Musician Desire Luzinda has opened up about her experience as a teenage mother.
In a lengthy post on Social Media, the “Ekitone” singer revealed that it was not easy bringing a child into this world while she still pursued her studies. The singer who was in Form Six at the time had to endure a lot of backbiting and isolation but she still desisted from abortion.
She is now encouraging teenage mothers to follow her lead and not be derailed by the judgmental world as they strive to provide a better future for their child. She posted:
“While some of you insult me,get offended and take it so personally at the mention of my ‘forever 25yrs’,to me it means that proud teenage mother who gave birth at 19(not that am proud of early pregnancy ),,but I chose motherhood over abortion! I was young and still pursuing my studies, an S6 candidate at that time! Having learnt of my-then mistake, I was terrified and words can’t explain how I was feeling then. ..
I thought of my mother who had toiled tirelessly to see her 7 children graduate and couldn’t stop wondering what I was to do. But for some reason, abortion never at any point in time cross my mind even in the deepest of fear.
Anyway, Fast forward, I knew the only way I could put a little smile on her face was by continuing with my studies. Imagine waking up everyday in an isolated environment where everyone looked at you as a misfit, no friends at all, every step you make you literally see eyes and words pierce through your skin. Yes!that is what the one year was like but I held my head high and made sure I sat for those exams, not just seating the papers but pass. It was the only choice I had to make it somewhat ok. As my baby grew, I prayed I did not have her before my exams and thank God I gave birth 2 weeks after my UACE.
I have lived with my daughter from the time she was born to date. She is my daughter, my best friend and I chose a mother-daughter friendship over anything else.
This is to encourage all young mothers out there, a mistake once made cannot be reversed but you can turn it into the best decision of your life. It doesn’t matter how you toil, what matters is how you have raised your child and strive to give him/her a better brighter future than yours. the world will always judge you anyway…”
Staff Writer