BERTHE My Mother's Silence: Autobiography
A hidden truth. A daughter's search. A story that breaks the silence.
At 38, Marie-Berthe learns that the woman she called "Mom" is not her biological mother. This revelation, uncovered during a summer in Quebec, launches her into a deeply personal investigation that reaches back to the 1950s-a time when unwed pregnancies were cloaked in shame and secrecy.
Berthe - My Mother's Silence is a novelized memoir, a moving testimony of adoption, identity, and the quiet strength of women. With raw honesty and lyrical prose, the author invites readers to reflect on the meaning of family, the weight of silence, and the healing power of truth.
For anyone who has ever questioned their origins, faced family secrets, or sought emotional clarity, this book offers a voice of courage and compassion.
CLARIFICATION:In the 1950s, the Catholic religion dictated the conduct of French Canadians. For example, a young unwed mother was considered the shame of her family and society. To prevent gossip, the pregnant girl was often sent to a remote place, unsuspected by everyone. Alternatively, she might be confined to a convent, in the care of the "good sisters," the nuns.
For the younger ones at home, as well as for the family and the neighborhood, the parents justified the absence of their pregnant daughter by saying she was studying in town or had gone to work in the countryside. They invented all sorts of well-crafted lies, beautiful stories to shield the secret and avoid scandal. Nobody knew that the exiled girl had a baby. Some of these children became the "last-born" of the mother, but most were adopted. They might find out about it one day, sometimes twenty, thirty, or even forty years later.
This is what happened to Berthe, who is one of those children. NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR:
This autobiography is based on my own experiences. As you read through the chapters, you will discover that the situations and events I have lived through occurred not only in my family but also in many other households in Quebec, Canada, and even around the world. Times have truly changed over the past half-century... UPDATE:
In Quebec, on June 16, 2018, the implementation of Law 113 restored hope. The seal of confidentiality was lifted on more than 300,000 adoption files - including mine. This law now gives orphans and adopted children born between the 1920s and 1970s the opportunity to discover the identity of their biological parents. This outcome soothes my indignation and warms my heart, for all those who will assert their legitimate rights to know their genetic origins. All these children who have waited so long... they are now adults who, at last, will get to know their roots. Then, from this information, when possible, they will reunite, if that is the choice of the adoptee and the biological parents. INVITATION:
If you enjoyed reading my story, I invite you to share your comments.
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