CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS
Meryl Grant, a single mom who raised six boys.
Petrina Francis, Gleaner Writer
Ideally, motherhood should be a joyous experience. But unfortun-ately, for many women, the onset of motherhood brings tremendous emotional pain. For the single mother who has to play the dual role of mom and dad, the challenges are great.
Meet Merlyn Grant, a struggling but determined single mother who successfully raised six boys on her own despite all the odds that were against her.
After two broken relationships, being surrounded by alcoholism and disappointments, Ms. Grant was hit with the reality that she would have to take on the role of both mother and father. She admitted that serious self-doubt arose at times, but with continuous prayer, she was able to pull through the hard times.
Her sons, Donovan Wright, Paul Green, Alfred Green, Rohan Green, Christopher Green and Devon Wright are all now grown men, four of whom are currently living abroad. But the challenges of raising them were many.
"It was so hard, it was a terrible task, especially when you know that you don't have it, but they always satisfy with what I gave them," she said with pride.
"Sometimes I did not know where the money was coming from to buy the next meal but God always provided," she related to The Sunday Gleaner.
Ms. Grant who is a community health aide said sometimes she had to walk five miles to work and back in order to save the money to ensure that her children had lunch money for school.
"If it means that they go to school bare feet, I don't let them stay at home. Sometimes I had to sew their khaki with my hands because I could not afford to send them to the tailor," she reminisced.
It is said that only a man can teach a boy how to be a man. Ms. Grant said although she was unable to play the role that the children's father could, "I made sure that I sat down and talked to them and showed them right from wrong".
The boys were resistant to some of the household chores that were set and Ms. Grant said she ensured that they did them by punishing them and taking away privileges such as watching TV if they were not done.
"I did not feel any way growing up without a father," said Rohan Green, one of Ms. Grant's sons.
While admitting that his mother could not teach him how to be man, he said the responsibilities that she taught him and his association with his peers assisted him in developing into who he is today.
The 58-year-old who is unmarried, said she refused to take another man into the household because she was fearful that her sons would reject him because of their past experiences or that he would walk away just as the previous men in her life had.
When asked how she was able to cope with six boys who were only a few years apart, she said, "love, love. I showed them love. I hugged them and counselling was also very important," she explained.
"Whenever anything happened in the area I used to sit them down and showed them what happened and if they behaved in that way the same thing will happen to them" added Ms. Grant.
Ms. Grant believes that there is nothing as a perfect child. "I am not saying that my boys were perfect, (but) whenever they did anything wrong if it means catching them when they go to bed, I always disciplined them, I didn't let them get away with anything," she stressed.
Education was emphasised in her household. "I always told the boys that education is the key to success and if yuh waan good; yuh nose haffi run."
