My Father’s Mistake, by Lauryne Mwende

Lauryne knows the meaning of unconditional love after her father physically abused her mother, putting her in the hospital, and then deserted his family. She still remembers happy times, despite living in a slum and having one room for herself, her younger sister and parents to share. Her story isn’t just about domestic abuse and growing up in a single-parent home, because she holds onto the happiness they shared and is always finding new reasons to smile.

She writes, “Although I still love him, he did a very big mistake.”

Thank you, Cherry, for your donation to Lift the Lid and for giving us this opportunity to publish Lauryne’s essay, “My Father’s Mistake.”