“Before I became a mother, I didn’t know the feeling when your heart is outside your body. I didn’t know how wonderful it is to feed a child. I didn’t experience the tie between a mother and her child; I couldn’t imagine how important a small child can be.
Before I became a mother, I never woke up in the middle of the night every ten minute, to check if everything is OK with my child. I have never felt such tenderness, pleasure, happiness, love, care and miracle until I became a mother. I have never thought I am capable of such feelings before I became a mother.”
(Moonflower home for mothers and their children; farewell speech on the occasion of its closing)
Brigi got married at the age of 17. She became legally to man's estate with her marriage. Her friends advised her against the marriage, however, without success. She bore four children; two of them died after birth. Unfortunately her friends’ forebodings were realized. Brigi’s husband has sold the flat over their heads. Brigi and her two children ended up in the street. Despite this fact, Brigi is thinking about returning to her ex-husband again.
Rozi is a prostitute. Her partner pimped her. Rozi escaped from her aggressive partner, and went to the capital. First she lived in the female hospital of the Salvation Army. She was hiding in different places for nearly a year. She moved from one shelter home to another. Then she went back to her man.
Bea is deaf. For a long time she was supported by a social worker. She and her son’s father are orphans. Bea suffered from depression; she couldn’t take care of her child. Presently she lives at a friend of hers, a family adopted her son.
Ildi and her boyfriend are orphans. Ildi is pregnant; she will bear her child in a month. They would like to get married, but the boy’s appointed guardians don’t let them. Ildi can’t take their child to the flat of the guardians. Now she lives in a home for homeless mothers.
Tündi’s daughter’s father is in prison. He is married with three children. Nevertheless, Tündi writes to him every week.
Natasa’s first four children were born to her first husband who regularly hit her and the children. She divorced and met another man. She has her fifth child from her new partner. With a foundation support they got a house in the countryside, and then for her partner’s wish they moved to Budapest. For a year she, her five children and her partner lived at her partner’s parents, in a one-room flat. Then they split up. Now she lives in a home for homeless mothers.
Böbe has four children from four different fathers. Two of them are adults; Zsuzsi and Andris live with her. Both Zsuzsi’s and Andris’s fathers committed suicide. All of her husbands took advantage of her; her last husband sold their flat for 250 Dollars. Böbe and the children live in a home for homeless mothers.
Kitti was nine years old when her father forced her into prostitution. For six years she worked as a prostitute. Presently she lives at a home for homeless mothers: she is pregnant. She will give her child for adoption.
Zsuzsi had a child from her own brother. Since both of them were orphans, they didn’t know they were brothers and sisters. When she new about it she fell into depression. She is treated against depression since then. Her child is mentally disabled.
Judit was an orphan. She ended up in a home for homeless mothers two times. Each time she went back to her son’s father. In the beginning she worked as a cleaning lady, then she quitted and she has lived on the dole for many months now. They bought a flat with her partner in the countryside, but it is doubtful if they can survive there for long.
On 30 June 2006 the Ministry of Youth, Family, Social affairs and Equal Opportunities closed Moonflower home for mothers and their children. They didn’t provide homes for the mothers, so the social workers had to find a solution for them. Fortunately they could find a place for everybody in different homes for homeless mothers in the capital. The three minor mothers could stay in the institute. At present the social workers are unemployed.
