Awkward Situation – Having Children with Different Fathers

There once lived an elderly couple in our neighbourhood, folks I remember well, and with them resided their daughter, Mary, along with her own three daughters. In the whispers of the street, Mary was often spoken of as a woman left without a husband. The reason, as people said, was that her three children each had a different father.

It was said that Mary first married when she was just eighteen. The young man she wed, David, was rather smitten with her. Her parents thought well of the match and gave their blessing. After all, what parent wouldnt wish for their childs happiness?

The pair lived together for about five years, and yet, there were no children. Everyone soon began to question why. As is so often the way, the blame settled quietly on Marys shoulders. There was talk that, by eighteen, her youthful ways had left her unable to bear children.

Marys mother-in-law, a practical woman born and bred in the countryside, often whispered into her sons ear, telling him he deserved a wife who could give him a family. She believed that a womans duty was to bear children and continue the line. He listened, and in the end, left Mary. They divorced, but she never bothered changing her name she said it would only bring unnecessary fuss and trouble.

Not long after, Mary met another man and, as fate would have it, soon fell pregnant. It became clear that the difficulty had not been hers after all, but her first husbands. Yet, such things didnt seem to matter. When the child arrived, the father wanted no part and quickly disappeared. With nothing else to do, Mary registered the child under her first husbands name.

Marys mother didnt scold her; on the contrary, she was rather pleased to finally have a grandchild. Some time passed and Mary told her parents she was expecting again. At the very least, this time, shed married again, which was seen as a blessing. Her new husband, Richard, hadnt wanted children quite so soon, but fate intervened. The little girl was born with health troubles, and when her father found out, he fled too. He never even bothered with a proper separation.

Eventually, Mary met yet another man, and, against her parents wishes who fretted about how many mouths there were now to feed she decided to have another child. Once again, the father vanished before long. She gave her youngest a different surname, hoping perhaps things might change.

It was fortunate at least that Mary had managed, with a good deal of help from her parents, to purchase a small flat. After a bitter quarrel with them, she realised she needed money to support her girls. She tried to apply for maintenance payments. But do you think any man stepped forward as a father? Not a soul did. Some simply disappeared, while others turned unpleasant and threatening.

So there it was for Mary. She had her children, but the world hadnt been kind. Even now, when I recall those days, I cant help but reflect on how little her fortunes ever seemed to improve.