A Meaningful Job

Raising an only girl child.

- Dr Rana Preet Gill

So, you have only one daughter," the lady stared at me with remorse uncalled for! "Yes," I smiled genially, expecting to end the conversation. She persisted, "Only one daughter!" An innocuous smile hung on the corners of her lips which had all the makings of a victory. She was mothering two kids - a son and a daughter. Her family was complete and mine was sadly incomplete as I was often reminded.

A colleague once told me that his daughter cried hoarse, locking herself up in a room. When asked, she confessed that she felt lonely and demanded a sibling. In all good faith, they had a second child only to fulfil the emptiness in their daughter's life. It was a bonanza because the second child turned out to be a son. It affects them psychologically, he made me wary of the dangers of bringing up a single child, especially a girl!!