THE EDITOR, Sir:
I DEEM it a pleasure to express my disagreement with Jamaica's overwhelming response to the news of a suspected bomber being Jamaican. I think it is extremely unfair for us to keep placing all the blame on delinquent fathers. Some of the mothers deserve the blame too, though I will not deny the fact that there are many delinquent fathers.
I think mothers push the fathers out of the children's lives for one reason or another. Many adults who are not able to handle their differences accuse the children who later bear the trauma of living in a single-parent home.
I grew up in a single-parent home. My case was different. My father died but within that same household, I would see the effect of a father being pushed out.
Not very long after my younger sister was born, my mother left the man who was the father of the child. He has decided to choose a different religion which conflicted with her beliefs and she did not want him to be an influence on the child's life.
I think this is crazy. He is already the child's father. Allow them to correspond but still instil the values you want.
Later on my mother moved without telling him but he soon found the new house. This is a trying father. I then realised with time he started to come less and less often as he did not appreciate the treatment and resentment. I would have done the same.
Up to this day my sister still lives with this. She may have time to reconcile but the damage will already have been done.
We as mothers need to make room for the fathers in the children's lives. We do not have to correspond but ensure the father is present and he/she knows that John Brown who lives on King Street is their father. Make room.
I am, etc.,
JODIE-ANN MARSHALL
sassyiebabe@yahoo.com
Greater Portmore
St. Catherine
Via Go-Jamaica
