MOTHERHOOD 2

MOTHERHOOD 2

Motherhood simply means the state of being a mother.

Mother means the female parent of a child.

It is the aspiration of every mother to be a successful mother. A mother who brings up a child that is approved by God and the society. A child who becomes the 'Father's Child'. A Yoruba adage says 'Omo to ba dara niti baba re'. (A good child is his father's). Simply put, a mother has the responsibility of bringing up an acceptable child.

Children begin to learn at their mother's knee. That is to say that very early in life, children begin to learn right from the time they are on the knees. At this position children learn the language of love. They are cuddled, petted, lullaby songs and rhymes are sung to calm them down. Their first words, rhymes, songs are learnt mostly at their mothers' knees.

Unfortunately the world is getting too busy for these 'first roles' of a mother. The knees are being replaced by other man made things like all kinds of baby chairs, cots, play pens etc. So that the mothers can attend to other matters. The pre-recorded rhymes on the television and laptops now replace the mothers' nursery rhymes or songs.

In recent years, the computer has taken on the prominent role as a moulder of young minds. These things are good as longs as they are probably controlled and channeled in such a way as not to replace the appropriate love and attention a mother should give to her child.

A good mother must first of all give love and proper attention to her children and not allow other things to take her position. Not even a good housemaid. People say 'Oh my housemaid is good. She can manage well'. The love of a househelp cannot be compared to that of a mother to her child.

A good mother has time for her growing children. Be involved in what they do. A mother should really bond with her child. Let his interests interest you. Where they are bad, discourage them in love and let him know why. Some mothers  use the 'stamping your feet' method which does not always work out. It should be last resort especially if such interest is harmful.

How much time do we spare to know their interests, where they go, what programmes they watch, what subjects on thw internet interests them, what they have in their possession, who their friends are? I said a mother is supposed to be all things. A mother is sometimes a private investigator especially where the child is not forthcoming. (A friend taught me this).

It has been confirmed by a study that violent music lyrics promote violent thoughts and feelings. Some of our music videos are so graphic and sexually explicit that they leave  little for imagination. We cannot imagine the extent our children's behaviour are affected by these things around us. Lack of sufficient parental supervision (or investigation) is an invitation to trouble.

(To be continued)

- Mrs. Grace Ebe Olumodeji