Tales of resilience and courage: Single mothers reflect on raising their children alone in Pakistan - Comment

<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en"> <head>  <meta charset="utf-8"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width,minimum-scale=1,initial-scale=1">  <title>Tales of resilience and courage: Single mothers reflect on raising their children alone in Pakistan - Comment - Images</title> <meta name='subject' content='Film. Fashion. Celebrity. Culture. All your lifestyle needs met by Pakistan's hippest insider.' /> <meta name='description' content='Despite nine months of planning, nothing prepares you for the possibility of death or divorce and single motherhood.' /> <meta property='fb:app_id' content='839242299556819' /> <meta property='og:locale' content='en_US' /> <link rel='canonical' href='https://images.dawn.com/news/1187174' /> <link rel='amphtml' href='https://images.dawn.com/news/amp/1187174' /> <meta name='twitter:card' content='summary_large_image' /> <meta name='twitter:site' content='@dawn_images' /> <meta name='twitter:url' content='https://images.dawn.com/news/1187174' /> <meta name='twitter:title' content='Tales of resilience and courage: Single mothers reflect on raising their children alone in Pakistan' /> <meta name='twitter:description' content='Despite nine months of planning, nothing prepares you for the possibility of death or divorce and single motherhood.' /> <meta property='og:site_name' content='Images' /> <meta property='og:url' content='https://images.dawn.com/news/1187174' /> <meta property='og:type' content='article' /> <meta property='og:title' content='Tales of resilience and courage: Single mothers reflect on raising their children alone in Pakistan' /> <meta property='og:description' content='Despite nine months of planning, nothing prepares you for the possibility of death or divorce and single motherhood.' /> <meta itemprop='title' content='Tales of resilience and courage: Single mothers reflect on raising their children alone in Pakistan' /> <meta itemprop='description' content='Despite nine months of planning, nothing prepares you for the possibility of death or divorce and single motherhood.' /> <meta name='description' content='Despite nine months of planning, nothing prepares you for the possibility of death or divorce and single motherhood.' /> <meta property='twitter:image' content='https://i.dawn.com/large/2021/05/609688f482849.jpg' /> <meta property='og:image' content='https://i.dawn.com/large/2021/05/609688f482849.jpg' /> <meta itemprop='image' content='https://i.dawn.com/large/2021/05/609688f482849.jpg' /> <meta property='article:section' itemprop='articleSection' content='comment' /> <meta property='article:publisher' content='https://images.dawn.com' /> <meta property='article:published_time' content='2021-05-10 12:13:22+05:00' /> <meta property='article:modified_time' content='2021-05-10 15:29:58+05:00' /> <meta property='article:author' content='https://images.dawn.com/authors/511/yusra-habib' /> <meta name='author' content='Yusra Habib' />  <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-GTQ0ZJGVZG"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []}; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-GTQ0ZJGVZG'); </script> <script> gtag('event', 'custom', { "Category": "Comment","Author": "Yusra Habib-511","Authors": "Yusra Habib-511","Id": "news/1187174","PublishedDate": "2021-05-10 12:13:22","UpdatedDate": "2021-05-10 15:29:58","ArticleAge": "3 years","ArticleType": "Hero","wordCount": "2062", "non_interaction": true }); </script> <script type="application/ld+json"> {"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org","@type":"organization","logo":"https:\/\/images.dawn.com\/_img\/logo.png","name":"Images","url":"https:\/\/images.dawn.com","sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/images.dawn\/","https:\/\/twitter.com\/dawn_images","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/dawn_images\/",""],"potentialAction":{"@type":"SearchAction","target":"https:\/\/images.dawn.com\/search?cx=016184311056644083324:8u2es-0seny&ie=UTF-8&q={search_term_string}","query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}} </script> <script type="application/ld+json"> {"@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList","itemListElement": [{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"https:\/\/images.dawn.com\/comment","name":"Comment"}}]} </script> <script type="application/ld+json"> {"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","url":"https:\/\/images.dawn.com","publisher":{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org","@type":"Organization","name":"Images","url":"https:\/\/images.dawn.com","sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/images.dawn\/","https:\/\/twitter.com\/dawn_images","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/dawn_images\/",""],"logo":{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org","@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/images.dawn.com\/_img\/logo.png"}},"copyrightYear":"2024","image":[{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org","@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/i.dawn.com\/primary\/2021\/05\/609688f482849.jpg","width":"1200","height":"675","caption":""}],"datePublished":"2021-05-10T12:13:22+05:00","dateModified":"2021-05-10T15:29:58+05:00","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/images.dawn.com\/news\/1187174","headline":"Tales of resilience and courage: Single mothers reflect on raising their children alone in Pakistan","description":"Despite nine months of planning, nothing prepares you for the possibility of death or divorce and single motherhood.","author":[{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org","@type":"Person","name":"Yusra Habib","url":"https:\/\/images.dawn.com\/authors\/511\/yusra-habib"}]} </script>  <script type='text/javascript'> document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function() { Counter.count([{"news":"1187174"},{"parent":"Comment"},{"parent":"Culture"},{"parent":"Home"},{"parent":"Template"},{"child":"Culture.Parenting"},{"child":"Template.Hero"},{"author":"511"},{"editor":"511"}]); }); </script>  <link rel='stylesheet' href='https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Lato:300,400,700' media='all'> <link rel='stylesheet' href='https://images.dawn.com/_css/print.20241015121808.css' media='print'> <link rel='stylesheet' href='https://images.dawn.com/_css/newskit.20241118133706.css' media='all'> <link rel='stylesheet' href='https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Abel&family=Adamina&family=Anek+Latin:wght@300;400;500;600;700&family=Domine&family=Donegal+One&family=Encode+Sans+SC:wght@100&family=Fjalla+One&family=Khula:wght@300&family=Krub:wght@200&family=League+Gothic&family=Ledger&family=Libre+Baskerville&family=Mako&family=Marcellus&family=Roboto+Serif:opsz,wght@8..144,300&family=Roboto+Slab&family=Shippori+Mincho&family=Tinos&display=swap' media='all'> <link rel='stylesheet' href='https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Abril+Fatface&family=Bebas+Neue&family=Staatliches&family=Ultra&display=swap' media='all'> <link rel='stylesheet' href='https://images.dawn.com/_css/shame.20241114121412.css' media='all'> <script src='https://code.jquery.com/jquery-3.6.0.min.js' defer='true'></script> <script src='https://images.dawn.com/_js/all.20241007094312.js' defer='true'></script> <link rel='preload' as='font' href='https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Lato:300,400,700'> <link rel='preload' as='style' href='https://images.dawn.com/_css/print.20241015121808.css'> <link rel='preload' as='style' href='https://images.dawn.com/_css/newskit.20241118133706.css'> <link rel='preload' as='font' href='https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Abel&family=Adamina&family=Anek+Latin:wght@300;400;500;600;700&family=Domine&family=Donegal+One&family=Encode+Sans+SC:wght@100&family=Fjalla+One&family=Khula:wght@300&family=Krub:wght@200&family=League+Gothic&family=Ledger&family=Libre+Baskerville&family=Mako&family=Marcellus&family=Roboto+Serif:opsz,wght@8..144,300&family=Roboto+Slab&family=Shippori+Mincho&family=Tinos&display=swap'> <link rel='preload' as='font' href='https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Abril+Fatface&family=Bebas+Neue&family=Staatliches&family=Ultra&display=swap'> <link rel='preload' as='style' href='https://images.dawn.com/_css/shame.20241114121412.css'> <link rel='preload' as='script' href='https://code.jquery.com/jquery-3.6.0.min.js'> <link rel='preload' as='script' href='https://images.dawn.com/_js/all.20241007094312.js'> <link rel='dns-prefetch preconnect' href='i.dawn.com'> <link rel='dns-prefetch preconnect' href='fonts.googleapis.com'> <link rel='dns-prefetch preconnect' href='fonts.googleapis.com'> <link rel='dns-prefetch preconnect' href='fonts.googleapis.com'> <link rel='dns-prefetch preconnect' href='code.jquery.com'>  <script async src="https://securepubads.g.doubleclick.net/tag/js/gpt.js"></script> <script> window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []}; window.debugAds = window.location && window.location.search && window.location.search.includes('googfc'); googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.defineSlot('/1029551/Dawn-Responsive-Middle-Leaderboard', [[970,250],[970,90],[728,90],[300,600],[320,480],[320,50],[320,100],[300,50],[300,250],[1,1]], 'div-gpt-ad-1693559881661-0') .defineSizeMapping([[[970,0],[[970,250],[970,90],[728,90],[300,600],[320,480],[320,50],[320,100],[300,50],[1,1]]],[[728,0],[[728,90],[300,600],[320,480],[320,50],[320,100],[300,50],[1,1]]],[[0,0],[[300,600],[320,480],[300,250],[320,50],[320,100],[300,50],[1,1]]]]) .addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.defineSlot('/1029551/Dawn-Responsive-Footer-Stickable-Leaderboard', [[970,250],[970,90],[728,90],[320,50],[320,100],[300,50],[300,250],[1,1]], 'div-gpt-ad-1693559286339-0') .defineSizeMapping([[[970,0],[[970,250],[970,90],[728,90],[320,50],[320,100],[300,50],[1,1]]],[[728,0],[[728,90],[320,50],[320,100],[300,50],[1,1]]],[[0,0],[[300,250],[320,50],[320,100],[300,50],[1,1]]]]) .addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.pubads().setTargeting('site', ["images.dawn.com"]); googletag.pubads().setTargeting('category', ["Template","Culture","Comment","Single Story"]); googletag.pubads().enableLazyLoad({ fetchMarginPercent: -1, renderMarginPercent: 50, mobileScaling: 2.0 }); googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); // refreshAd('/3023235/Responsive-Middle-Leaderboard') // refreshAd('div-gpt-ad-1693559881661-0') window.refreshAd = ((id) => { console.log(new Date().toISOString().substr(11, 8), 'refreshAd(' + id + ')'); for (let slot of googletag.pubads().getSlots()) { if (slot.getAdUnitPath() === id || slot.getSlotElementId() == id) { googletag.pubads().refresh([slot]); } } }); // <div data-refresh="30" id='div-gpt-ad-1234567890123-0' ... googletag.pubads().addEventListener("slotRenderEnded", (e) => { const id = e.slot.getSlotElementId(); document.getElementById(id).classList.add('ad-rendered'); // data-refresh var seconds = null; if (seconds = document.getElementById(id).getAttribute('data-refresh')) { console.log(new Date().toISOString().substr(11, 8), 'refreshAd(' + id + ') in ' + seconds + 's'); window.__refreshAdTimeouts = window.__refreshAdTimeouts || []; clearTimeout(window.__refreshAdTimeouts[id]); window.__refreshAdTimeouts[id] = setTimeout(() => refreshAd(id), seconds * 1000); }; // data-rendered-classes var renderedClasses = null; if (renderedClasses = document.getElementById(id).getAttribute('data-rendered-classes')) { document.getElementById(id).classList.add(renderedClasses); } }); if (debugAds) { // debugging is enabled, add bgcolor and padding on all ad divs document.querySelectorAll('[id^="div-gpt-ad-"]').forEach(el => { var hasError = el.classList.contains('advert-error'); el.style.backgroundColor = hasError ? '#ecc' : '#ccc'; el.title = el.dataset.name || ''; el.innerHTML = hasError ? el.dataset.name : ''; if (hasError) { el.style.padding = '10px'; } el.style.height = el.dataset.height || ''; el.style.width = el.dataset.width || ''; }); } else { googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(); } googletag.enableServices(); }); // Relocate Ads window.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded',function () { document.querySelectorAll('[data-selector]').forEach(ad => { if (target = document.querySelector(ad.getAttribute('data-selector'))) { target.insertAdjacentElement('afterend', ad); } }); }); // Relocate Ad if viewport width is less than 720px window.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded',function () { if (window.matchMedia('(max-width: 720px)').matches) { document.querySelectorAll('[data-selector-mobile]').forEach(ad => { if (target = document.querySelector(ad.getAttribute('data-selector-mobile'))) { target.insertAdjacentElement('afterend', ad); } }); } }); </script>   <link rel='manifest' href='/manifest.json'>  </head> <body class="ar-8 article template--hero comment comment-"> <header class="mb-10 hidden">  <div class="flex items-center justify-center"> <h1 class="mt-6 mb-2"> <a href="/" title="Dawn Images"> <img class="w-32 sm:w-52 filter invert" src="/_img/logo--home.png" alt="Images"> <span class="hidden">Dawn Images</span> </a> </h1> </div> <div class="aux-content flex justify-center" style="overflow: hidden;">  </div> </header> <div class="container mx-auto max-w-full px-0"> <article class='story relative overflow-hidden single bg-default font-roboto-serif w-full' data-id='1187174' id='1187174' data-layout='hero' data-tags=''><div class="template__header flow-root relative "> <div class="my-2 mx-2"> <div class="flex flex-row justify-between items-center"> <div class="flex flex-row justify-end order-2">  <div class=' social--visible visible social-alignment absolute z-50 top-1 social-alignment absolute z-50 right-1 '> <div class="social js-social-fb social--icon social--black social--facebook float-left mt-1 mr-2 "> <a class=" h-full w-full outline-none inline-block " onclick="return !window.open(this.href, 'Share on Facebook', 'width=640, height=536')" rel='noreferrer' href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.dawn.com%2Fnews%2F1187174&display=popup&ref=plugin" target="_blank"><img width="24" height="24" src="/_img/social/icon-fb-black-rounded.png" /></a> </div> <div class="social js-social-twitter social--icon social--black social--twitter float-left mt-1 mr-2 "> <a class=' h-full w-full outline-none inline-block ' onclick="return !window.open(this.href, 'Tweet', 'width=640, height=300')" rel='noreferrer' href="https://twitter.com/share?text=Tales%20of%20resilience%20and%20courage%3A%20Single%20mothers%20reflect%20on%20raising%20their%20children%20alone%20in%20Pakistan&url=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.dawn.com%2Fnews%2F1187174&counturl=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.dawn.com%2Fnews%2F1187174" target="_blank"><img width="24" height="24" src="/_img/social/icon-twitter-black-rounded.png" /></a> </div> <div class="social js-social-whatsapp social--whatsapp text-3 float-left mt-1 mr-2 "> <a class="inline-block uppercase align-middle text-gray-400" target="_blank" href="WhatsApp://send?text=Tales%20of%20resilience%20and%20courage%3A%20Single%20mothers%20reflect%20on%20raising%20their%20children%20alone%20in%20Pakistan%20%0A%20https%3A%2F%2Fimages.dawn.com%2Fnews%2F1187174%3Fref%3Dwhatsapp"> <img width="24" height="24" src="/_img/social/icon-whatsapp-black-rounded.png" /> <span class="hidden">WHATSAPP</span> </a> </div></div> </div> <a href="/" title="Dawn Images" class=""> <img class="w-24 filter invert" src="/_img/logo--home.png" alt="Images"> <span class="hidden">Dawn Images</span> </a> </div> </div> <div class='slideshow story__cover slideshow--main ' data-slick='{"dots":true,"arrows":true,"dotsClass":"slideshow__pager ","asNavFor":null,"cssEase":"ease","speed":250,"autoplaySpeed":2000,"slidesToScroll":1,"slidesToShow":1,"fade":false,"autoplay":true,"infinite":true,"responsive": [{"breakpoint": 767,"settings": {"slidesToShow": 1,"slidesToScroll": 1}},{"breakpoint": 575,"settings": {"slidesToShow": 1,"slidesToScroll": 1}}]}'> <div class='slideshow__slide slideshow__slide--first slideshow__slide--horizontal lg:w-full md:w-full w-full' style=''>  <figure class='media media--uneven media--fill sm:w-full w-full mb-0 ' > <div class='media__item '><picture><img src="https://i.dawn.com/primary/2021/05/609688f482849.jpg" alt="" title="" /></picture></div> </figure> </div> </div> </div> <div class="template__main flow-root px-4 w-full sm:w-2/3 md:w-7/12 lg:w-5/12 mx-auto relative sm:-mt-20 ">  <h2 dir='auto' data-layout='story' data-id='1187174' class='story__title mt-2 text-8 sm:text-12 text-center leading-tight font-bebas '><a href='https://images.dawn.com/news/1187174/tales-of-resilience-and-courage-single-mothers-reflect-on-raising-their-children-alone-in-pakistan' class='story__link '>Tales of resilience and courage: Single mothers reflect on raising their children alone in Pakistan </a></h2>  <div dir='auto' class='story__excerpt text-gray-700 text-4.5 mb-4 text-center mx-auto leading-tight '>Despite nine months of planning, nothing prepares you for the possibility of death or divorce and single motherhood. </div> <div dir='auto' class=' text-center '><span dir='auto' class='story__byline text-center text-3 text-gray-900 '><a class='story__byline__link' href='https://images.dawn.com/authors/511/yusra-habib'>Yusra Habib</a></span> </div><div class='text-center '><span class='story__time text-center text-3.5 leading-none text-gray-500 tracking-wider '>Updated 10 May, 2021</span> </div>  <div dir='auto' class='story__content overflow-hidden mt-4 pt-4 text-gray-700 '><p>Motherhood is the unpaid labour that is rarely acknowledged, never has a day off and almost always taken for granted. </p> <p>When women carry a baby in their womb, the nine months are mostly spent incessantly planning, decorating and stocking up on supplies they'll need for their little ones. The one thing that isn't planned though? A death or divorce. </p> <p>When you're pregnant, no one prepares you for the possibility of being a single parent. There are no YouTube tutorials, no influencers talking about it, few grief support groups, and certainly no crash courses offered on single motherhood. So when it hits you like a rock, how do you navigate life, ensuring that your children are loved, cherished and wholesome human beings ready for the world? </p> <p>This Mother's Day, as an ode to single mothers (or warriors as they should be called), I got in touch with some women for an insight into what motherhood is like through their lens. </p> <h2 id='60990b25cf1d7'><strong>The unexpected turn</strong></h2> <figure class='media sm:w-full w-full media--center '> <div class='media__item '><picture><img src="https://i.dawn.com/primary/2021/05/60973d8654ed9.jpg" srcset='https://i.dawn.com/medium/2021/05/60973d8654ed9.jpg 500w, https://i.dawn.com/large/2021/05/60973d8654ed9.jpg 800w, https://i.dawn.com/primary/2021/05/60973d8654ed9.jpg 1200w' sizes='(min-width: 992px) 1200px, (min-width: 768px) 800px, 500px' alt="Photo: Harpers Bazaar" /></picture></div> <figcaption class="media__caption ">Photo: Harpers Bazaar</figcaption> </figure> <p> </p> <p>Widowed at 22, Meher Khan* told me that for the longest time after her young husband passed away only three years into their marriage, her presence — coupled with that of her one-year-old — made people uncomfortable. It was either a pity party with hushed conversations about the difficulties of remarrying with a baby, or the way she had suddenly aged, grieving the loss of her only companion, knowing full well that if given the choice, he would've wanted to be around for every one of their daughter's milestones. </p> <p>Amongst the misery and the mess in her head, "the biggest fear is ending up making a wrong decision," she said, revealing how difficult it was finding herself in the role of a single parent. </p> <p>“In shared parenting if you mess up, you know there’s someone who can share the blame, give you a pity pat on the back and move on with the encouragement that you at the very least, tried your best with pure intentions. But when you're all alone, deciding what to do is so sensitive and critical," she confessed, "simply because if things go haywire, you will have only yourself to blame."</p> <p>Of course, support systems, especially when you're living in a close-knit family in Pakistan, are helpful in providing you with guidance (and lots and lots of opinions), but at the end of the day, the decision is yours alone. It's made much tougher in fact, because you didn't fathom that sole responsibility knocking at your door. </p> <h2 id='60990b25cf21e'><strong>The stereotypical divide</strong></h2> <p>As unfortunate as it is, there is great disparity between how people regard single parents who lose their spouses, and single mothers who are divorced in Pakistan. This is because despite the fact that mothers are often the sole caregivers in household settings, a lack of male figure makes them and their children vulnerable, and therefore, open to criticism. </p> <p>Probing questions ranging from "why don't you get married again," to "who will accept her with someone else's kid" are part of the problem. From taunts at home to children being bullied at school, these women are often on the receiving end of not only emotional abuse and unwarranted attention, but also derogatory comments and unsolicited opinions. </p> <p>This is because in Pakistan, nuclear family settings are the norm. Anything else is not just different and taboo, but in some cases, even 'unnatural' and deserving of censure. </p> <p>However, while this may have been a naturally frustrating tipping point for mothers before, the new generation is making sure to raise their kids happily and on their own terms. </p> <h2 id='60990b25cf259'><strong>The new natural</strong></h2> <figure class='media sm:w-full w-full media--center '> <div class='media__item '><picture><img src="https://i.dawn.com/primary/2021/05/60973f05b4f09.jpg" srcset='https://i.dawn.com/medium/2021/05/60973f05b4f09.jpg 500w, https://i.dawn.com/large/2021/05/60973f05b4f09.jpg 800w, https://i.dawn.com/primary/2021/05/60973f05b4f09.jpg 1200w' sizes='(min-width: 992px) 1200px, (min-width: 768px) 800px, 500px' alt="" /></picture></div> </figure> <p> </p> <p>"I decided to be my son's mother and father because I promised myself to give my kid the best life possible," said Mesha Hassan, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/mesha.hassan/">blogger and mother to handsome little Ali.</a> "I did not want him to miss out on a normal life, I guess? A few months into being a single mom I realised I didn't have to play that role. I didn't leave that void. It wasn't my spot to fill," she said. </p> <p>"My son's normal is having a mother only. That's probably the hardest thing to accept. My son has a single mom. Yes, he has men around him who are father figures, but trying to fill that void is stupid. For him, there is no void. For him, he only has one parent. Not two. That's his normal and I had to reprogramme. I told myself I will continue to be his mom, the best version of me." </p> <p>She added that there was stigma attached to parenting, which is why falling prey to society's norms and set definitions was often a slippery slope. </p> <p>"No one can dictate how you have to be with your kid. No one can tell you that your kid doesn't have a 'normal' life. This is my kid's normal life. And I have nothing to change!" she proclaimed with unmatcheable grace.</p> <p>Like Hassan, many other mothers said the important thing was to raise your child to be a decent, loving human being, and that it was better being fatherless than being brought up in a dysfunctional environment which would be harmful to both — the parents suffering in the relationship — as well as the child who would have to witness constant bickering, unhappy faces and, in some cases, even violence and abuse. </p> <h2 id='60990b25cf28f'><strong>The normal versus the dysfunctional</strong></h2> <figure class='media sm:w-full w-full media--center '> <div class='media__item '><picture><img src="https://i.dawn.com/primary/2021/05/609905b063faf.jpg" srcset='https://i.dawn.com/medium/2021/05/609905b063faf.jpg 500w, https://i.dawn.com/large/2021/05/609905b063faf.jpg 800w, https://i.dawn.com/primary/2021/05/609905b063faf.jpg 1200w' sizes='(min-width: 992px) 1200px, (min-width: 768px) 800px, 500px' alt="Photo: Ivaccinate.org" /></picture></div> <figcaption class="media__caption ">Photo: Ivaccinate.org</figcaption> </figure> <p> </p> <p>"In Pakistan, the people around you will tell you that it's impossible. You will start doubting yourself at a point, but don't fall for this trap. Be your own hero and your child's too," said Varda R Mirza, who, apart from juggling a full-time career, is also raising her son Subhan. </p> <p>"I think of my son being brought up in that toxic environment that I had left 12 years ago and I thank my lucky stars that my son isn't like them. He stands out in a crowd MashaAllah and people around me always come saying, "<em>hum namazon mein dua kartay hain ke humara bacha tumhare bachay jaisa ho, suljha hua, laiq aur tameezdar.</em> [We pray that our son turns out like yours. Decent, capable and well-behaved.]"</p> <p>She told me she studied while she was pregnant and separated, and with just a six-month break, and continued even after she gave birth. Naturally, her son grew up to see her as an independent woman who built everything from scratch. </p> <p>"Today he is 11 years old, confident, and running his own YouTube channel. Every night before sleeping he tells me how proud he is of me, and that he will make me proud one day too. Little does he know, I'm already proud to be his mom. He's my best friend and my strength, and so am I his saviour and his hero," she said with her heart full.</p> <p>She admitted her journey was far from easy, "but at the end of the day, all worth it." She is now happily married to a man who is younger than her and accepts her son wholeheartedly. From fighting and winning her own case in court, to raising her son to be a wonderful child, Varda is undoubtedly the backbone of her strong, proud and independent family!</p> <h2 id='60990b25cf2c8'><strong>Powering through</strong></h2> <p>Another such wonder woman is Sumbul Tabani, a freelance digital marketing consultant and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/lamour.world/">CEO of Lamour World</a>, who was a teenage mother. She married at 16, gave birth to her first son at 17 and eventually left a luxurious life in Dubai to move back to Pakistan after her second child was born. </p> <p>"I was a very, very young mother. I have two boys who are now 17 and 14 — and it was very very difficult to raise my kids," she confessed, adding that the tough process of juggling motherhood was only possible because of her amazing family and support system. </p> <p>"Initially, the process of the divorce was very ugly and tough. Being alone with two children, society brings you down," she said, revealing that when she came back, she felt isolated. "The kids also went through a lot of pressure. We moved cities so obviously they felt a change," she said, disclosing that the advice she received included leaving the children with their father if she ever wanted the option of remarrying. </p> <p>Single fathers rarely face the same pressures, with many families hesitant to accept a woman's children from a previous marriage, even today. </p> <p>"But I wanted my kids in my life," she protested. Thus, despite coming from a well-off background, Tabani taught at a school in Karachi so her children could look up to her and learn, knowing they had a mother who was capable of doing everything. The transformation from a sensitive girl to a strong woman was immaculate. </p> <p>Not only is Tabani financially independent, but as an influencer and owner of a shoe brand, she believes women can do anything. "After you give birth to a kid, the sky is the limit," she said, adding that women just need to put their foot down and work towards their goals. </p> <p>As a mother, she is building her career, raising two teenage boys single-handedly and looking back on her journey proudly. Walking out of a life of misery for the sake of your children's happy futures is a selfless sacrifice that takes immense courage and Tabani knows she has come a long way. </p> <h2 id='60990b25cf2fe'><strong>The discrimination</strong></h2> <figure class='media sm:w-full w-full media--center '> <div class='media__item '><picture><img src="https://i.dawn.com/primary/2021/05/60973fac01201.jpg" srcset='https://i.dawn.com/medium/2021/05/60973fac01201.jpg 500w, https://i.dawn.com/large/2021/05/60973fac01201.jpg 800w, https://i.dawn.com/primary/2021/05/60973fac01201.jpg 1200w' sizes='(min-width: 992px) 1200px, (min-width: 768px) 800px, 500px' alt="Photo: Todaysparent.com" /></picture></div> <figcaption class="media__caption ">Photo: Todaysparent.com</figcaption> </figure> <p> </p> <p>However, as easy as these women may make it look, being a single mother in Pakistan is not just daunting in terms of financial stability or harsh criticism from society, but also in terms of the helplessness the woman in question is made to feel due to red tape at official levels. </p> <p>Sana Sattar, a single parent to a pair of one-year-old twins born in 2009, confessed how people were hellbent on making matters more difficult than they already were. "I had not one but two toddlers to raise on my own and people were quick to point out all the negatives of being a single parent," she said. </p> <p>"I've had to endure doctors at leading hospitals imply that since the father is not available, I might not be financially capable of bringing my children to their facility, to the passport office refusing to issue the children's passports till their father also came in, even though I had a Supreme Court letter stating I was legally allowed international travel with my children," she recalled. </p> <p>"The initial years were difficult, to say the least," Sattar said. "Overwhelmed, petrified and even ashamed all seemed like understatements. Growing up, family meant everything, and yet I seemed to have failed in giving exactly that to my own children, at least in the conventional term — and that made me label myself a failure as a mother," she said. </p> <p>But now that years have passed and she looks at her 11 year olds thriving, she realises how horribly wrong she was undermining her potential and doubting herself. </p> <p>"Not only did I not fail as a mother, I too have thrived with them, <em>because</em> of them and despite all the hurdles I faced," she said proudly. "My children gave me a purpose when life felt purposeless, forcing me daily to be a better version of myself." </p> <p>In them, Sattar understood the purest meaning of unconditional love. </p> <h2 id='60990b25cf323'><strong>The conclusion</strong></h2> <p>After speaking to so many powerful women and learning about their experiences, I reach a forgone conclusion: we collectively let single mothers down by observing them with a critical eye. </p> <p>On days like these, I wonder if these supermoms have children who treat them like the royalty they are — despite every decision they make scrutinised by society, they continue living their lives, composed, full of grace and unmoved like the queens they are. </p> <p>Then, I wonder if they reflect before going to sleep at night on their boundless courage, strength and ability to single-handedly bear responsibility for a tiny human being that they never thought they would be raising alone. </p> <p>I wonder if they realise that we might not get to choose a lot of things in life, but we do get to choose how we tell our stories — and by narrating theirs with so much grace, I hope they know how tenacious and wonderful they really are. </p> </div> <div class="social-alignment absolute z-50 top-1 ml-4"> <div class="w-8 h-full flex flex-col items-center gap-4">  <div class="social js-social-fb social--icon social--black social--flat social--facebook "> <a class=" h-full w-full outline-none inline-block " onclick="return !window.open(this.href, 'Share on Facebook', 'width=640, height=536')" rel='noreferrer' href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.dawn.com%2Fnews%2F1187174&display=popup&ref=plugin" target="_blank"><img width="20" height="20" src="/_img/social/icon-fb-black.png" /></a> </div> <div class="social js-social-twitter social--icon social--black social--flat social--twitter "> <a class=' h-full w-full outline-none inline-block ' onclick="return !window.open(this.href, 'Tweet', 'width=640, height=300')" rel='noreferrer' href="https://twitter.com/share?text=Tales%20of%20resilience%20and%20courage%3A%20Single%20mothers%20reflect%20on%20raising%20their%20children%20alone%20in%20Pakistan&url=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.dawn.com%2Fnews%2F1187174&counturl=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.dawn.com%2Fnews%2F1187174" target="_blank"><img width="20" height="20" src="/_img/social/icon-twitter-black.png" /></a> </div> <div class="social js-social-whatsapp social--whatsapp social--icon social--black social--flat"> <a class="inline-block uppercase align-middle text-gray-400" target="_blank" href="WhatsApp://send?text=Tales%20of%20resilience%20and%20courage%3A%20Single%20mothers%20reflect%20on%20raising%20their%20children%20alone%20in%20Pakistan%20%0A%20https%3A%2F%2Fimages.dawn.com%2Fnews%2F1187174%3Fref%3Dwhatsapp"> <img class="inline-block float-left mr-0.5 mb-2" width="" height="" src="/_img/social/icon-whatsapp-black.png" /> <span class=""></span> </a> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="template__footer flow-root px-1 w-full sm:w-7/10 md:w-5/8 lg:w-1/2 mx-auto "> <div class='flex justify-center p-2 mb-2'>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1693559881661-0' class='ad__wrapper__slot ' data-rendered-classes="" data-name="Dawn-Responsive-Middle-Leaderboard" data-height="250px" data-width="970px" > <script>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1693559881661-0'); });</script> </div>  </div>  <div class="border-t-3 border-black sm:mb-8 sm:mt-4"> <h2 class='my-2 uppercase relative z-10 text-6 sm:text-10 font-bebas border-t border-black'> Read This Next </h2> <div class="grid grid-cols-1 sm:grid-cols-3 sm:gap-3">  <article class='story relative overflow-hidden box mb-2 sm:mb-0' data-id='1185239' id='1185239' data-layout='story' data-tags=''>  <figure class='media media--focus sm:w-full w-1/4 sm:mr-0 mr-2 sm:float-none float-left mb-0 ' > <div class='media__item media__item--100 '><a title="5 millenial moms share how they're raising their kids on their own terms" href="https://images.dawn.com/news/1185239/5-millenial-moms-share-how-theyre-raising-their-kids-on-their-own-terms" target="_self"><picture><img src="https://i.dawn.com/medium/2020/05/5ebbabdc8656d.jpg" alt="5 millenial moms share how they're raising their kids on their own terms" title="5 millenial moms share how they're raising their kids on their own terms" /></picture></a></div> </figure>  <h2 dir='auto' data-layout='story' data-id='1185239' class='story__title text-4 text-black-400 hover:text-pink-default leading-tight '><a href='https://images.dawn.com/news/1185239/5-millenial-moms-share-how-theyre-raising-their-kids-on-their-own-terms' class='story__link '>5 millenial moms share how they're raising their kids on their own terms </a></h2> </article>   <article class='story relative overflow-hidden box mb-2 sm:mb-0' data-id='1181963' id='1181963' data-layout='story' data-tags=''>  <figure class='media media--focus sm:w-full w-1/4 sm:mr-0 mr-2 sm:float-none float-left mb-0 ' > <div class='media__item media__item--100 '><a title="8 women reveal what it's like to be single and over 30 while living in Pakistan" href="https://images.dawn.com/news/1181963/8-women-reveal-what-its-like-to-be-single-and-over-30-while-living-in-pakistan" target="_self"><picture><img src="https://i.dawn.com/medium/2019/03/5c81f64480f1d.png" alt="8 women reveal what it's like to be single and over 30 while living in Pakistan" title="8 women reveal what it's like to be single and over 30 while living in Pakistan" /></picture></a></div> </figure>  <h2 dir='auto' data-layout='story' data-id='1181963' class='story__title text-4 text-black-400 hover:text-pink-default leading-tight '><a href='https://images.dawn.com/news/1181963/8-women-reveal-what-its-like-to-be-single-and-over-30-while-living-in-pakistan' class='story__link '>8 women reveal what it's like to be single and over 30 while living in Pakistan </a></h2> </article>   <article class='story relative overflow-hidden box mb-2 sm:mb-0' data-id='1182381' id='1182381' data-layout='story' data-tags=''>  <figure class='media media--focus sm:w-full w-1/4 sm:mr-0 mr-2 sm:float-none float-left mb-0 ' > <div class='media__item media__item--100 '><a title="These new age Pakistani mom bloggers are redefining the concept of motherhood" href="https://images.dawn.com/news/1182381/these-new-age-pakistani-mom-bloggers-are-redefining-the-concept-of-motherhood" target="_self"><picture><img src="https://i.dawn.com/medium/2019/04/5cb2c9afcbf4b.png" alt="These new age Pakistani mom bloggers are redefining the concept of motherhood" title="These new age Pakistani mom bloggers are redefining the concept of motherhood" /></picture></a></div> </figure>  <h2 dir='auto' data-layout='story' data-id='1182381' class='story__title text-4 text-black-400 hover:text-pink-default leading-tight '><a href='https://images.dawn.com/news/1182381/these-new-age-pakistani-mom-bloggers-are-redefining-the-concept-of-motherhood' class='story__link '>These new age Pakistani mom bloggers are redefining the concept of motherhood </a></h2> </article>  </div> </div>  <div class="flow-root"> <section id="comments-1187174 mb-10" class="comments"> <div class="py-2"> <h2 id='comments' dir='auto' class='badge inline-flex font-bebas transition duration-300 text-16 uppercase align-middle'>Comments</h2> </div> <div class="button-container border-t-2 border-solid border-black mb-6"> <button type="button" data-type='votes' class="font-bebas border-none px-2 py-1 outline-none js-comments-sort ml-1 float-right text-gray-400 uppercase">Popular</button> <button type="button" data-type='new' class="font-bebas border-none px-2 py-1 outline-none js-comments-sort ml-1 float-right text-gray-400 uppercase">Latest</button> </div> <div class="comment pt-4 mt-4" id="285059" data-id=0 style="border-top: 1px solid #dbc4be; color: rgb(171, 121, 109)"> <div class="flex"> <div class="w-11/12"> <div class="font-bebas tracking-widest font-fjalla flex flex-row items-center"> <span class="comment__author text-3.5 font-semibold">M. Saeed</span> <span class="ml-2 font-bebas timeago comment__date text-gray-600 text-2.5" title="2021-05-10T13:03:44+05:00"><span class='timestamp--time timeago' title='2021-05-10T13:03:44+05:00'>May 10, 2021 01:03pm</span></span> </div> <div class="whitespace-pre-wrap break-words text-gray-600 my-4 comment__body text-4 leading-5">Single motherhood is a forced eventuality, not a planned and desired opportunity.</div> <div class="font-bebas tracking-widest text-3 flex flex-row"> <span class="button cursor-pointer"> <span class="align-middle votejs__cast" data-vote-key="1187174/up-285059">Recommend</span> <span class="button__count votejs__count align-middle bg-white" data-vote-key="1187174/up-285059"></span> </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="comment pt-4 mt-4" id="285079" data-id=1 style="border-top: 1px solid #dbc4be; color: rgb(171, 121, 109)"> <div class="flex"> <div class="w-11/12"> <div class="font-bebas tracking-widest font-fjalla flex flex-row items-center"> <span class="comment__author text-3.5 font-semibold">Fastrack</span> <span class="ml-2 font-bebas timeago comment__date text-gray-600 text-2.5" title="2021-05-10T13:48:46+05:00"><span class='timestamp--time timeago' title='2021-05-10T13:48:46+05:00'>May 10, 2021 01:48pm</span></span> </div> <div class="whitespace-pre-wrap break-words text-gray-600 my-4 comment__body text-4 leading-5">I know men and women who decided to compromise a bit on their egos for sake of their children growing up both parents. They are very happy for the bargain today. But of course sometimes it's just not possible. And its not always the man.</div> <div class="font-bebas tracking-widest text-3 flex flex-row"> <span class="button cursor-pointer"> <span class="align-middle votejs__cast" data-vote-key="1187174/up-285079">Recommend</span> <span class="button__count votejs__count align-middle bg-white" data-vote-key="1187174/up-285079"></span> </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="comment pt-4 mt-4" id="285083" data-id=2 style="border-top: 1px solid #dbc4be; color: rgb(171, 121, 109)"> <div class="flex"> <div class="w-11/12"> <div class="font-bebas tracking-widest font-fjalla flex flex-row items-center"> <span class="comment__author text-3.5 font-semibold">Parvez</span> <span class="ml-2 font-bebas timeago comment__date text-gray-600 text-2.5" title="2021-05-10T13:59:47+05:00"><span class='timestamp--time timeago' title='2021-05-10T13:59:47+05:00'>May 10, 2021 01:59pm</span></span> </div> <div class="whitespace-pre-wrap break-words text-gray-600 my-4 comment__body text-4 leading-5">I am a grandfather to three beautiful girls and in my three score and fifteen years what I have understood is that motherhood , single or otherwise, is a blessing from above ....... something that is universal and its hardships and joys can not be restricted to any one country .</div> <div class="font-bebas tracking-widest text-3 flex flex-row"> <span class="button cursor-pointer"> <span class="align-middle votejs__cast" data-vote-key="1187174/up-285083">Recommend</span> <span class="button__count votejs__count align-middle bg-white" data-vote-key="1187174/up-285083"></span> </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="comment pt-4 mt-4" id="285104" data-id=3 style="border-top: 1px solid #dbc4be; color: rgb(171, 121, 109)"> <div class="flex"> <div class="w-11/12"> <div class="font-bebas tracking-widest font-fjalla flex flex-row items-center"> <span class="comment__author text-3.5 font-semibold">Such Bolta Hoon </span> <span class="ml-2 font-bebas timeago comment__date text-gray-600 text-2.5" title="2021-05-10T14:44:06+05:00"><span class='timestamp--time timeago' title='2021-05-10T14:44:06+05:00'>May 10, 2021 02:44pm</span></span> </div> <div class="whitespace-pre-wrap break-words text-gray-600 my-4 comment__body text-4 leading-5">There is no need for the single mothers to remain single. Why can't they be second wives, if the first marriage didn't work out for them.</div> <div class="font-bebas tracking-widest text-3 flex flex-row"> <span class="button cursor-pointer"> <span class="align-middle votejs__cast" data-vote-key="1187174/up-285104">Recommend</span> <span class="button__count votejs__count align-middle bg-white" data-vote-key="1187174/up-285104"></span> </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="comment pt-4 mt-4" id="285120" data-id=4 style="border-top: 1px solid #dbc4be; color: rgb(171, 121, 109)"> <div class="flex"> <div class="w-11/12"> <div class="font-bebas tracking-widest font-fjalla flex flex-row items-center"> <span class="comment__author text-3.5 font-semibold">A</span> <span class="ml-2 font-bebas timeago comment__date text-gray-600 text-2.5" title="2021-05-10T15:33:45+05:00"><span class='timestamp--time timeago' title='2021-05-10T15:33:45+05:00'>May 10, 2021 03:33pm</span></span> </div> <div class="whitespace-pre-wrap break-words text-gray-600 my-4 comment__body text-4 leading-5">Another proof added to the fact that moms are superhero’s. Well written!!</div> <div class="font-bebas tracking-widest text-3 flex flex-row"> <span class="button cursor-pointer"> <span class="align-middle votejs__cast" data-vote-key="1187174/up-285120">Recommend</span> <span class="button__count votejs__count align-middle bg-white" data-vote-key="1187174/up-285120"></span> </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="comment pt-4 mt-4" id="285207" data-id=5 style="border-top: 1px solid #dbc4be; color: rgb(171, 121, 109)"> <div class="flex"> <div class="w-11/12"> <div class="font-bebas tracking-widest font-fjalla flex flex-row items-center"> <span class="comment__author text-3.5 font-semibold">well-wisher</span> <span class="ml-2 font-bebas timeago comment__date text-gray-600 text-2.5" title="2021-05-10T20:16:50+05:00"><span class='timestamp--time timeago' title='2021-05-10T20:16:50+05:00'>May 10, 2021 08:16pm</span></span> </div> <div class="whitespace-pre-wrap break-words text-gray-600 my-4 comment__body text-4 leading-5">Well written. Single moms are a powerful force from within and capable of raising a child/children against all odds including societal. They deserve respect and society must know that. Their sacrifices are immense as they fight male dominance with courage.</div> <div class="font-bebas tracking-widest text-3 flex flex-row"> <span class="button cursor-pointer"> <span class="align-middle votejs__cast" data-vote-key="1187174/up-285207">Recommend</span> <span class="button__count votejs__count align-middle bg-white" data-vote-key="1187174/up-285207"></span> </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="comment pt-4 mt-4" id="285252" data-id=6 style="border-top: 1px solid #dbc4be; color: rgb(171, 121, 109)"> <div class="flex"> <div class="w-11/12"> <div class="font-bebas tracking-widest font-fjalla flex flex-row items-center"> <span class="comment__author text-3.5 font-semibold">Sania</span> <span class="ml-2 font-bebas timeago comment__date text-gray-600 text-2.5" title="2021-05-10T23:59:22+05:00"><span class='timestamp--time timeago' title='2021-05-10T23:59:22+05:00'>May 10, 2021 11:59pm</span></span> </div> <div class="whitespace-pre-wrap break-words text-gray-600 my-4 comment__body text-4 leading-5">@Fastrack I know of many children who have suffered due to such compromise and parents have regretted staying together.</div> <div class="font-bebas tracking-widest text-3 flex flex-row"> <span class="button cursor-pointer"> <span class="align-middle votejs__cast" data-vote-key="1187174/up-285252">Recommend</span> <span class="button__count votejs__count align-middle bg-white" data-vote-key="1187174/up-285252"></span> </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> </div> </div> </article> <div class="flex flex-row gap-4 justify-center">  <div class="social js-social-fb social--icon social--black social--flat social--facebook float-left mr-2 ml-2 "> <a class=" h-full w-full outline-none inline-block " onclick="return !window.open(this.href, 'Share on Facebook', 'width=640, height=536')" rel='noreferrer' href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.dawn.com%2Fnews%2F1187174&display=popup&ref=plugin" target="_blank"><img width="20" height="20" src="/_img/social/icon-fb-black.png" /></a> </div> <div class="social js-social-twitter social--icon social--black social--flat social--twitter float-left mr-2 ml-2 "> <a class=' h-full w-full outline-none inline-block ' onclick="return !window.open(this.href, 'Tweet', 'width=640, height=300')" rel='noreferrer' href="https://twitter.com/share?text=Tales%20of%20resilience%20and%20courage%3A%20Single%20mothers%20reflect%20on%20raising%20their%20children%20alone%20in%20Pakistan&url=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.dawn.com%2Fnews%2F1187174&counturl=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.dawn.com%2Fnews%2F1187174" target="_blank"><img width="20" height="20" src="/_img/social/icon-twitter-black.png" /></a> </div> <div class="social js-social-whatsapp social--whatsapp float-left mr-2 ml-2 social--icon social--black social--flat"> <a class="inline-block uppercase align-middle text-gray-400" target="_blank" href="WhatsApp://send?text=Tales%20of%20resilience%20and%20courage%3A%20Single%20mothers%20reflect%20on%20raising%20their%20children%20alone%20in%20Pakistan%20%0A%20https%3A%2F%2Fimages.dawn.com%2Fnews%2F1187174%3Fref%3Dwhatsapp"> <img class="inline-block float-left mr-0.5 mb-2" width="" height="" src="/_img/social/icon-whatsapp-black.png" /> <span class=""></span> </a> </div></div> <style type="text/css"> .story__label { color: #b58c81; } .story__label, .story__time { font-family: Fjalla One, Arial Narrow, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Segoe UI, Roboto, Helvetica Neue, Arial, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Apple Color Emoji, Segoe UI Emoji, Segoe UI Symbol, Noto Color Emoji } .story__byline:before { content: 'By'; color: rgba(154, 19, 19); margin-right: 4px; font-family: Roboto Serif, Palatino, ui-serif, Georgia, Cambria, Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-style: italic; } </style></div> <footer class=""> <div class='flex justify-center p-2'>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1693559286339-0' class='ad__wrapper__slot ' data-rendered-classes="" data-name="Dawn-Responsive-Footer-Stickable-Leaderboard" data-height="250px" data-width="970px" > <script>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1693559286339-0'); });</script> </div>  </div> <div class="flex flex-col md:flex-row mt-10 w-full pb-4"> <div class="container px-2 sm:px-0 text-3.5 leading-normal tracking-wider pt-4 border-t border-pink-custom"> <div class="flex flex-col sm:flex-row justify-between items-center"> <div class="sm:w-1/6 w-full"> <nav class=""> <img class="w-52 filter invert" src="/_img/logo--home.png" alt="Images"> <p class="hidden"> Compunode.com Pvt. Ltd. (<a href="https://www.compunode.com/">www.compunode.com</a>).Designed for <a href="https://www.dawn.com">Dawn</a>.</p> </nav> </div> <div class="sm:w-4/6 sm:pl-4 w-full grid grid-cols-2 sm:grid-cols-1"> <nav class="pt-4 sm:pt-0 pb-2 sm:border-b border-pink-custom"> <a class="font-bebas text-custom-purple sm:mb-2.5 block sm:inline-block" href="https://www.dawn.com/contact">Contact us</a> <a class="font-bebas text-custom-purple sm:mb-2.5 sm:border-l sm:pl-1.5 block sm:inline-block sm:ml-1.5" href="https://www.facebook.com/images.dawn">Facebook</a> <a class="font-bebas text-custom-purple sm:mb-2.5 sm:border-l sm:pl-1.5 block sm:inline-block sm:ml-1.5" href="https://twitter.com/dawn_images">Twitter</a> <a class="font-bebas text-custom-purple sm:mb-2.5 sm:border-l sm:pl-1.5 block sm:inline-block sm:ml-1.5" href="https://instagram.com/dawn_images/">Instagram</a> <a class="font-bebas text-custom-purple sm:mb-2.5 sm:border-l sm:pl-1.5 block sm:inline-block sm:ml-1.5" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@dawn_images">Tiktok</a> <a class="font-bebas text-custom-purple sm:mb-2.5 sm:border-l sm:pl-1.5 block sm:inline-block sm:ml-1.5" href="https://www.dawn.com/social-media-guidelines">Social media guidelines</a> <a class="font-bebas text-custom-purple sm:mb-2.5 sm:border-l sm:pl-1.5 block sm:inline-block sm:ml-1.5" href="https://www.dawn.com/code-of-ethics">Code of ethics</a> <a class="font-bebas text-custom-purple sm:mb-2.5 sm:border-l sm:pl-1.5 block sm:inline-block sm:ml-1.5" href="https://www.dawn.com/terms">Terms of use</a> <a class="font-bebas text-custom-purple sm:mb-2.5 sm:border-l sm:pl-1.5 block sm:inline-block sm:ml-1.5" href="/contribution-guidelines">Contribution guidelines</a> </nav> <nav class="pt-4 sm:pt-2"> <a class="font-bebas text-custom-purple block sm:inline-block" href="https://www.dawn.com">Dawn.com</a> <a class="font-bebas text-custom-purple sm:mb-2.5 sm:border-l sm:pl-1.5 block sm:inline-block sm:ml-1.5" href="https://cityfm89.com/">CityFM89</a> <a class="font-bebas text-custom-purple sm:mb-2.5 sm:border-l sm:pl-1.5 block sm:inline-block sm:ml-1.5" href="https://aurora.dawn.com">Aurora</a> <a class="font-bebas text-custom-purple sm:mb-2.5 sm:border-l sm:pl-1.5 block sm:inline-block sm:ml-1.5" href="https://www.dawnnews.tv">DawnNews</a> <span class="font-bebas text-custom-purple sm:mb-2.5 sm:border-l sm:pl-1.5 block sm:inline-block sm:ml-1.5">Copyright © 2024</span> </nav> </div> </div> </div> </div>  <script type="text/javascript"> function sendInteractiveEvent(category, label) { gtag("event", "custom_click", { 'event_category': category, 'event_action': "click", 'event_label': label }); } var eventItems = [{"selector":".story__byline a","parent":"author"},{"selector":".story__content a","parent":"links"},{"selector":".js-social-whatsapp","parent":"whatsapp"},{"selector":".js-social-twitter","parent":"twitter"},{"selector":".js-social-fb","parent":"facebook"},{"selector":".js-social-comment","parent":"comment"},{"selector":".js-social-print","parent":"print"},{"selector":".js-social-email","parent":"email"}] || []; document.querySelector("html").addEventListener("click", function(e) { // https://github.com/aleemb/dawn.com/issues/1165 if (window.Element && Element.prototype.closest) { var target = e.target; var eventLabel = typeof target.href !== "undefined" && !target.href.startsWith("javascript:") ? target.href : document.location.href; for (i = 0; i < eventItems.length; i++) { if (target.matches(eventItems[i].selector + ', ' + eventItems[i].selector + ' *')) { sendInteractiveEvent(eventItems[i].parent, eventLabel); break; } } } }); for (i = 0; i < eventItems.length; i++) { if (eventItems[i].parent == 'audio') { const audioPlayer = document.getElementById(eventItems[i].selector); audioPlayer.addEventListener("play", (e) => sendInteractiveEvent('audio', e.type), false); audioPlayer.addEventListener("pause", (e) => sendInteractiveEvent('audio', e.type), false); audioPlayer.addEventListener("ended", (e) => sendInteractiveEvent('audio', e.type), false); } } </script>  <script> window.addEventListener('load', function() { if ($('.template__main.modifier--social-off').length) { $('.template__main .social').hide(); } if ($('.template__main .social-alignment').length) { var isRtl = $('body').attr('dir'); var gutterSize = 40; var socialResize = function() { var templateMainTop = $('.template__main').offset().top; var templateMainOuterWidth = $('.template__main').outerWidth(); var templateMainWidth = $('.template__main').width(); var storyContentTop = $('.story__content').offset().top; var socialTop = storyContentTop - templateMainTop + gutterSize; // +gutterSize just to add extra top space if(typeof isRtl !== 'undefined') { socialLeft = templateMainWidth - templateMainOuterWidth - gutterSize; } else { socialLeft = $('.template__main').outerWidth(); } $('.template__main .social-alignment').css({top: socialTop, left: socialLeft, visibility: 'visible', zIndex: 999}); if ($(document).width() < 700) { $('.template__main .social-alignment').hide(); } else { $('.template__main .social-alignment').show(); } }; socialResize(); $(window).resize(socialResize); } }); </script>  <script src="https://cdn.onesignal.com/sdks/OneSignalSDK.js" async='async'></script> <script> var OneSignal = window.OneSignal || []; OneSignal.push(["init", { appId: "e06049b6-438c-4df6-a876-3ff2f5f60bad", /* Set to true to automatically prompt visitors */ autoRegister: true, // https://documentation.onesignal.com/docs/customize-permission-messages-1 notifyButton: { text: { 'tip.state.unsubscribed': 'Subscribe to notifications', 'tip.state.subscribed': "You're subscribed to notifications", 'tip.state.blocked': "You've blocked notifications", 'message.prenotify': 'Click to subscribe to notifications', 'message.action.subscribed': "Thanks for subscribing!", 'message.action.resubscribed': "You're subscribed to notifications", 'message.action.unsubscribed': "You won't receive notifications again", 'dialog.main.title': 'Manage Site Notifications', 'dialog.main.button.subscribe': 'SUBSCRIBE', 'dialog.main.button.unsubscribe': 'UNSUBSCRIBE', 'dialog.blocked.title': 'Unblock Notifications', 'dialog.blocked.message': "Follow these instructions to allow notifications:" }, /* Set to false to hide */ enable: false }, prenotify: true, persistNotification: false, showCredit: false, // Your other init options here promptOptions: { /* Change bold title, limited to 30 characters */ siteName: "Images", /* Subtitle, limited to 90 characters */ actionMessage: "We'd like to show you notifications for the latest news and updates.", /* Example notification title */ exampleNotificationTitle: 'Subscribe for news updates', /* Example notification message */ exampleNotificationMessage: "", /* Text below example notification, limited to 50 characters */ exampleNotificationCaption: 'You can unsubscribe anytime', /* Accept button text, limited to 15 characters */ acceptButtonText: "ALLOW", /* Cancel button text, limited to 15 characters */ cancelButtonText: "NO THANKS" } }]); // OneSignal.setSubscription(true); OneSignal.push(function() { // forcefully popup for notification subscription // OneSignal.registerForPushNotifications(); // for debugging // OneSignal.log.setLevel('trace'); /*OneSignal.isPushNotificationsEnabled(function(isEnabled) { if (isEnabled) { console.log("Push notifications are enabled!"); } else { console.log("Push notifications are not enabled yet."); } });*/ }); </script>  </footer> </body> </html>

CINXE.COM

Tales of resilience and courage: Single mothers reflect on raising their children alone in Pakistan - Comment - Images