Nollywood actress Iyabo Ojo has opened up about the small “white lies” she told her children in an effort to provide them with a balanced and happy upbringing despite her own challenging family experiences. In a candid interview with AntoSays, Iyabo shared how her own upbringing, though financially stable, lacked emotional balance due to her parents’ issues, and how she wanted her children to avoid facing similar struggles.
Iyabo explained that, to shield her kids from the realities of her separation, she told them that their father was simply a “traveler” who was often away for work. She kept them away from social media, news, and any details about her personal life until they were older. She went to great lengths to make sure that her children never felt the absence of their father, even buying extra Christmas and New Year gifts—one from her and one from him, making sure his was always the bigger gift.
I wanted my kids to have a balanced life. I didn’t want them to go through the emotional turbulence I went through. I made sure they saw their dad when he came home, and I kept everything between us peaceful. I didn’t let them see the anger or the struggles.
As her children grew older and began asking questions about their father’s separate house, Iyabo continued the narrative by telling them that it was close to his office, further ensuring they would not feel the weight of their family dynamics. She even made sure to act friendly with their father when he visited, keeping the atmosphere light and jovial.
Iyabo’s goal was simple: to make sure her children could talk about their mom and dad in the same way their friends did, without the emotional baggage.
I just had to make sure that I kept my kids away from everything that was going on. They didn’t know nothing
she explained. Through these “white lies,” Iyabo Ojo aimed to give her children a sense of normalcy and happiness, no matter the complexities of her personal life.
