LET'S DO OUR JOB NOW THAT THERE'S STILL TIME

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In the past or back in the day when there was still some sanity left in the society, when you see a 19 or even 22-25 year old , you could still say “hey! Can you   go on an errand for me” without any fears of getting insulted or objections. Then the answer was always “yes ma/sir” even though you’d just be a few years older, it didn’t matter much then as he/she would go on the errand without complaints and deliver to you before running off to do his/her thing.

Sadly, nowadays, what do we get?

You can’t even reprimand a teenager without getting a sarcastic response. Oh what am I even saying? Did I just say teenager? My sincere apologies.

Now let me rephrase. 

You can’t even scold a 6-10year old child let alone a teenager without having to contend with sarcastic answers to questions you’ve not fully completed the lines of asking in the first place.

How did we get here? Especially in our once “well-behaved” African society.

These days one is confronted with pictures of teenagers paraded on television and all over social media after being caught as suspects in one form of robbery, kidnap, rape or ritual cases. Teenagers who should still be home running errands for their many innocent parents are being paraded on television as suspects/criminals. It’s so sad.

This is one reason why “community parenting” should be taken up as a matter of great concern. Situations where we have to look out for each other’s child thereby quickly call a child to order once he/she starts to derail. But then, community parenting comes with some baggage so the question is are ready to deal with that little baggage as parents just so we’d keep our wards on the right path of life?

Candace Cameron-Bure, an American actress known for her role in ‘Full House’ as D.J. Tanner won my heart during an interview with Wendy Williams not too long ago. Candace said her daughter who’s in her 20s still seeks her opinion on pictures (whether they are appropriate enough) before she can post them on social media. Awww!

For me, that coming from Candace tells a lot on how much she’s invested on her kids. Valeri Bure is a lucky husband and father! I mean, we are talking about a girl in her 20s yet some other kid who's barely a teenager can seldom be talked to let alone seek his/her mother’s opinion on what to or not post on social media. For the latter, it’s a case of “post right away! Who cares”? 

What am I trying to say here? 

We really need to do something about this generation of children/youths else the future would definitely become more disastrous and we would all be blamed for it. Therefore do your job right now as parents or guardians now that we are still here.

STELLA ENE - INYANG

IT'S STILL A NEW YEAR AND WE'LL ALL BE FINE!

andrevashaw.blogspot.com

A warm happy new year to all of you out there even though it’s almost three months gone already. Hmmm, how time flies. Just yesterday we all shouted “happy new year” on the 1^st of January.

 

Nonetheless, let me still wish everyone a very “warm happy new year”. Did anyone just say “yeah right? Here we go again, it’s another year”? If yes then it means you understand why I used the word “warm”.

Yes, the year 2018 was a very “trying” (with emphasis) one for many as in ‘very many people’.

‘Trying’ or ‘challenging’ not just in terms of making ends meet as in cash, but was both challenging mentally and emotionally for many individuals and families.

In business, especially for entrepreneurs (mostly young and fresh ones) it was like passing a camel through the eye of a needle. In the end, a lot of businesses folded up while others (including some already long established ones) almost followed suit but for grace and elastic doggedness which kept them just ‘hanging in there’ many of them almost lost their minds whilst trying to hold their heads and businesses above the stormy economic waters in the country.

Mentally and emotionally, many relationships crumbled as deception could no longer hold the midpoints of these relationships. The saving word for the ones that remained was “grace”.

Depression and suicide (attempts inclusive) became the order of the day leaving loved ones behind with a plethora of unanswered questions.

Domestic violence, children (male and female) abuse was part of daily news and happened nearly in every community with many still not reported till date for fear of stigmatization.

The most inhumane one was that of robbers/kidnappers who took their vices to another level by going ritualistic with the stealing of female undies thus making even the most innocent at heart their victims all in the name of money making.

Oh! 2018 was horrendous to say the least for many. Sadly even the politicians did not make it any better. Hmmm! Let me just spare us the (no need to remind us) details.

However in all of the aforementioned, it was still a memorable year for some group of persons as they had reasons to celebrate a few success stories (here and there) in the course of the year. Babies were born, weddings held, cars were bought, musical hits were recorded (from new and existing artists) so were deals signed, some people opened new houses while some others had successful surgeries, and many more. Most importantly, the country did not go up completely in flames.

Hmmm 2018! That year!! Thank God you’re gone for good!!!

We pray that 2019 will indeed be a good year and thus make up for the many losses of 2018.

Once again, happy New Year folks! *winks*  

By the way, did any of you make new resolutions this year? And how well have you held up?

Stella Ene - Inyang