Contributed PhotoBy Camille Allen, Contributor
I HAVE always been a mother figure and I love children. Even as a child I used to take my neighbours' children to the shopping centres and to the movies.
I became a mother at age 16 and have enjoyed growing up with my son. Because I love children, friends sometimes send their children for me to baby-sit on weekends and holidays. I am also now a step-mother of a little girl who is eight years old. Most weekends I am responsible for several children whose hair I have to wash and comb. Plus I sometimes take my son to the barber, help with the house work, wash, iron and also perform my "girlfriendly" duties.
Being a step-mother is especially difficult, because I have these two children who are of similar age but who need totally different parenting styles.
My step-daughter is an active and mature child who is into music and looks, whereas my son is all about DragonBallz (a cartoon), KFC and his computer. I love all my friends' children to some of them I am Auntie Donna along with my four godchildren, although I don't really see them that often.
My friend Helen, is always ready to meet me so that we can both run away, and another friend, Claudia thinks I enjoy being left with the children so why complain?
I am just stressed sometimes and I wonder if I am in some way weak, because thousands of women before me have done this and many more will after I am gone. My boyfriend who works various shifts and some weekends is not around our children all the time, so at times he thinks I am just throwing tantrums. However, I do need some time off by myself, just to hang out, go out without my children or boyfriend and just do something for myself to feel like a WOMAN and not just a mother. So please Jason and Sade stop giving me so much trouble and start behaving.
I love children, but I would love more time for myself and not to have everyone feel that they can always send their children to Auntie Donna.
I would love more time to relax, be carefree and enjoy quality time, to go out instead of facilitating others who want to go out. Lastly, this is not meant to upset my friends, it was just on my mind.
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