Dear Editor,

I wanted to think it was just a slip-up when I read that social commentator Barbara Blake-Hannah tweeted parental advice to tennis champ Serena Williams, who recently gave birth to her and her partner’s first child. But after the initial tweet, and the heavy backlash which followed, instead of apologising, Blake-Hannah added more, trying to justify her original comments.

In the tweet, Blake-Hannah responded to William’s glowing tweet on becoming a new mom. She congratulated Williams, but then went on to unleash her judgemental tones. She suggested that Williams “be a real mother and stay home with her baby”. In essence, she urged Williams to retire from the sport (which made her who she is) and focus on raising her child for the next how many years. She went on to add that Williams and her partner (co-founder of Reddit) were rich enough, adding that three months maternity leave is hardly enough.

Blake-Hannah ought to know better than casting judgement. Women generally stay home with their young ones in the early months, sometimes years, based on many factors, most of which are personal. No one has the right to tell another woman that because she gave birth everything else should be on hold until the child is grown up. No one has the right to say that a woman ought to stop working and stay home because she gave birth. And what audacity to not consider Williams’ own love for the sport which made her the champion she is. Does Blake-Hannah think Williams, like most other athletes, only plays for money and ego?

Blake-Hannah should know that a happy mom makes for a happy family, whether she chooses to work, play, or not.

Sometimes we need to learn to mind our own business and allow others to do the same — unless, of course, someone is seriously threatened or harmed or it affects us personally.

P Chin

chin_p@yahoo.com