My daughter in despair: tears and searching for meaning in life
I’m the mother of two children—a son and a daughter. I’ve been a widow for many years. My husband got to see the birth of our grandchildren, but unfortunately, he passed away before our children decided to get married.
In our family, traditions have always been highly respected. We believed that if two people love each other and want to be together, an official marriage—whether civil or religious—was essential.
However, my children held different views. Every time I attempted to convince them to formalize their relationships, they merely chuckled, labeling my beliefs as outdated. They assured me that their love didn’t require seals and ceremonies, and that a stamp in a passport wouldn’t change their feelings.
Regrettably, life affirmed my fears in the harshest way.
One early morning, I heard a knock on the door. Standing there was my daughter, Emily. She held a suitcase in one hand, leading her three-year-old daughter with the other, while a baby slept in a stroller beside her. Her eyes were filled with tears.
“Mum, can I stay with you for a day with the kids? James threw us out… He’s got someone else…” her voice trembled.
I was shocked. How could he do this? Emily bore him two wonderful children! I wanted to march over to him and demand answers. But seeing my daughter’s condition, I embraced her, kissed her, and chose not to bring up the topic at that moment.
Emily graduated from a teacher training university but never started working. James, her partner, insisted she stay home:
“I don’t need your money. I want to come home to a cozy house, enjoy home-cooked meals, and wear clean shirts. I’ll provide for our family.”
I decided to call James. I asked him about the family and their future. He calmly replied:
“My heart now belongs to someone else. I’ll help with the kids, but Emily is my past.”
Since then, he has been sending us a small amount each month. My pension barely covers us all. Emily is in depression, constantly crying and unable to see any future.
Now she understands how important it was to formalize the relationship. Marriage isn’t just a symbol of love—it’s also protection, especially for women.
I urge all parents to convince their children of the significance of marriage. This “trend” of living together without commitments can lead to tragedies. Family should be based on traditions and laws. Only then can we protect our children and grandchildren from such misfortunes.
