Dear Christine,
I am writing this letter to let people see what painful and hurtful things a father is doing to his child.
Christine, this father would not put a red cent at the court to help me with this wonderful child who is learning so well at school.
He owes about $10 000 in child maintenance arrears and refuses to pay the court for our child, even though he helps support six small children that are not his.
School has reopened and he has given nothing to help. He just shows off her to his friends.
I work three days weekly and have everything to do. Recently, the doctor said the child needed to use some special things because of her health. That man walked through town and would not even buy a drink to help the child. I had to come home from work and rush and get something for her. Do you think these things are right?
Here is another harder problem for this child. He made her prepare herself to go to town on Monday to get school shoes and never turned up.
That child cried and even made me cry. I came home from work and did not know what to do. I had to make a call and talk with someone to help the child. That someone also gave her lunch money. So you see how good other people offer help and not some of the fathers?
Christine, I am totally fed up with this man’s behaviour. I want him to understand that at no time this child is going to stay away from school, and that his salary is more than three days’ work.
He should also know that some of the young women only want you for your ID card, signature, and a letter if needed.
– Hurtful Mother and Child
Dear Hurtful Mother and Child,
You have every right to be hurt. It is also obvious to me that you are aiming your letter at a particular individual, perhaps with the hope that he sees it. No man should neglect taking care of his own flesh. Yet, this happens time and again.
The children are the ones who hurt most. I can only hope that young women like yourself use better judgement when befriending some members of the opposite sex.
In addition, if the court system fails, who else can you turn to? In my humblest opinion, I believe the court needs to help these children by ensuring “these fathers”, if employed, support their offspring or reap the full consequences – particularly when the question of maintenance is before the court.
– CHRISTINE
