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The inspiration to write the book "If Only I Had My Own Way" arose from the desire to put on record first and foremost part of my family history. Starting from 1912 the year when my grandfather Mutikani moved to work in the remote Salisbury in Rhodesia then at the age of twelve years. The book follows Mutikani when he eventually worked for an English settler farmer in the 1920's. He was allowed to settle on the farm with his family. Over the years Mutikani amassed a large head of cattle and abundant food reserves. The book reveals events after Mutikani and his family were evicted from the farm at short notice. It was heartbreaking to have seen Mutikani's wealth depleted because he moved to settle in the rural village where the number of cattle allowed was limited. The elder son Rewayi was forced to drop school at the age of 21 years. Rewayi was encouraged to marry Sylvia the girl who was approved by his parents that she would make a good wife for their son. With marriage, Rewayi would qualify to own a head of cattle. Surplus cattle were given to Sylvia's parents as payment for lobola, in fulfilment of traditional marriage practices. Such a hasty decision created yet even worse problems few years later when Rewayi succumbed to his mother's pressure to divorce Sylvia. Mbuya Shonga, Rewayi's mother was a strong character who resembled a typical traditional African woman. The book reveals the agony endured by Sylvia when she was eventually divorced and the traumatic experience her two sons went through at such tender ages. The writer makes an appeal to parents to consider the welfare of their God given children and promote lifelong marriages, even if it means for the sake of children.