She separated from the father of her kids and actor Khulu Skenjana for a few years ago. She is now happy in a new relationship and preparing to get married to her new man. Actress and founder of the Power Of Wellness organisation, Mona Monyane has no reservations when it comes to speaking about issues of her mental wellness, parenting, and healing. She recently opened up about her journey to overcoming depression and co-parenting with her ex.
CO-PARENTING
It is the holiday season and schools are almost closed. Parents are celebrating their children's success and hard work at school. Actor parents Mona and Khulu are doing the same, despite their failed relationship.Mona recently shared pictures of her and Khulu celebrating their daughter's school graduation and explains how they have managed to make co-parenting work for both of them. She also gives tips that she and Khulu have used to make the parenting journey easier for the child's well-being. "Be the peacemaker, not the aggressor. This doesn't guarantee that your co-parent will do the same, do it anyway. Two, remember that your child has an independent relationship with both of you. Don't make them choose between the two of you. A relationship can fail but a parent is forever,' she says. "Three, choose what's best for the child. If your child loves you both, do your best to both be in their lives.Four; be graceful in the face of adversity. Clutch a pearl Sis, get a lawyer if you must fight but don't be the one being all ghetto in the streets!'
MENTAL WELLNESS
In 2016, Mona lost her seven-day-old daughter and a few years later, her home was lost in a fire while also dealing with divorce and depression. Earlier this year, Mona opened up about how she fought her depression and is on her healing journey for her six-year-old daughter. "My depression and anxiety got to a point where I wanted to take my own life,' she says. "I started my journey of healing to ensure that the darkness couldn't win. I took the time to painfully process all of my trauma. My past, my insecurities, my sense of inferiority. I took the time to process the lies I told myself, one by one. Because I wanted to be someone my baby could look at and say, 'I want to be like my mommy one day'.
FINDING LOVE AGAIN
Not only is she in a good place but she is also getting ready to walk down the aisle again and has shown a glimpse of her fiancé and the engagement ring. "I took a few years to unpack, to unravel, to allow myself to truly feel pain. I took a few years to prioritise not only healing but also loving myself,' she says. "It cost me a lot of friends, time, money, and family. It cost me to make very scary choices and decisions that considered no one else's opinion but my own. The darkness was real, especially because I never stopped believing through it all that I deserved better.' She had a lot of healing to do. In 2016, she lost her seven-day-old daughter and a few years later she lost her home to a fire. Then she went through a divorce. "I had to address the fact that my father was absent while growing up. I needed to deal with my issues of sexual abuse, losing my daughter, and many other issues that were blocking me from healing." Once I faced those issues head-on, I was able to let go and let God. Even the burning down of my house was a sign that I needed to start over, and I did.' She also shared that she got engaged after trusting God with her healing and journey. "Abuthi a re 'will you be my wifey' Nna ka re "yes I'll be your wifey".
