In the following piece, we will tackle everything about parental abandonment, its effects of it and how you can deal with it.

While some people are blessed enough to grow up with both parents under one roof, most of us are not. However, this does not mean you should not have goals and make something great out of your life. Being raised by a single parent has taught me that the sky is the only limit and that you can achieve anything you put your head into.

Now on to parental abandonment; most of us were left with our grandmothers or aunts or someone close to our parents or adoptive parents while our parents had to go and “work” in the city or hustle for you to have the so-called “bright future” they say they had to leave us for. I’m not being judgemental or ignorant but I wish our parents could see the emotional and psychological damage this creates in us.

Of course, in some instances, it’s a forced matter for them to leave us but do they even consider suffering with us rather than abandon us? Trust me; this is not the worst part; what really irks me is when they come after 10 or 20 years, ready to take over the role of a parent they failed to be on all of these years. People have different parenting styles, and your grandma will never parent you like your biological mother.

I know that it is hard to finally accept your so-called mom or dad who comes after 5 or 10 years wanting to force a bond that is not there, but I want you guys to let yourself be heard and express how you feel about it and why they abandoned you. Bottling things up not only makes you sad but mostly angry, a betrayal which are dangerous emotions that can lead to anger issues and depression.

There’s no greater way than of accepting a situation that has hurt you Than first forgiving the person who has done you wrong and accepting that you’re human and you are allowed to feel anger and betrayal even if it’s your own parent.

From your girl Mbali umntana we dlozi, remember to love what you have when you still have it, and it’s worthless to cry over spilt milk; love those who are there for you while you still can. Stay safe. I love y’all.