Parenting in Nairobi

 

Mzazi!

Just a thought. 

“Which parent ever says “my son or daughter is the evil one.”

I’m still looking for a parent who will willingly admit that their child is the one ruining others in the group.

I overheard a conversation between two men. One of them happened to pop into a video created by his son and couldn’t believe his ears let alone the eyes.”

According to him, the child was watching obscenity on social media. The son had mastered the art of creating short video clips.

He went on to mention that the first glance of the video, you would think that the boy was an ardent fan of the English Premier League. 

When he clicked on one of the clips since he was also a fan of a team popularly referred to as the (red devils), he was taken aback. 

He says “ I couldn’t believe that this sweet boy born the other day could be engulfed in such wicked clips and obscene music videos.

“Why was he listening to this kind of music?” The gentleman in a blue jacket who seemed to be the dad asked. “The ones that glorify a certain anatomy of the female body parts?” Inquired the other. “Yes, not  the mouth of course.” Replied the storyteller.

“The young boy is just 11 years old.  A few years since the mother gave birth to him. Why was he doing this.” The blue jacket-wearing fellow was now thinking aloud, he was marginally too loud and everyone could hear his thoughts clearly. “Where did he pick this habit from?” Mom or me?” Went on the enraged man with a blue jacket.

After an uncountable belts whooping on the boys behind, and deprivation of a hot meal, the boy was commanded to go to bed. The father said “I was so angry that I forgot how hungry I was a few minutes ago. 

Early in the morning, the young boy woke up and didn’t want to speak to anyone, not even his bubbling siblings who were trying so hard to cheer him up.

What shocked me and probably everyone in the PSV was a conversation between the mother and her youngest daughter.

“Why was Paulo spanked yesterday?” Asked the young girl. “I honestly don’t know.” Responded the mom. 

“What do you mean she didn’t know?”Inquired the gentleman. “ I was equally shocked.” Mentioned the man with the blue jacket.

They both alighted the public service vehicle. I observed that the gentleman who was supposed to counsel his friend was smiling sheepishly.

Then it dawned on me. No single parent wants to admit or acknowledge that their son or daughter for that matter is the rotten apple in the group.

How would you have responded to your young daughter?