Mariel’s single mom journey is one filled with courage, heartbreak, and hope. She once thought she had found the person who would complete her family. But the relationship she hoped would bring happiness slowly turned into the opposite—a life filled with pain, fear, and confinement.
Every day, she felt like a prisoner in her own home.
“I was locked inside the house. It felt like I had no right to go out or even move freely. What we always feared was—what if there’s a fire? What if something happens? There was no escape. It wasn’t just my body that was trapped, even my heart and mind were caged.”
The home that should have been filled with love became a prison of fear. At one point, she couldn’t even be with her own child.
“I was a mother, but it felt like my voice and rights were taken away. That was the most painful part—that your own child was being kept from you.”
Her self-confidence faded, and ridicule and control took over her days. Deep inside, she knew—if she stayed, she would not only destroy herself but also her child.
Despite the fear of the unknown, she made the boldest choice of her life: she walked away.
“I would rather start over—even if it’s difficult—than stay in a life that was slowly destroying me.”
A New Beginning
Starting over was not easy. Mariel returned to the province with her child, unsure of what the future would look like. Thankfully, her family stepped in to catch her.
“My family was really the first to help me. The father of my child still gave support then, but aside from him, my aunt and a cousin abroad would send milk and biscuits. My aunt in the province helped me find a livelihood. My father and I made native bags to sell. In the mornings, my aunt let me peddle her goods while my father took care of my child. Sometimes I got home before noon, other times I brought my child along with me.”
The adjustment weighed heavily on her. Still, every drop of sweat and every tear, she offered for her child.
“It was my first time doing all those things, but for my child, I endured everything. Thank God, we managed to get by day by day.”
Rising Again and Learning to Love
In time, Mariel began to heal—and with that healing came the courage to open her heart again.
“Before I trusted someone new, I always put my child first. I would rather choose someone who loves and accepts my child more than me. For me, I realized how beautiful love can be when the one you love loves you more.”
Eventually, the right person entered her life.
“He is truly my definition of the right one. He takes such great care of my child, protects him, and loves him so much. I can’t say anything but thank God, because he was given to us.” ❤️
Lessons and Messages from Mariel
If she could speak to her younger self, Mariel would whisper these words:
“God is always with you, so keep fighting. And always choose to be kind rather than to be right. Choose to be good even if people treat you badly. As they say, kill them with kindness.”
For fellow single moms who feel like giving up, her encouragement is heartfelt:
“Your feelings are valid. There’s nothing wrong with you. The only wrong thing was the person we chose and kept fighting for. It’s not bad to cry, to feel sad, or to feel weak—but don’t lose hope. Always remember, God wouldn’t give you a trial you couldn’t handle. Every pain has its reward. And always keep in mind—if you need your child, your child needs you even more.”
And the most important lesson she wants to pass on to her child:
“Always value yourself. Don’t force something that isn’t right for you—you’ll only get hurt. And I will keep reminding him to always choose to be a good person, even if others weren’t good to him.”
Closing Thoughts
Mariel’s single mom journey is not just about leaving behind a painful relationship. It’s about choosing freedom, hope, and courage—for herself and her child. It’s a story of brokenness, but also of rising again. It’s about finding true love, in the form of both family and the right partner, and proving that healing is possible.
Her story reminds us that every single mother’s journey is unique—but at its heart, it’s always about strength, sacrifice, and unconditional love.
