‘Trust God in raising children’
A VERULAM mom of seven said young mothers should always seek God for guidance, especially when raising children.
Rachel Dehal, who has 17 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, celebrated her 90th birthday on Saturday.
The POST spoke with her ahead of Mother’s Day on Sunday.
Dehal was born on May 1, 1931. She was raised in Verulam and completed Standard 6 at Umdloti Primary School.
When she was 18, she married Joseph Dehal and they settled in Verulam to raise their family.
Their children are Rene Monica, 71; Augustine Luke, 70; Lydia Grace, 68; Simon Timothy, 66; Cyril John, 62; Sherine Gloria, 60; and Marlene Gair, 56. They all live in Durban. Two children were stillborn.
Dehal, who survived two world wars, shared her thoughts on living through nine decades and motherhood.
“During World War I, I remember leaving school to hide after the siren rang. This notified us of aeroplane bombs.
“We also ensured the lamps in our homes were dimmed, so those in the helicopters would not know there were people below.”
Dehal said modern advancements and life improvements made motherhood easier.
“I never met my mother. She drowned in the Umdloti River while she was washing my nappies when I was 3 months old.”
Dehal was raised by her grandparents.
“I am grateful that the women of today don’t have to strain themselves to provide for their children as we did. We had to fetch water and wood, to clean and and cook.
“I had my first baby in 1950. “Months later, I was pregnant with my second child, and a year later, with another one.
“It was challenging. The Bible says the best time to train them is when they are still young. I managed because I believed in God.”
Dehal, whose husband died in October 1978, lives with Augustine and Marlene and two great-grandchildren.
She will celebrate Mother’s Day with her family at home.