When my folks married, my dad had an ex that his family preferred and they (his mom and sisters) made sure my mom knew that, to an extent of calling her makoti in my mom's presence, she told my dad and he went to have a chat with his dad who told him to cut them off and he did.

Growing up, I didn't know my aunts and I was okay with it. I had an amazing childhood, my parents loved us and the relatives we had in out lives were kind and loving. Not only did papa protect his wife, he also protected his kids. I struggled to undesrstand this in my teens...

But I had to accept it until one day my cousin started visiting us regularly and we loved him. His dad and mine are brothers, we had no problems with him until my mom's bestie came over and told my mom that the boy was being used by his aunts to carry things to my home...

Mama's bestie was very spiritual and mama trusted her. She then asked my mom to check his bag. After her friend left, mama called cousin and told him to bring his bag, he innocently did and mama told him that she's doing laundry before he leaves, he can't take dirty clothes home

My mom carefully took his clothes out of the bag and found nothing.
And then she opened a little pocket on the side, lo and behold..a little bottle that looked like it had blood and tar inside, tied with red yarn and a few beads..

She asked him where it was from and he said:"rakgadi gave it to me and said it will protect me mara I should not tell my parents and rangwane (My dad)."
Mama knew what it meant and we never had visitors from my dad's side again..
It was never discussed but somehow, we knew why

Love and protect people you love even if it's from other people you love. Some truths are very hard to accept..

Thank you dad