TODAY’S children are the most pampered. You pay through you nose to give them the best education, pull all the strings you can to get them the job they grudgingly admit they might like only to be faced with the most daunting of tasks – how to kick your seemingly independent ‘child’ out of the family nest he’s been cocooned since birth.

A notable society lady who died of cancer sometime ago perhaps would have lived longer if her man had stuck with her during the grey days. But he did not. Immediately she took ill and the doctors confirmed her illness, the man packed his suitcases and left.

Courtship is the traditional dating period before engagement and marriage. During a courtship couples date to get to know each other and decide if there will be an engagement and marriage. Usually courtship is a public affair, done in public and with family approval.

When I eventually had time to talk to Dunni’s mum, she told me he employed Fareedah because she was a go-getter. “She had ways of weeding late payments from difficult customers. I didn’t ask questions as to how she did it so successfully, but your guess is as good as mine. Now she has her claws into my son. She knows how much the business is worth and she’s happy helping him spend the money.

It’s happening everywhere around you but the fact that many people are doing it does not justify the act or do you feel good knowing you are to be blamed for a marriage breaking-up?