SHOW Them, Don’t Just Teach Them
So much excitement! The
kids were really having fun, splashing water all over the place, shouting away with
so much hilarity. I sat down patiently watching them on the play ground as they
engage in several sporting activities, some were jumping, others throwing balls,
skipping e.tc. On the far left side of the playground is the swimming pool. I
smiled as i remembered my own school years, the games i engaged in, ten-ten,
skipping e.t.c.
After playing, the kids were really looking worn-out, they went to a corner to get water, they were all
over the place, (though not screaming but definitely not talking in the normal
way). I got interested in them at this point, i expected them to queue up and
take their turns, but lo and behold they weren’t. That aside. After the attendant helped them with water
from the dispenser no one said ‘thank you sir” no, not one! Thoughts started flying in my mind. Didn’t
anyone teach these kids how to take turn? were they not thought to be
appreciative? The more the attendant bellow
‘be on a queue’ the rowdier they become. I wasn’t impressed with the situation and
wanted to help. Hmm! I got up, ready to help the attendant create sanity in the
process but wait a minute, a woman walked in and caught my attention. Why? I
had an encounter with her earlier in the day. I was at the grocery store being
attended to when this woman walked in and spoke rudely to one of the attendant
who was attending to a customer, the customer being attended to replied the
woman that she should please ‘wait for her turn’ . Gratefully, she consented.
Hmm! I now see the reason for the rowdy session! Parents say
it but do not ACT IT. The kids follow us out and see the way parents scramble
for things, jump queue, throw thrash from the car, cross the express way with
their kids, but tell the kids not to cross the express way. We drive with our
children in the car and engage in road rage. Some people do not take turns, they
get to the bank and jump queue, thank God for the few who initiate the queuing
process anywhere they get to. We use the
‘f’ word and other swear words lavishly before our kids and get embarrassed when
they use the same word before our friends. We watch x-rated films before them
e.t.c . Generally we SHOW them who we are but teach them who we think they
should be.
Parenting should be deliberate. We should consciously show
our children how to take turns, show appreciation to people when they help,
take care of their environment, respect others, share, care for the young ones,
e.t.c Will write more about this in my
next post.
Back to the story (lol) i stood up and sternly asked them to
take turns, pick the cup and appreciate the attendant once they get the cup from him and they obeyed.
Till next time, Show them not just teach them.
Dupe Oteri
Relate’n’Live
