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Marvalee Thomas,a 35-year-old mother of nine, is imploring women not to make her mistake by having children she cannot afford to take care of.

Thomas told THE STAR that she lives in a pitiful state in a dilapidated one-room house in Frankfield, Clarendon, with five of her children. She said she unwisely allowed herself to believe that the men who came into her life would help to make this better for her. Now at a stage where things are extremely rough on her, Thomas, who had her first child at age 17, said she fell in the trap where she thought a man would stay by her side if she gave into his desires.

She has had children, ages: 17, 16, 15, 10, 12, 8, 6, 3 and eight months old with six fathers.

"Do not believe dem, these men don't love anyone. I love my kids, but I wish I had made better choices to try and be as independent as possible," said Thomas.

Tired of depending on men

"Everytime mi fi look a job mi don't have anybody to take care of them for me, suh a man woulda see mi and say dem love mi and ting, and mi just deal with dem. But when dem get di child, dem nuh business with mi again, dem just go bout dem business. Is six babyfather mi have but is only the last one help mi. Him don't give mi the money to spend, but him buy stuff for the baby," Thomas said.

Tired of depending on men for assistance, Thomas has decided to turn to the public to help make her living situation a bit more comfortable. She said that she and the children are often forced to deal with unwelcome guests in their house.

"Right yah now, a bare hole inna di house. Wah night yah, a frog come in on mi and mi have to run it out and dem sitten deh. A from last year mi a go through dem tings here, and mi beg help but mi nuh really get any. Forty-leg full up the place too, and mi have a young baby in here. All worms crawl in when dem ready," she said.

Mindful that the hurricane season has started, Thomas is hoping that help will reach her before disaster strikes.

"A zinc and board make it and di hurricane season start and mi don't know if it can manage storm or can keep we. Is one room and a two bed we have. From mi a 17 mi live here and a nine children mi have, but mi have to share dem up. Some people have to help some a dem so a five a dem live with mi," she said.

She said that one of her greatest wish is to have all her nine children sharing living space with her. She also stated that she would be appreciative of a job.

"Three a dem at a lady house next door ... and one of dem live wid mi madda. Mi just really a ask for some help please," Thomas said.

Persons wishing to assist Marvalee Thomas may contact her via telephone at (876) 323 3530.