Contributor
Ivy Chibanda
9 stories
Learning to Love My Mother-in-law Despite Her Mistreatment
Growing up, my worst fear was not getting along with my mother-in-law when I got married because I had heard a lot of stories about mothers and daughters-in-law not getting along with each other. I didn’t get it though. I thought it was every mothers’ dream to have her son married and wean him off so he can grow and have his own family. I find out different.
TWSC Submission: How Depression Almost Killed me
Depression has left my kids traumatized, my relationships with my colleagues ruined and my health in a fragile state. It could never had been this serious had I admitted I had a problem and sought help when I had the chance. Prevention is much better than cure; it’s unfortunate I am only realizing it now.
Demystifying Societal Expectations
Depression, anxiety, misery, hate, jealousy are common feelings amongst us as women. Despite the stresses of this world bringing about these feelings, society has contributed to a lot of us feeling this way as we spend a lot of time trying to live up to societal expectations
Lessons From the Death of a Loved One
Three months ago, my aunt passed away unexpectedly. It has been a difficult time for me and it is still hard for me to accept or understand why she was taken from us. Over the past three months, I have learnt several things which I thought would be worth sharing with you.
TWSC Submission: Why I Chose to Forgive
As we were walking back home after church service, my friends and I discussed the sermon on forgiveness. We agreed that forgiveness seems easy when someone tells you to forgive, but forgetting is the hardest part. The thought of how you were wronged keeps recurring in your mind and you become angry again. Walking with us was an elderly woman, a widow with four grown children. S
No, Thanks...I Don't Wear Labels
Society has created certain standards for us that dictate the way we live, dress, who we are and what we believe in. These standards have led many women to stay in situations they weren’t meant to be in, and remain silent when abused. In the society we live in, a woman is supposed to get an education, get married, have children and take care of her family. This is how you earn
In Her Shoes: It Wasn’t Worth It
Ten years later, she looks back and thinks again…was it worth it? She retraces her steps and realizes that she was more in love with her boyfriend than he was with her, but she didn’t know that then. He seemed earnest when he told her she would be the best mother for his future children. She was 20 then. Deep down, she didn’t want to get married so young, but he was older and a
From Around the World: When a Girl Goes From Child to Mother in One Day
What happens when a child loses both parents and has to suddenly become a parent to their younger siblings? Who steps in when tragedy interrupts the dreams of a young child? Sadly, oftentimes the answer is no one. A child-headed family is one where a minor becomes the head of the household. The high mortality rate in Zimbabwe has led to many child-headed families. The eldest gi
Once is one time too many - If it sometimes hurts, it can never be love
I have seen women with scars they have been left with by the men they loved. I have seen women lose their self esteem because they have been through hell with the men they fell in love with. Some have lost hope when it comes to love, because they have been told they don’t deserve love. It’s sad that women have, at many times, taken the blame for the violence they face. What I k