Signals are common among African mothers. Whenever they want to warn you about something, just look at their faces; you will see reactions you never imagined, which might be misunderstood.
Yes, because not everyone can read faces. I remember when I was a kid that my mum took my siblings and me to the city for a wedding party.
We were so happy that all of us were going to a wedding. She took us all there because the bride was a family member, so we went to the family house in the city for the celebration.
We left around 9 a.m. in the morning and got there around 12 p.m. The journey was peaceful. I was already creating a picture in my mind of how the place would be.
I would meet a lot of people, including relatives from far and near. Although I dozed off before we got to the city motor park, my mum woke me up to let me know we were going to take a taxi to the street where the family house is.
It wasn't my first time being in the city, but it had been a while, and everything had changed so fast; even the taxi colors had changed.
However, when we got to the street junction leading to the house, we took a bike directly to the family home. We met a few people sitting and chatting in front of the house.
My mum called me and said something while pointing one of her fingers at me and shaking it sporadically. I knew what she meant: "Behave well." I nodded in response, which showed that I understood her message.
My mum had earlier warned us that we should stay wherever she asked us to stay and that we must not play around. Although we met a lot of our cousins and nephews, which got us very excited, I got carried away, and so did the others.
I was the eldest, which meant I was supposed to be in control of my siblings. As soon as Mum left the room, we all went outside to play with our new friends. Along the way, Mum passed by, looking at me very angrily.
I knew I was in trouble with the look in her eyes. I had left the door open, and the rules she had given us had been broken. I stopped playing immediately and walked slowly behind her.
Oh, thank God I was not beaten but scolded. She squeezed my ears so tightly that they became hot while she kept talking. "You don't listen to a word," she shouted and left. My eyes became teary, but I refused to let them drop. I was angry that I didn't go out again to play that evening.
On another occasion, one of our relatives came to our room and gave Pap and bean cakes that had been prepared for everyone as breakfast before the place got crowded because the engagement party would start in the evening that day. My mum was there, but she didn't talk.
I already knew she didn't want us to eat anything given to us except what she had prepared herself; that was the second instruction she had given us before leaving home.
I ignored her warning look and collected the food, but as soon as the person left, I went to meet my mum, who was arranging her box, to ask if we should eat the food, and she said no. Although I was unhappy, I knew she wanted us to be content with whatever she provided for us.
We ate a different menu that morning, and I was satisfied. I was glad that I heeded her warning signal; if not, I would have had another round of scolding again, not only for me but for my siblings too.
The wedding was a success, and I had lots of fun because I laughed so much. We grew up paying rapt attention to whatever our parents said with their body gestures, facial expressions, and words, and that is where good home training begins.
If I disobeyed, there was a warning signal from my parents, especially my mum. If I did something wrong鈥攔efused to do chores, lost money, stole, lied, ate slowly, and so forth鈥擨 just had to listen to the sounds and movements from my African mother, and her face would tell a lot too, even now that I've grown into an adult. Never ignore your parents' warning signals.
Happy Reading!.
