Achievement Unlocked: Single Mom (Part 4)

I opened the door to our room and, with no words, got I. Dad threw the stick he was hitting I with across the room as I went out.

I consoled I and gave her water to soothe her throat. We sat down on the wooden sala set as I was determined to sleep there with I. I knew an outburst is brewing.

I wasn't mistaken. A few minutes after, Dad got out and started berrating me. Does he interfere when I discipline you? No. Is he of no value to the household? I said no. He said I was always right, I was always making the decisions. It went on and on and on. I realized I already fell asleep in my arms, poor thing. She must have been tired from all the crying.

M and A went out of the room a few minutes after Dad and they heard a lot of the fighting and almost-shouting. I half-expected lolo and lola to come out, thankfully they didn't.

TO PART 5.

Achievement Unlocked: Single Mom (Part 3)

I know he will get angry if I interfered. This has happened a number of times already, always with I. I hate the cycle - him scaring I, I getting scared and crying, he berrates I for crying and scaring her even more. The cycle continues.

I tried to give Dad space and let him discipline I. But I had been crying for half an hour already, pleading and saying sorry. Dad doesn't listen and insists that saying sorry doesn't mean that all will immediately be well. I do not know how he envisions the night to stop.

If I stay in the room, I might think that I am not defending her. If I leave her, she might think I am abandoning her. But I couldn't stay and listen to her begging and saying sorry to Dad. I left the room and tried to calm down.

Finally, I could not take it any more. I started towards our room. I saw lola extending her hand from the door of their room, towards ours. I know she was praying over Dad. She could have just prayed in their room. Did it really sound that bad that she felt she had to physically come closer and extend her hand so that her prayers may be heard?

TO PART 4

Achievement Unlocked: Single Mom (Part 2)

M developed a boil on his head which popped last Saturday. He didn't want anyone to touch it, even his hair. He was restless and throwing tantrums. The last one was done right before sleeping. He was crying for close to an hour. Dad, who cooked the whole day, was letting me handle M. Eventually, M settled down and started getting ready to sleep.

All these time, Dad was playing with I on the iPad. When it was time to sleep, he asked I to put the iPad away. She complied then asked to sleep beside me and M. Dad threatened I that he will spank her if she doesn't sleep already. Ofcourse, she got scared and started crying. Dad will not hear of it and got angry all the more, threatening more spanks, which ignited more tears, and so on.

TO PART 3