I Would Have Stayed in My Marriage if I Had a Child – Toke Makinwa

Renowned Nollywood actress and media personality, Toke Makinwa, has shared her thoughts on her past marriage and the influence of parenting considerations on her decisions. Makinwa, who separated from her former husband, Maje Ayida, in 2015, recently discussed how the presence of children might have impacted her choices in her latest podcast episode, “TokeMoments.”

In the podcast, Makinwa revealed that if she and Ayida had had a child during their marriage, she might have chosen to remain in the relationship, despite its challenges. She acknowledged that many women opt to stay in unhealthy marriages for the sake of their children.

In her own words, she stated, “A lot of women stay in unhealthy marriages for the children. For the longest time, you hear so many women say things like, ‘the marriage is done but I only stay for my kids.’”

Makinwa went on to express her understanding of such situations, drawing from her own personal experiences and the trauma of losing both her parents at the age of 8. As an adopted child, she reflected on how her life might have been different if she had grown up in a stable family environment.

She shared, “So, for the sake of my children, I may have had to compromise just because I wanted them to have mum and dad. I may have been one of these women. So, I’m not even judging anyone right here.”

Makinwa’s guest on the podcast, Iyabo Ojo, also contributed to the conversation, revealing her own experiences with marriage and parenting. She explained how her upbringing and early decisions were influenced by her background, emphasizing the importance of wisdom and understanding in life choices.

While both women acknowledged that their decisions might have been different with the wisdom of age, they shared insights into their personal journeys, shedding light on the complexities of marriage, parenting, and the impact of one’s upbringing on life choices.