We all know it takes a village to raise a child, but a loving partner is a great place to start. These seven women share how their partners’ love has helped them navigate motherhood and childcare.
“My husband is the purest evidence of God’s love for me.” – Kenechukwu, 30, married
We’ve been together for three years — dated for two, married for one — and he’s everything I didn’t know I needed. I’m currently pregnant, and he makes pregnancy easier. He’s never missed a hospital appointment. This man listens to every random complaint and observation I have about my body changing or the babies. Sometimes, because my hormones are raging, I start a fight, but he somehow finds a way to diffuse the tension. It feels like we’re both carrying the pregnancy. My husband is the purest evidence of God’s love for me.
“Anything he thinks needs to be done, he’ll do it.” – Ola, 41, married
My husband and I have been together for ten years, and it’s safe to say he’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me. He helps with house chores, is always present, and cares for our children without me asking or prompting him. He bathes them, prepares their meals, helps them with their homework; anything he thinks needs to be done, he’ll do it.
“He wants to be as involved as possible in the welfare of my son” – Esther, 31, dating
My partner and I have been together for seven months. He constantly tries to make my day less stressful. If I have to go anywhere with my son, it doesn’t matter the reason, he’ll drop everything else and make himself available to take us. He runs errands for my job and offers to watch my son when I need a break. As long as it’ll take the stress off me, he’ll do it. He wants to be as involved as possible in the welfare of my son. And no, he’s under no illusion that my son will call him Daddy… but he loves him.
“He’s constantly asking if I’m okay and doing things to make me feel better.” – Love, 27, married
My partner and I have been on-and-off for about five years. We’re married now with a 25-day-old. My husband owns his own company, so he can do “whatever he likes,” like take paternity leave to care for the baby even though his mum and I are in the house. He also got a nurse for the baby in addition to the maid and cook we already have. He helps feed her on days when I’m too tired to even hold her. She sleeps through the night, so our sleep isn’t disturbed, but she eats every three to four hours. Sometimes, when the alarm goes off, he tells me to keep sleeping and goes to take care of her.
He’s constantly asking if I’m okay and doing things to make me feel better, like giving me massages and picking up my favourite snacks every time he goes out.
He’s white, and I’m black, so he stands up to idiots who decide to call my baby a zebra.
“He always makes himself available for anything I need” – Elizabeth, 39, married
We’ve been together for nine years, and every day, I wake up grateful for how my husband takes care of the kids and me. He shares the household and childcare workload with me; he cooks, cleans, does the dishes, feeds the children, bathes and dresses them up. When I need a break, he’ll take the children for walks. He listens to all my concerns, provides reassurance and always makes himself available for anything I need.
“I can go to sleep knowing our toddler is getting the best care from him.” – Caroline, 29, married
We’ve been together for about ten years and married for three. I often joke about how I’m not sure I could have done motherhood with anyone else. He bathes our baby, while I make her breakfast, and whenever we all go out together, he keeps an eye on her. He’s better at managing her energy level than I am. I can go to sleep knowing our toddler is getting the best care from him.
“I know motherhood is about my children, but he makes it easier by just taking care of me.” – Grace, 53, dating
We were together before I got married. After I lost my husband, he was available, so we just continued the relationship and have been together for about two years. My kids are in different countries right now. I know motherhood is about them, but he makes it easier by just taking care of me. He keeps me company, makes sure I know I’m loved and cared for, and takes up the role of a father in the children’s lives.
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