A Germany-based Nigerian mother has expressed her astonishment and mixed emotions after her son, who she raised single-handedly, decided to send his entire first paycheck to his absentee father.
The mother, known as @aladeenitan on TikTok, revealed that her son’s father had left when he was just three years old, only to reappear in their lives when he needed to give permission for the boy to travel abroad.
In her TikTok post, the mother shared, “My son said I should send his first salary to his father in Nigeria who abandoned him as a baby.
He said his father doesn’t have money to eat. I was surprised and I said after all the suffering I passed through for him.”
She highlighted the sacrifices she made to provide for her son, including financing his education and ensuring his well-being amid their struggles.
Despite years of neglect, her son chose to extend compassion to his father, explaining that the man was financially struggling and unable to afford basic necessities.
The mother expressed her disbelief that her son, instead of acknowledging her efforts, prioritized his father’s needs over her own: “His father stopped taking care of him when he was three years old. I trained him in primary, secondary school. But his first work, he didn’t think of me. He didn’t say I should take money and buy even if it’s chewing gum.”
The story has sparked widespread discussion online, with many praising the boy’s ability to forgive and show empathy, even in the face of abandonment.
Others have voiced sympathy for the mother, resonating with her feelings of frustration and disappointment at her son’s choice.