Nollywood couple Norbert Young & wife, Gloria open up on 7-year struggle with childlessness

• In an interview with Tope, Gloria shared the emotional impact of her experience, while Norbert did not view it as a challenge.

Veteran actors Norbert Young and Gloria have recounted their personal journey of dealing with childlessness for a duration of seven years.

In an interview on Love Notes with Tope, Gloria candidly discussed the emotional impact this experience had on her, while Norbert expressed that he did not perceive it as a challenge.

Norbert reflected on his sister’s similar experience, who waited 16 years for a child, and commended her husband for his unwavering support. He noted that their struggle with childlessness did not jeopardize their marriage. When questioned about the difficulties in their relationship, Gloria succinctly replied, “I was childless for seven years, Norbert.”

Norbert said:

“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.”

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, nobody in his family ever asked about it but they did in my family.”

Norbert confirmed her anxiety, saying, “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, on the other hand, expressed her feelings of anxiety and the societal expectations imposed upon her, especially from family members who would gaze at her abdomen during gatherings, silently questioning her lack of children.

She said:

“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 that kind of auntie.”

The couple exchanged vows in April 2002, and their marriage has been graced with the arrival of a daughter.