Tuesday 22 September 2015

MUCH ADO ABOUT CORNFLAKES!!!




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