Veteran Nollywood actor Norbert Young and his wife, Gloria, recently opened up about their emotional journey through seven years of childlessness. In an interview with Tope on Love Notes, the couple reflected on the challenges they faced during that period.
Gloria shared that while Norbert’s family never pressured her, she felt the weight of expectations from her own relatives.
When asked about difficulties in their marriage, Norbert initially struggled to think of any. But Gloria quickly reminded him, saying, “I was childless for seven years, Norbert.”
Norbert, however, maintained that he never saw it as a challenge. He explained, “I didn’t see it that way because I kept telling her, ‘Why are you worried? Just be patient.’
“How could I see it as a problem? My sister was married for 16 years without a child, and in the 17th year, she had one. Her husband never pressured her to leave. That child is now a medical doctor—a successful man. So why stress? It didn’t shake our marriage at all.”
Despite Norbert’s unwavering support, Gloria admitted she felt the burden deeply. “He never made me feel less. But I was the one feeling it, the one noticing the reactions of others. And he kept reassuring me, saying, ‘Stop worrying about such things.’”
Norbert acknowledged her struggles, saying, “She was anxious about it. For me, it wasn’t an issue, but I knew it was for her. As a couple, we faced it together, but personally, I didn’t dwell on it.”
Gloria then brought up the unspoken pressure from society, asking Norbert if anyone had ever questioned him about their lack of children.
His response was firm: “Who would dare ask me that? Nobody in my family ever did.”
Gloria, however, had a different experience. She recalled how family gatherings often turned into silent reminders of her situation.
She said, “Nobody from his family questioned me, but at my own family events, I could feel it. They wouldn’t say anything outright, but the way they looked at me spoke volumes. Imagine walking into a room, and an auntie gives you a long stare, then glances down at your stomach. And as you walk away, her eyes stay there. She’s not speaking, but she’s asking, ‘How far? It’s been a while…’ I had plenty of those moments.”
Through it all, the couple remained strong, proving that love and understanding matter far more than societal expectations.
