We were childless for seven years – Actor Norbert Young recounts tough journey with wife

Abdullateef Fowewe

Nollywood star, Norbert and Gloria Young, have opened up on their relationship journey of seven years of childlessness, discussing how the experience impacted them both individually and as a couple.

The couple opened up about the emotional toll of that period, with Gloria sharing how profoundly it impacted her, while Norbert expressed that he never viewed it as a challenge.

They made the revelation during an interview with Tope on ‘Love Notes with Tope’.

When asked about difficulties in their marriage, Gloria said, “I was childless for seven years.”

Norbert, however, maintained that he never saw it as a challenge, noting, I didn’t see it as a challenge, you see, because I kept telling her, ‘What are you worried about? What is it? Be calming down.’

“How can I see it as a challenge? I had a sister who was married for 16 years without a child, and on the 17th year, she had a child.

“Her husband never told her to leave. That child today is a medical doctor, a big man too. So what’s the big deal? It didn’t threaten our union at all.”

Despite his confidence, Gloria said, “He never did. But I was the one feeling it, and I was the one seeing things. And he was the one telling me, ‘What is it? Stop worrying about such things.’”

However, Norbert confirmed her anxiety, stating, “She was anxious about it being childless for that long. Like I said, it wasn’t a challenge for me, but it was for her. As a couple, it was challenging, but personally, I didn’t see it that way.”

Gloria then addressed societal pressure, asking Norbert if anyone had ever questioned him about their childlessness, he replied, “Them born you well come ask me that? Nobody in my family asked me.”

Gloria, on the other hand, had a distinct experience. She remembered how, at family gatherings, she would often be met with silence and sharp, lingering stares from relatives.

She said, “Nobody in his family did. But I would go to my own family gatherings, and not asking per se, but imagine you’re walking into the room, and one aunty looks at you, makes sure that you know she’s looking at you then her eyes go down to your stomach.

“And as you walk away, her eyes are still there. What is she telling you? Like, ‘How far na? E don tey oh! E don pass one, two, three’ Without saying a word. Oh, I had those kind of aunties.”