Letter to the Editor
Are we supposed to rent an apartment for ourselves and one for kids?
Thursday, August 12, 2004
Dear Sir,
It’s about time something was done about Child Maintenance Laws. I am tired
of taking my child’s father to court for payment.
Too bad these laws weren’t in effect when I was growing up, as my father
never maintained us, and we did without a lot of things.
I want better for my children, as most mothers do. My brother and I were
used as pawns to get back at my father for walking out on us.
We were left on the side of the road in front of a house my mother had
reason to believe my father was living in with his new lady friend.
My father moved on with his life, made a new family, supported them fully,
and left the ‘old’ family behind.
Guess we didn’t have the right to eat anymore. I wore the hand down shoes
from my brother, because we couldn’t afford two pairs with little to no money
coming in.
My father was, and still is, no father figure in my life. I had the bad
days and I also had the good, and very few between days.
I’ve gotten past most of my bad childhood memories, moved on with my life,
and made my own children think things would be different for them than it was
for me.
I have to rely on the father of my youngest son for his support, which is
no walk in the park, but I have to do it.
Do Mr McLaughlin and Mr Tibbetts realise that ‘Child Support’ is not the
only issue we mothers have to deal with, when it comes to our children?
I agree with, and fully support everything that is said, with regards to
how fathers treat their children whether they are legitimate or not.
Fathers tend to do a lot of things which are non-beneficial to their
children, as do some mothers.
There are two issues which were pointed out that happen on a daily basis
throughout the Island.
Women being denied a place to live, because they have children. Every day
we see advertisements in the paper for apartments which say: “No kids, No
pets.”
Why not say: “no children?” Where are children suppose to stay, or are we
suppose to rent one apartment for ourselves and one for the children?
Or, maybe we should just look for one that allow pets, and put children in the
doghouse?
Some mothers are left with no other choice but to rent any old apartment,
in bad neighbourhoods with very few amenities, to make for a happy and
comfortable living.
Seeing as apartments are privately owned, I doubt there is anything the
Government can do about the situation. But I hope this letter will open the
eyes of some people out there, and allow them to open their apartments for
children.
It makes one wonder why our children take to the streets, and join a life
of crime.
It might have something to do with the fact they are not allowed to live in
apartments with their parents.
Hon Dr Frank McField, do you know that I don’t qualify for all these
‘affordable homes’ because of my circumstances?
I hope all candidates, those who have children and those who have never had
any, actually do something for children, and do not forget about them once
they get the vote of their parents.
Denise Richardson
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