In search of my real mum: A flashback
Growing up I was the naughty child. Is it a thing to be proud of? Oh well as a parent now I strongly believe most children at a certain age have some degree of naughtiness. My own naughty was the type that always got into trouble and would want to run away.
Many years ago, on one of the naughty days, I stole two-naira coins and put them in my underwear. Looking back now that was so silly because the coins will definitely clink. I got into trouble and I wrote a piece on how I was done with my mother.
My awesome mother found this letter and kept it. In her words, she would show my children and my husband. I recently saw this letter that is over 20 years old and it just brought back memories. What stood out for me in this piece was how articulate I was, I even started with a paragraph.
Here is the piece written when I was seven.
“Mrs. Yahaya said I am not her daughter and she told me never to call her my mummy again. And she does not like me because I stole two naira. She beat me that my hands pain me. I have marks on my right leg and on my left hand and all over my body too. I don’t even think she is my mother because of how she treats me. People think she a good woman but they don’t know she can kill them. She even wanted to pour pepper and make a mark in my private part”.
“I surely will never call her my mother. I even feel like running away and look for my mother and my real mother to say. And even if I find her, I will never remember her in my life cause of how she treated me. And I know that God is in control with everything she is doing. If I run away where will be my hideout because I can’t go anywhere only if my real parents are informed and I can’t sleep in flyovers. She hates me too much. She shouted at me this minute.”
I still remember when my mother found this letter hidden at the top of my bonk bed. She took it and kept it for a few days. I had even forgotten I wrote that letter and never went to check for it. She was the best mother again. Few days later I was naughty again lol! and then the letter resurfaced. The only thing i remember well was my mum a little calm about it. But she kept the letter. One time she said i tried to steal the letter but I seriously cannot remember that. I sometimes read this letter without her knowing because I knew where she kept it and it was a good read.
Looking back now I just laugh but also appreciate all the little moments and memories. It makes me think how did my mother feel? how would I feel as a mother now if my daughter wrote that letter?
