Had I Looked Back
Had I looked back and listened as they cast aspersions on my morals, I’d have lost my dignity.
But I looked ahead and buried the hopeless past and took a big leap without hesitation and made it hope-full.
Had I looked back and seen the look of supremacy in their eyes, I’d have abandoned you.
But I looked ahead, learnt to let go and welcomed you in my world.
Had I looked back and believed the stereotypes, I’d not have experienced the struggles and the joys of being a single parent, which are twice in everything! Thank you, my baby!
This is a fiction written for Write Tribe’s 100 Words on Saturday Prompt: Had I Looked Back
Image Courtesy : The morgueFile.com
November 26, 2013 2:35 pm|
If one personally feels it is worth it, then it is worth it 😀
November 26, 2013 5:11 pm|
I know what you mean, Hrishi. True, single parenting is not easy, not simple and not all bliss. But yes, if this is the choice you have made then you have to love your choice!
November 26, 2013 3:29 pm|
Glad you didn’t.
November 26, 2013 5:12 pm|
This is fiction, Alka! 😛
November 26, 2013 5:01 pm|
I know a few single parents, and from what I’ve heard.. you’ve captured it well
November 26, 2013 5:15 pm|
Thanks Nischala, glad you find this fiction realistic.
November 26, 2013 5:54 pm|
My dearest friend is a single parent and I can so relate to this! Nice take on the prompt 🙂
November 27, 2013 4:00 pm|
Thanks Seena, glad this is close to reality!
November 26, 2013 6:11 pm|
Lovely, powerful take on the prompt, loved it 😀
November 27, 2013 4:00 pm|
Thank you Jairam 🙂
November 26, 2013 6:21 pm|
Shilpa , this is so beautiful. When I was in school we had only Doordarshan on T.V. and in that programme(do no remember the name) a young lady was interviewed who had adopted a baby girl . Due to some circumstances she wouldn’t get married and she decided that she would not deprive herself of being a mother and she went ahead and adopted a baby from an orphanage. sensitive post.
November 27, 2013 4:06 pm|
This program makes me think about the situation then. Today, single parenting is gaining better acceptance than before, imagine how tough it would be earlier! Thanks Kalpana.
November 26, 2013 6:37 pm|
Lovely! The emotions of a single parent capturew so well!!
November 27, 2013 4:07 pm|
Thank you Aditi 🙂
November 26, 2013 6:51 pm|
A single parent sometimes gets double love both of the father and mother. If one is forced to become a single parent the double love is one incentive. But the rest is what the judgemental society dumps on you. A very powerful post.
November 27, 2013 10:38 pm|
True, the positives of parenting are doubled when you are a single parent! Wish we can stop being so judgmental towards people. Thanks Padmanabha.
November 26, 2013 7:04 pm|
Single parenting requires societal support structure – it exists in the west, but I guess we’ll find it soon in the East as well.
Destination Infinity
November 27, 2013 10:42 pm|
Yes, there are social support groups and even government assistance is there for single parents. Guess, it will be a long time before such practices start happening here!
November 26, 2013 7:10 pm|
It takes courage, strength, determination, and love to take that route. Glad your character did. Lovely story! ♥
November 27, 2013 10:43 pm|
You are spot on Kathy… yes all these ingredients are so very much needed when one is stepping towards single parenting! Thanks 🙂 ♥
November 26, 2013 7:26 pm|
While this is fiction, I’m glad she trusted her own heart!
November 27, 2013 10:44 pm|
Yes, glad she followed her heart!
November 26, 2013 7:39 pm|
It is tough being a single parent but as you have rightfully mentioned it is also equally more rewarding 🙂
November 27, 2013 10:45 pm|
True! Single parenting is double the work, but double the joy!
November 26, 2013 8:14 pm|
This is beautiful, Shilpa…I know how ‘this’ feels 🙂
November 27, 2013 10:46 pm|
Thanks Kajal 🙂
November 26, 2013 8:33 pm|
it takes a lot of courage to take that blind leap of faith. Beautifully done prompt 🙂
November 27, 2013 10:46 pm|
Yes, lots of it! Thanks Siva 🙂
November 27, 2013 12:46 am|
Very well written. Being a single parent is tough with lot of challenges.
November 27, 2013 10:47 pm|
There’s this quote, being a single parent is twice the work, twice the stress and twice the tears but also twice the hugs, twice the love and twice the pride. Thanks SG 🙂
November 27, 2013 12:48 am|
It’s always a personal choice… but I would completely agree with her decision… Having a child is the best thing in a woman’s life…. Single or married!
Beautiful take on the prompt Shilpa 🙂
November 27, 2013 10:49 pm|
Must be a tough decision for her, I am sure! Thanks Sheethal. 🙂
November 27, 2013 9:14 am|
That was heart warming…
Parenting as such is such a challenge and to do it single-handedly takes a lot of courage and strength.
Nice take on the prompt Shilpa 🙂
November 27, 2013 10:54 pm|
True, like they say, a single parent has to have four arms, four legs, four eyes, two hearts, and double the love. There is nothing “single” about a single parent! Truly challenging! Thank you Pixie 🙂
November 27, 2013 9:50 am|
Nice take on the prompt, Shilpa. Always good to see modern mindsets in our blogosphere posts… fiction hi sahi, but we can paint a few ideas which will hopefully make readers think twice 🙂
November 27, 2013 10:56 pm|
Thanks for such a fab comment, this made my day, Roshan. 🙂
Yes, if we can be that spark for someone!
November 27, 2013 10:58 am|
Although I am not impressed with twice the work, I can live with twice the joy. I guess it is a matter of perceptive. 🙂
November 27, 2013 10:57 pm|
I know… twice the work can be a LOT!! 😀
November 27, 2013 11:29 am|
What a strong character your fiction has, shilpa. It requires lot of mental strength to be a single parent . Not a happy decision, but a choice has to be made depending on circumstances.
November 27, 2013 10:58 pm|
Guess, to be strong must the only choice in front of her!
November 27, 2013 12:36 pm|
Shilpa,the character you have portrayed in the story is brave. We have heard very often that a single woman has adopted a child and has to face the ugly comments from people around her. Never heard of a single man adopting a child!
November 27, 2013 11:05 pm|
Oh yes, our society can be very cruel at times! How tough it is for a single mother to face these social challenges along mental and physical struggles! Yes, now that you have mentioned… never heard of a man adopting a child!
November 27, 2013 3:12 pm|
I love how you think. Wish we could infuse these thoughts in people around us.
November 27, 2013 11:05 pm|
Amen to that!
November 28, 2013 2:46 am|
it sure takes courage.
good take on this, shilpa 🙂
November 29, 2013 3:05 pm|
Thank you Ruchira 🙂
November 28, 2013 6:28 am|
It is never easy to stand by what you feel is right, takes a lot of courage, glad she did not look back…
November 29, 2013 3:05 pm|
Yes, glad she followed her heart and took that step!
November 28, 2013 6:02 pm|
How many single Mothers have to go through this, Shilpa! Nice treatment of the prompt!
November 29, 2013 3:06 pm|
All of them, all the time… sadly!
Thank you Vidya 🙂
November 29, 2013 9:26 am|
Nice short story.It is a real challenge but kudos to ladies who are prepared to face the world than abort a child
November 29, 2013 3:07 pm|
Yes, kudos to these strong women! 🙂
November 29, 2013 7:17 pm|
I know at least three single parents.
Some are so out of choice and some out of compulsion.Either way,I am able to relate to the feelings expressed here.
December 3, 2013 9:12 pm|
Thanks Mr Chowla.
November 29, 2013 8:03 pm|
Very beautifully expressed 🙂
Here after ages and so glad to be back 🙂
December 3, 2013 9:13 pm|
Thanks Neha and good to see you back! 🙂
November 30, 2013 2:20 am|
It’s beautiful Shilpa and I can see the love of a mother-child in this powerful post:) 😐
December 3, 2013 9:13 pm|
Thanks Vishal.