divya Tamang is a student of grade XI at Koshi Saint James Secondary School, Itahari