For most of us busy parents, the temptation to just "baby sit' your children is greater. Baby sitting is a term used to keep the kids out of dangerous things, feed and change diapers (nappies) Izitshubo! We are living in a time, and a generation where we want it all. We work harder to make sure that we live a good life. A life style where by we have everything at our finger tips. And really there is nothing wrong with that. For most of us, we are trying to make sure our kids get things that our parents never managed to do for us. We look back at the life styles that our parents lead, while we were growing up, and feel compelled to do better. Surely there is no better standard of measuring progress than that. Each generation is pushing for the better.
While the above general analysis is true to many people, it could not have been any more real than in my own life. We all natural respond to life choices, and decisions by what transpired in our lives during our upbringing. I know a lot of people who grew up in mere poverty, but are now living like kings. I also know a lot of people who never amounted to anything just because of the environment they grew up in. There are some who used their own humble beginnings as a stepping stone for the better. Such are few, and the rest lie somewhere in the datum line. Its been said that if you do not know where you are coming from, you do not know where you are going either.
I must admit that most of the things we run around chasing every single day, are not really about putting bread on the table. They are about pleasure, and matching the Jones next door. We do not want to be left behind. If the neighbors get a new vehicle, its time for us update our models as well. This is an acceptable type of peer pressure in today's world. The only sad thing is that in the process we neglect the most important investments we have. Our children. Spiritually, emotionally and socially they become losers, and loners. We do a good job of connecting them to elements, yet a bad job when it comes to connecting them with us.
I am one those who grew up in transitional period of time in Zimbabwe for most African people. This was the time when our parents could afford to leave their children with grand parents in the rural areas while they were working in the cities. Back then money was not an issue as it is today, but it paved a way for a good living. This is true especially for those who used it to further their education. Education, like sports skills and innovation rules the world we live in today. These are not measurable by the income people get, but the amount of loss that families go through socially is unmeasurable. The abuse of drugs, alcohol among other things is a direct result of such well not limited. For most of parents we are bent on hiring baby sitters who offer nothing other than "baby management" We spend most of our lives running away from our children. Some even send them to boarding schools far away as much as possible. Boarding schools have produced some of the greatest academic minds, who are also some of the corrupt people of all time. I am in no way trying to strike a contrast between those who have and those who have not. All I am saying is that we can use our energy, and resources for the betterment, and the benefit of our children as a people.
I am privileged to be raising my own children together with my lovely wife, who is their mother. There are a lot of financial resources me and my family can use, just in case you are wondering, and have a little excess. It is blessed to give that to receive! (email listed above). Po Box Santa Indiana. We are an average family with ups and downs but we are seriously pursuing the American dream. During my grade and secondary schooling days, I could have used some emotional and financial support. I am not a cry baby type of a guy but believe me, it can be devastating when parents do not show support to your sporting and academic events. I played soccer and ran track, and none of my parents ever got a chance to cheer for me. This is not a verdict to my ailing father, who suffered terrible stroke over two years ago. I wish him well, and I love him. We cannot turn back the hands of time, if we could, I am sure he would do things different. My case is probably not isolated, but that is not an excuse either.
My mother did not get the chance given the distance. She lived over 400km away. Its tough being a child of a divorced couple in a third world country. No terms, no lawyers and the the children in between suffer terrible. I never had the luxury of playing with my father as a child. He was always a busy man, probably like many of us. He loved photos, and he could pose like a film star in front of the camera, yet he never took a single picture with me.
I only managed to take a picture with him last year for the first time in our lives. Thank God we had that chance. He is obviously not the same man any more. Grown up now. Times have changed, time has the magic of healing situations..
I pray and hope that God will continue to bond me, and my two boys together, so much that our life here on earth becomes an experience. That we can seize every opportunity to live, laugh, love, play, share and pray together. Just "baby sitting" them is not enough. Our generation has to get it right the first time!
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