I looked at this generation, and the only question I ask is, "Where have we got it all wrong?" We are in a time where parents have no say over their children or is it that they are not taking the expected responsibilities over their children? Society is now breeding irresponsible wards coming from irresponsible parents causing harm to the well-trained ones. We are now in a generation where parents ask children to take responsibility for their lives when they should be the ones looking out for them at that age. Some children develop into adulthood faster than their age. Some may say it's called being smart but no, such acts have adverse effects on their lives in the long run.
The recognized age in Nigeria when a child can decide to take responsibility for his or her life is eighteen years but we now see teenagers as young as fifteen years going the extra mile to fend for themselves all because they have parents that cannot take care of their responsibilities. Apart from taking care of the important things in one's life, good character and attitude towards others are also part of what describes one's identity. One thing I noticed presently is that no one is ready to take responsibility for their actions. People now look for who to pass the blame on; taking the economic situation of Nigeria for example, we all blame it on the government, whereas the damage caused by the citizens is also at a high level.
The inflation in the country is bad, well agreed, but we, the citizens, made it worse by hyping the prices of both consumable and non-consumable goods. People have no choice but to adapt to the situation, and when asked, we all pass the blame on the government, whereas the government is also calling the citizens, especially the youth, lazy for not maximizing the little opportunities they see. The youths are blaming the government for not giving them enough platform to showcase their skills and talents. No one is taking responsibility for these things, and this is not a good way to develop a country or even oneself.
While growing up, as the first child of the family, my parents taught me to be responsible. Anytime there was a confrontation between me and my siblings and my parents, get to know them. In cases where I didn't handle the situation in the good way I was expected to, my dad always showed his displeasure and corrected me, thereby building my confidence and teaching me to be responsible for my actions without looking for who to pass the blame on. The rate at which teenagers are in haste to make headway without being ready for the consequences of their actions is so disheartening. In the end, when things don’t go as planned, they blame parents, guidance, and the government for their misbehavior.
Parents have a lot to do in raising a child that understands how life evolves, and they need parents to stop pressurizing their children to grow into adults when they need to be a baby. Family responsibilities such as feeding, shelter, and payment of bills shouldn't be a duty of a teenager or a young adult. Children should be allowed to grow just as nature designed. Parents are expected to teach them the rules to living a fulfilled life and the importance of taking responsibility for their actions. A healthy family builds a healthy society; the change we so desire begins with an individual. If that can be achieved then a healthy nation is possible.
Thanks for your time, and your comments will be appreciated.
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