LOST TO TIME

Growing up was sweet. The early stages of my life were sweet stories of parents that loved me. I was the first born and got all I wanted till my brother was born and I had to share. As a child I did not understand why. So many times, I would chase him away from my mother’s lap. I was just a year and two months older but it felt like a decade.

There were so many things I learnt from my parents. I recall my father taught me how to spell words. He also exposed me at a tender age to his books. He did not write one but he had so many books. He studied English Literature and so I was exposed to literary works of Wole Soyinka, Elechi Amadi, Ken Saro Wiwa, Chinua Achebe, and William Shakespeare. I had the privilege of diving into lots of medieval stories, stories about knights, dragons and the likes.

Remember my mother taught me how to read the time. She used an old broken down grandfather clock, you know the one with a dangling and oscillating pendulum? Yes! That one. She also ensured we knew how to fast and made sure we were respectful to our elders irrespective of who they were.

Our parents were at home to teach morals, it complimented the teachings we had at school and in church. It was so easy for us to know a friend was trying to lead us astray once their suggestions do not align with the ones we got from our parents.

Stealing was pretty difficult! My mum knows all she bought for us up to the tiniest eraser and sharpener. She had our names scribbled on them. If you came home with any stuff that she did not give you it was hell. I would sit on the floor in between my father’s legs.

But it seem most of these have been lost to time! Such precious times to impart into our kids are now left to lesson teachers or house helps. Many fathers only see their kids on Sunday or when Labour declares a sit at home order. Many mothers are out there contributing their financial quota to the upkeep of the family. So little time for the kids.

If we can be true to ourselves, many fathers have lost touch with their kids, same as mothers. The house help is left with added responsibility of child upbringing and you can only give what you have. The society is breeding kids that are unruly, kids that have a totally different perception to their parents. Kids nowadays do not greet their elders. They do not even greet their parents. Do not get me wrong, there were unruly kids in my days and even before I was born but look at many of the touts out there. They do not have fathers investing in them. If they did we would not have many of them out there.

Many homes have scattered, some barely holding on while others are suffering because the man of the house was not taught! Many wife beaters and selfish fathers have arisen because he was not taught responsibility by his father and mother.

Many ladies cannot cook a decent meal, let me use the words of a dear friend of mine, Bola Onime, many will ‘burn tea’ and are not able to keep house because they grew up without the influence of a mother.

Please, we might not be able to change our past but kindly help the future by investing in your children this moment. Teach them the way of the Lord Jesus Christ. Teach them to love by loving. Be great examples to your children. My parents were not perfect but as I grew up I could draw a line between their weaknesses and their strengths. What better way to choose the good than evil than when you have both standing side by side and you choose the good?