How my parents' divorce affected me - Annie Idibia

In a new interview with Sunday Sun, the
happy go mother of two, Annie Idibia shared
her growing up experiences and sacrifices her
mother made after they were abandoned by
their father. She further prayed her marriage
to 2face Idibia would last long enough,
adding that she wouldn't want her kids to
undergo the emotional trauma that she
passed through when her parents separated
20 years ago. See excerpts below:

"My mum and dad divorced 20 years ago. My
mother bred us from childhood to adulthood
because of the divorce. I was almost a tom
boy growing up with my brothers. It’s
heartbreaking when you live with your
parents happily and suddenly, they part ways.
Sincerely, we were terribly affected
emotionally. It was especially tough where it
was only our mother that was attending
functions in school and taking care of our
needs. It was emotionally sapping and my
brothers have their own fair share of
memories. It affected me so much while in
secondary school because I was always sad
going home after school hours to see my
mother living without my father.

But mum
tried her best to make life meaningful for us;
she is my hero. And I appreciate God for
being there for us." she disclosed.
On growing up "We lived in Ibadan with our
parents when my father was working with
Mobil and my mother was a house wife. She
remained a house wife until they separated. I
was born with a silver spoon but I didn’t
grow up with it. After their divorce, my
mother got a job with Mobil working as a
cook to support us."

How the experience sharpened her "It made
me stronger and independent as a woman. As
the only girl, my mother taught me to do
domestic chores. Today as a married woman,
I have domestic staff but I still cook and do
house chores. I started working immediately
after I graduated from secondary school at
age 15. I worked as a sales girl in a boutique
and two other places before I got admission
to study, leading up to my diploma. I also
worked part time as an undergraduate of
Computer Science at the Lagos State
University when I was 18-years-old.
Thereafter, I got admission into the
University of Lagos where I bagged a degree
in Theatre Arts. Growing up wasn’t easy, my
sister. I have never shared this before in the
media but I think God wants His name to be
exalted in my life."

Reconciling with her dad and her marriage
with 2face Idibia "I have reconciled with my
father. I did seven years ago. Our mother
always encouraged us to forgive our father
and love him regardless of the past. I have a
very good relationship with my father now.
Honestly, divorce is the worst punishment
any parent could subject children to because
it’s the children that will face the
consequences of their actions.

Divorce
shouldn’t be considered as an option when
couples face-off. It is advisable to settle
rather than divorce. Why did you get married
if you cannot forgive and reconcile with your
partner? I don’t wish my kids to pass through
my experience regarding divorce. I always use
my parents-in-laws as an example and I try to
emulate them in my marriage.

After all these
years, they are still deeply in love with each
other. Even at their age, they still enjoy each
other’s company and that is amazing."