A Letter to my Ex-Husband: Please, send our son to School!

Dear Ex Husband,

My heart is bleeding, my thoughts are wondering, my joy has been robbed. I lost my self when two years ago you sent me packing out of our matrimonial home. I lost it more when you sent me away without my son. I grieved for so many months that I could not see my son. My grieve increased ever since you took the decision that our son will not attend regular mainstream school, but only attend traditional Islamic school where he will be taught Islamic way of life and doctrine classes. Why, my ex husband, why?

My dear father of my son, I loved you so much but I think my love was misdirected. Get this clear, I am not against Islamic teachings, I am only against the fact that you stand against what you constantly refer to as Western Education. Our son is five, he ought to have been in nursery school/kindergarten now, but you are keeping him away. Oh Allah! This is modern times, my ex husband. Our son needs education. Education is the only instrument that can prepare ones' mind to adapt to change. Education is the only instrument that can secure a better future. Education is the only way to break every boundary and make you interact freely with different people, different cultures and different ways of life. Education is the only gift which no one can take away from you. Give that to my son, my ex husband, and my heart will be at peace. I am losing every strength of my being, because you are depriving my son of that very basic fundamental human right.

My dear ex, father of my lovely son, why are you dividing my son along religious lines? Why is my son deprived of education because his father thinks differently about Western Education? Why will a five years old child be deprived of going to school because you think Western Education is not good? Why are you sitting on the right of our son? Why, why, Why, my dear ex husband.

Dear father of my one and only son, I remember how you treated me like thrash during our 4 years short marriage. You made me share a room with my co-wife, divided by a curtain, while you sleep with her on the other side of the curtain, and I die in pain on the other side; bearing all the sounds of the night and the giggles of your enjoyment. I remember how you forbade me from watching the television and I had to succumb because I needed to keep my marriage – a marriage that I finally couldn’t keep. I remember all the insults I got from you and my co-wife, but I managed to escape that by keeping my cool and thinking of a way forward.

Papa boy, I am pleading with you to have a rethink and send my son to school. I can imagine how bad he feels when he sees his friends with their new shoes, new bags and new uniforms going to school while he is there attending the traditional school. Although I am undergraduate I know the importance of education and if I had the opportunity I will further my education. What have I done to see my child’s future waste for no reason; I am yet to understand what-I-have-done.

My ex huband, Please listen to me and grant my heart desires. I don’t want to call you and extremist, because I am hoping you will come to self realization and change. You are leading our son in the wrong direction. Since you sent me away, I have gone back to school to get my Advanced Level Certificate; I only lack money to enter the University now. All this is because I understand the importance of education, and education is the key to unlock potentials. Don’t hide this key from my son, please give it to him.

While hoping that you will send my son to school, and I will also one day reunite with my son, I wish you long life and prosperity. Peace!

Your ex wife

Mariatu