Today I saw a VERY DISTURBING scene…..
There was this boy, about 10 -12 years old and he had a sisal kiondo on his back - you know how you would carry a satchel kinda crossed at the bag but with the bag infront? Well in his case the "basket" was behind.
So am walking and asking myself - yani what kinda folks does the child have??? Kwani bags are how much. Ama what kinda pano (punishment) is this mpaka you risk such ridicule? Or perhaps schools in this part of Africa are not like schools in Nairobi - mchongowano (dissing) is a rite of passage - you must be able to dish it out and take it in all in one stride. Am a chic and I would sooooooooooooooo not have attempted bebaring (carrying) a kiondo to school.
Nwez I digress - as these many thoughts are whizzing through my head. I notice a mathe bebaring a ruggie. Hmm yani she decided to take the UG trait to the limit. Here women have the common habit of giving their men their handbags to carry for them; I guess in his case it was early training! Poor thing.
I was just picturing a similar scene in Nairobi. Man!!!!…the next day there would surely be a fight considering Kenyan men and the defense of their "manhood". LOL.
I guess we are the ones who groom our children to be the men and women of tomorrow. We teach them the "culture" of the society they live in and orient them in the way to adapt to the norms.
Parents tend to teach their children to conform and then are shocked when they give in to peer pressure! When a child says "but all my friends have it" the parent of my generations would say "you are not John/Jane if they jump off a bridge will you also jump?" However, in the next breath they spoilt" the whole" you are a unique being" by forever comparing us to our siblings, cousins, friends, peers who were better behaved or doing better at school "cant you be like Jane or Paul"
Well, my generation of parents however, goes right to the shop and "keeps up with the Joneses". No wonder we are bringing up a generation of very confused selfish people. Just look around you. Its all take take take. I want I want I want. Flash bling flash. With never a care for tomorrow.
We had it different, our parents did more with less and there seemed to be so much more time to spend as a family. Work ended at 4 -5 and there were no jams. Life we know was a constant struggle and we were made aware of how each little thing comes at a great price. Just because John/Jane has Pepe Jeans does not mean I will be buying the same. I am too busy putting food on the table to be keeping up with fashion. New clad is for birthdays and Christmas. In those days there was no Chinese or Mtumba (2nd hand clothes). Clothing was purchased from the shop or stitched either at home or at the tailors.
Today, you want to "keep up with the Joneses" you can do it at half the price - Thank you China ;-). Unfortunately, our children will therefore never get the opportunity to know and appreciate quality. We need to slow down and teach them to wait and get a "quality" item that lasts even though the price is abit higher. We also need to teach them that its now about "how much you have" but "how much value it gives you". Can kids today make those "wire cars" with plastic mud guards. hehehe...
Hmm I digressed. My rant was about Mothers embarrassing their children. What was up with that woman making her son (or any child) for that matter carry her kiondo around the school gate where your peers will see you? Are we aware of how we affect our children's social standing?
Father's never seem to do embarrassing things? At least I cant quite recall my dad causing any embarassment. He was good in Sports…so…hehehe ALWAYS to shine. He was a good teacher and ensured we "got" whatever homework had been assigned. I will hand it to him - he never allowed for "shortcuts" you must learn the whole theory of how the answer is derived (you wonder how/why I still have such a passion for shortcuts..hehehe.
This Father's Day appreciate your Father for never doing anything to make you appear "less" infront of your peers. Celebrate him this Sunday.
