Parenting

NEVER GET TIRED OF GIVING INSTRUCTIONS When we were young, I remember my parents always screaming in my dialect alaigboran! Meaning that we were quite stubborn and disobedient. Now, as a parent, I can’t count how many times I have screamed the same frustration on my children! Imagine having to remind your grown-up children to make their beds when they …

THEIR NATURE DETERMINES HOW YOU NURTURE THEM Having many children has really opened my eyes to the depth of individual child uniqueness, more so when you have twins. For the twins, I discovered that different things excite, motivate, challenge, and upset them. While one of them thrives in an atmosphere of competition, i.e., motivated by opposition, the other is more …

HOW TRULY INTELLIGENT ARE YOUR KIDS? DISCOVER IT! As a young lad, I loved playing soccer. In those days, there were no computers, let alone computer games. Recreation for kids did not offer too many options, nor was it as sophisticated and diverse as it is today. Hence, many of us boys growing up played a lot of football. I …

AVOID ROLE STEREOTYPES ‘Femi Adekunle on Parenting I once sat to counsel a woman whose worry and complaint were that her teenage son was not masculine enough. Her concern? He always dodged the ‘masculine’ chores in the house, like washing cars, fixing broken things, carrying heavy stuff, and the likes. Rather, he loved to do the ‘feminine’ chores like being …

MENTORING YOUR CHILDREN ‘Femi Adekunle on Parenting My daughter is quite reserved. She matured emotionally quite fast. As she entered her teenage years, we really didn’t have problems with her in the areas where her age mates usually prove difficult. However, as a result of her reserved nature, she withheld some information from us, not because she didn’t trust us …

DON’T MISS OUT ON THEM When we had our twins, both boys, the excitement was indescribable. In as much as it was stressful, especially for my wife, we did not complain but rather knew that this was one exciting stress worth enduring. But, truth be told, there were seasons when we were overwhelmed and exasperated. For twins, there is this …

DEVELOP CAPACITY ‘Femi Adekunle on Parenting My last article was on DIGITAL PARENTING, and the message was clear: as contemporary parents in the digital age, we have to develop capacity. When planning to raise kids, many do not have an idea of what they are entering into. Generally, in the African culture, once a couple gets joined in marriage, the …

DIGITAL AGE PARENTING Femi Adekunle on Parenting I say it often and often, parents must upgrade. Imagine (yes, just imagine it) that your 15-year-old daughter is on her gadget whilst you are sitting by her side. She does not get nervous to hide her conversation from you and she continues to chat with her friend. That alone gives you comfort. …

WHEN MEN LOOK LIKE WOMEN ‘Femi Adekunle on Parenting This is one matter that has engaged my deepest thoughts for quite a while as I have thought endlessly about it. I saw a beautiful child strutting about the premises. The child has his hair braided and an earring on one ear. That aroused my curiosity as I thought that the …

CAUGHT IN THE ACT ‘Femi Adekunle on Parenting On this day, I longed to eat bread after a fairly long time. My taste buds just longed for it; and not just bread, but bread and tea. So, I got bread from a bakery, oven-hot, and fresh as rose, just one loaf. I settled in my dining area in the house …