Everybody
has a role model in their lives, everyone has that special person that they
always want to run to and ask for advice, or read something about or sit down
and learn from. It’s an essential thing in life to have mentor, to mentor and
have a colleague that challenges your way of thinking. People in this
generation have accused the older generation of not being there to mentor them
or offer a good example to follow, some parents have really not been there to
see their kids grow to become people of substance in the society and even some
leaders have planted themselves in the leadership position that they can’t be replaced.
Parents
have been the greatest mentors of all times, they never had to go for mentor ship
programs to be taught how to do it, but a natural talent. Some of their methods
have been debatable by us the children, but they have always proved us wrong
with time. There is a Swahili proverb that says if a child is not natured by
the parents then he will be natured by the world. This is to say that when the
world natures you, it’s minus care and patience, but a package of hardship and suffering. 
Growing up
in the ghetto taught me a lot of things, made me realize it was not that easy
for my parents to have naughty kids like us. I was a naughty kid and my mum
will have to run after me all the time to come and do my homework or take a
bath. In those days, mum will never allow us to watch television without having
taken a shower or done our homework. Those
with the same experience like mine will remember how we used to shower,
especially in the dark. You will go to the dark bathroom, and start splashing
water on the wall just to create some sound an indication that you are
showering, then I would nicely wipe my dirty legs and clean my hands and head
and storm out of the bathroom, with a broad smile.
Like I said
earlier parents have natural talents of being parents and my mum would know if I showered
or not the first minute I entered the room. She would give me a slap and I found
myself willingly back to the bathroom, this time showering for real. My mum didn’t
hate me as I thought then, but just cared in a tough way something that I appreciate
right now because I love showering. My dad on the other hand was a quiet guy, didn’t
say much. I used to prefer the punishment from him because he would do it
quietly and shortly, not like mum who will make it so publicly to the neighbors
that his son didn’t like to shower, no wonders Lavender the girl next door didn’t
like my vibes so much.
Parents
make mistakes too, they are humans and that’s to be expected, but this is one thing I never understood when I was growing up. My mum and dad were
always right, always so bright in school and knew all things. My dad has always
been my hero, because he knew everything. He had answers to every question and
with mum it was the same. This made me want to be like them all the time, a genius.
All parents of our times were geniuses, but now I know it was just a mask to
help us work hard, they lied to us yes but at least they made us want to strive
for better positions in life.
Parenthood
is not an easy job, but if my dad and mum were able to bring me up to this
level that I am then they did a perfect job. The natural talents they supported in me and the creativity we developed is all because of there patience and love. My dad did his very best and am so
proud of him, and mum did well too. Looking back now I can say that I am who I am
because I had the best dad ever and I have the most loving mum. Life will have
been impossible without these too, and they will always be my heroes. Dad had
his mistakes, but he was a loving father who loved his kids, mum is always
right but I love her and she will never give up on us. Parents are the best
gift we ever received from God and as long as we are alive then they are always
alive, our failures becomes there’s too and our successes also tag them along.
wake up lets journey on.
