wish we could have bonded a long time, but this is what heaven has for us. Please take care of my little Gabbie with Dad. I will see you, Dad and Gabbie when my time comes. Your daughter, Anya
Cherise Isaacs TP in South Africa
To answer the question of how I am driving change and nurturing my child, I need to start at the beginning. It began when her father and I met and dated for about three years before I became pregnant. At the time, I believed we were heading for a fairy-tale ending—something every Disney fan dreams of. However, look- ing back, I realize how far from the truth that was. Reality painted a very different picture. The signs were there, I suppose, but blinded by love and hope, I didn’t see them as clearly as I should have. It started with little things: in pub- lic, he was overly affectionate, but in private, he couldn’t look up from his phone and avoided meaningful conversations. When we did talk, he would interrupt or talk over me, making me feel invisible. He would plan time for us to be together, only to cancel at the last minute because he had “better things to do”—his exact words. Ironically, he was the one who pushed for a child and was thrilled when I became pregnant. But by then, the cracks in his facade had grown more visible. His behavior became physical—a slap here, a bruising grip there. The night I gave birth was the turning point. Alone in a hospital room, I had spent hours trying to contact him, only to be told he wouldn’t come because he was at a party “having too much fun.” That was the moment everything changed. I realized I would be raising a daughter, and she would learn how to allow others to treat her based on my example. Through her eyes, I saw how unacceptable my situation was. I knew I could not let her grow up think- ing this was normal or acceptable. From that moment forward, it became about her. I knew that to raise a strong, independent woman, she needed to be surrounded by strong women, real-life examples of courage and resilience.
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EXAMPLE OF RESILIENCE
LETTERS TO MOTHERS
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