It’s been a pretty long time, I penned
down my thoughts. Not because I haven’t been having them, or weird occurrences
that make you wanna laugh, cry and sometimes both; but because…well…life has
been happening!
So this morning, the usual
activity preparing for school, had me almost pulling my hair out. It just was
one of those days, when this small child decided to show me a new lesson in
patience. We struggle through it till we get to breakfast. As much as he is
determined to teach me patience, am determined to model forbearance to him. How?
I hear you ask? Simple! By serving him a breakfast I know he isn’t crazy about!
He is going to get his comeuppance unless I am not his mother!!!
I send him to the dining, chuckling
inwardly in anticipation of the moan am sure to hear, and gearing up for the argument
am going to engage in, which I have full intention of winning! See, this
companion I have for the first 18 years of his life is very engaging. I’ve adapted
my mother’s parenting rule book so many times, and there are still no answers
for some of the arguments this new generation child brings up!
I wait, and wait, and wait. The
sound of breakfast being eaten WITHOUT A FUSS is what greets my expectant ears!
Unbelieving, I go to see with my eyes, the evidence my ears are trying to
convince me of. It is true. He is having breakfast! Small victory for me. Am wondering,
has he finally learned that fussing will get him nowhere? OR could it be that
he woke up hungry for cornflakes, OR WHAT?!
The mystery of this victory
conceded without a fight makes me curious. “Gabriel, how’s your breakfast?” I
ask, probing gently, for I am somewhat grateful that there isn’t a fuss,
curious as I may be. “It’s okay Mom, It’s just that I don’t like the taste of
the cereal. Cornflakes is energy giving food, so I’ll eat but Mom, when I eat
stuff I don’t like, it affects my happiness, and I won’t be able to focus the
whole day in school. You should give me what I’d be happy eating, not what you
think I should eat.” EH?! Odiegwu?! Is this my child or my father?! But hold
on! He has a point. As do I with this story.
At what point do we let our children
be part of the decision making process that affects their lives. It could be
cornflakes, what to wear, school to go or whatever. Of course am not saying let
them take over and just do what they like, but inviting and listening to their
contributions, acquiescing to their suggestions when it has merit. The African traditional
factor, where we decide for them obviously is outdated in today’s iPad child. Here
I was preparing for the teenage years, little did I realise that the “Bo’teen”
years where upon me, promoted by internet, and TV and globalisation and
Vitamins!!!
Moral of the story, when next I’m
going food shopping, he’s coming with me to choose his brand. No point making
him unhappy, and unable to focus in school, yet expecting excellent grades. Now
that’s fool hardy, innit?!
Golden Moments, Golden Children
D2AGE
