There has been an interesting discussion among parents about getting children to participate in housework. There’s even a more heated argument on whether children should be paid for their chores. According to the Strategic Financial Planning Team in the HSBC Bank, you have to “Expose your children to money: giving your children some financial independence early on, whether through an allowance or by asking them to earn their spending money, can help them learn its value and how to take responsibility. Whether they save or spend, talking about their choices is a good starting point.”

Every mother has experienced losing her child in a big shopping mall during a busy festive season. You don't even know where to start looking for your child. Your body fills with fear, your heart drops as your eyes pierces into every part of the shop. Where are they? where did they go and why didn’t they listen when you told them to stay close? As your retail therapy excitement dwindles, you frantically go up and down the escalators forsaking all shopping desires to find your precious child.

The moment we were all waiting for finally arrived when mum had her scan done to check the sex of her baby. It was great news when they got to know that it was a girl. As usual, mum was fantasising about buying pink bows and cream dresses to match with the pink tights. Dad, on the other hand, was even more excited because he could see himself cuddling this little cutie in his arms and teaching his little girl how to ride her tricycle. The big day indeed arrived and daddy was the first to set eyes on her and welcomed her into the world with his rich deep voice. This is love at first sight.

I count myself blessed to be a mother because I get to be an accountant, nurse, teacher, chauffeur and even a psychologist, all in one day. I salute mums who also have the privilege of working full time with all the added responsibilities in the home.

In my opinion, having two boys in my household is equivalent to watching a live football game in my living room with footballs shattering light bulbs and windows. I sometimes feel sorry for myself but even more for my daughter who is the only girl among two boys. She’ll be lucky to read her favourite story in peace without a brother jumping on her bed saying “BOO”.

School: Is that Mr Ping?

Parent: Yes, speaking.

School: This is the head teacher of your son’s primary school.

Parent: Is everything ok with my son?

School: I’m sorry to disturb you but I’m afraid your son has been involved in bullying.  

Parent: excuse me Sir, are you sure you have dialled the correct number?

Yippee! It’s that time of year again when Christmas carols are resounding in the shops, alleys and temple gates. Christmas lights are already lit in the city centres and Christmas trees have been decked with every beautiful decoration you can think of. In the midst of all this excitement, some parents are under a lot of pressure to be in their kids good books.

He was 12 years old, hyperactive, prone to distraction, and was deemed "difficult" by his teacher. He came home one day and handed a letter written by the school to his mum. His mother’s eyes were tearful as she read the letter out loud to her child. She read: “Your child is a genius and the school is too small for him and doesn’t have enough good teachers to train him.

The institution of the family
The Greeks define a family as ‘a dwelling’ or a place where you feel at home and fit in. The Hebrew idea of the family, which is very similar to the African idea, is even more extensive because it includes everyone in the lineage as well as dependants and may go as far as people who work closely with the family. Hence, with regards to these above mentioned cultures, anyone living with you or anyone who your child constantly relates with, is considered to be part of the family and must therefore believe in the same values and morals.

England went into pandemonium when a law was finally passed for shops to start charging 5p on bags. There were so many interesting videos on the internet on how people carried all their shopping in their handbags or picked up a fight in order to avoid the 5p charge on each carrier bag. What I am waiting to see is shoppers doing it the African way by balancing their shopping in a big bowl on their head just to save a couple of round silver coins.

The greatest crisis in national development is not lack of money or investment or even crime and unemployment. Behavioural scientists have proven that the greatest crisis in national development of any country is the absence of fathers in the nation and in the home. There is no substitute for fathers. This article will address the importance of fathers or male role models in building the family.