One of the mysteries of life is the way things keep turning around us. Sometimes, we just have to experience some stages of life so far so we are still alive.
I was in a conversation with my sister yesterday when I told her about how I felt as an adult and reminisced about our childhood days. Being an adult is not easy, but when we were younger all we wanted and wished for was to have a taste of what adulthood looks like and the freedom that comes from it, we forget about the responsibilities embedded with it.
I said when I was younger we always wished to have money so we could buy biscuits, sweets, and many other petty things, but the interesting part is that we never had enough money to buy them. So we wish to be an adult so we can buy all we want. Now as an adult, there is money to buy those sweets, biscuits, and all of those things we wanted when we were younger, but we just can’t anymore.
Parenting
Just like yesterday when we were kids under the arms of our parents, today we are preparing to become a parent to our kids. There has been some kind of pressure from my parents about my relationship life and my plans for becoming a parent. I need more time and space so I can get things right and not fall into regrets.
Parenting is not something so easy. In the same way, I will be a father to my kids, my parents will continue to be parents to me and keep performing their parental responsibilities till the end of time. I don't think there's a certain age when there will be an option to sign out or retire from parenting so far they are still alive and healthy.
There is an adage that what an elder sees while sitting, a child won't even if they have their legs stretched. That's life, the advice, guidance, morals, support, and encouragement we get from our parents is not something we can get easily elsewhere. This is because they’ve passed through our stage and knew their mistakes, learned their lesson, and don't want such a mistake repeating itself again to their kids.
Despite all of these, the care, attention, guidance, and protection a parent gives to their kids. There are times when they should put some space in between, just to see how well the kid can perform in their absence. One thing is that they can't be with them always and forever.
Some parents are so protective to the extent that the kid feels insecure around their parents. There is no room for freedom for the child. At some point in time, the child sees his parents as a comfort zone, and then getting to make personal decisions won't be possible.
Children will get to a stage where they will demand their own privacy and want to take their own path. There is nothing to force when it comes to this stage, but as parents what we can do is to advise them, let them know the consequences that would come from the choice they are about to make, and give warnings where needed, but still give them the room to explore what they feel is right for them.
Many parents have destroyed the ambition of their kids by being too strict and protective, not giving their kids the chance to make choices and follow their path. There is always a consequence for our actions. Same way we shouldn’t give too much space to them, that will make them live their life negatively. There should be a balance to both.
This is my response to the HIVE LEARNERS weekly prompt in hive learners community for the Week 156 Edition 1 and the topic to be discussed is HELICOPTER PARENTING
Funny is, it's either to see the mistakes of our parents. However, what matters is the capacity to be better parents than they were.
Be overprotective, but let your children fly. Advise them, not command them cos eventually, it'll result to rebelling.
You just gave a whole post in few words. I really love the second paragraph. Be overprotective but let them fly. Nice one.
One thing overprotective parents don't know is that the more they are strict with their kids, the more the kid's devise a plan to counter what ever measures the parents are using against them
Yes, sometimes these children need an iron hand because the way they develop and learn so fast is amazing but while doing that, we need to do that with love and let them know the consequence of their actions. I hope many parents can do this and not just scream and beat their children.
This is educative. @abdul-qudus
Fashtioluwa.
Yeah. You contributed so well. And I agree with your points. Parenting is not as easy. I hope we are able to fulfill our responsibilities when the time comes.
I hope so too
Abeg, come join us in the race. Hahahaha 🤣. I believe that by now your mother will be saying, give me grand children. That is fine.
Parenting of these days is very far and different from the kind of parenting we saw as kids back then.
Thanks for sharing
No lie maam 😂. But it’s not yet time oo. 😂Remain small. That your league is kinda scary.
God help us all.
Children need to have space to breathe and parents also don’t need to be on their kids neck all the time. Let them be kids, let them live!
That’s the mother of my kids speaking. Hehe. Nice one from you dearie 😝
Abeg ooo.😂