Our parents are like small gods to us. It is no lie that most of them have more experience in life than we do, as their children, we believe that the level of experience they have in life is capable of making them right all the time but that's not 100% true.
Parents are also humans, and as humans, we are bound to err. This is why is not safe to totally depend on men. Am I saying we should be an island of knowledge? No, listen to people, but always weigh things out before you take action. No matter how experienced a person is, there are certain aspects of life that his or her experience might not cover, in the end, only God is worth relying on completely.
One Time Mom Was Right
One time I was going for a job screening at Lafia, our state capital. The time they gave us for the screening was 8:00 am. So, I felt so relaxed, early on the day of the screening, my mom woke me up by five and said I should go and prepare and get going.
I was like Mom, from my place to Lafia is just 30 to 45 minutes depending on the driver and you know too well that we don't joke with African time down here, this 8:00 am you are seeing might just be there, these people might end up starting around 10:00 am
But she still insisted that I should go and dress up and leave, she said even if they would start by 10:00 am, I should be there early so that everything would begin with me. What if I went 8:00 am and they already started by 7:00 am? You know Nigeria, anything can happen. Who knows you can also be so lucky that they will begin with you.
I have so much experience with screenings, and I know how it works, I was not just ready to stress myself, but I had to give in after my mom persisted. I left my place around 6:00 am and got to Lafia some minutes to seven. When I got to the screening ground, I was surprised, there were people there waiting around.
I was lucky, I met a guy who was there the previous day, but he was unable to do his own the other day because of the crowd. He told me what to do and I didn't hesitate, I put my things in order, and just some minutes past, seven, one of the staff came and asked us to line up so that we could start because they didn't want to gather crowd like the previous day.
It was like magic, I didn't waste much time there, I submitted my credentials and got screened. when I came outside around 9:00 am there was no place to put my foot, everywhere was choked with people. If I had come by 8 or 9, I would have slept in Lafia because I am sure I wouldn't be able to get screened that very day.
She Got It All Wrong This Time
Almost all the organizations in Nigeria have a special way of extorting money from people who need their services. Even if you see it boldly written on the walls that things are free here, don't be fooled, hold some money with you.
There was a time when I needed my local government attestation letter, I spoke to my mom about it and she said I should go to the area office and get it. I thought she would just help me out because she knows people there, and it would be much easier for her than for me but she refused. Leaving me with no option.
When I finally decided to go there, I asked her to give me some money, at least five hundred Naira but she refused, telling me the letter was free, she heard people saying they got theirs for free, I should just go straight and tell her I needed five hundred naira and stop beating around the bush.
I smiled and said, "Okay, if that's the case, let me just go without money". I took my indigene form and went there. The only money I had was my transportation fare. I had to beg the bike man before he took me 80 naira at the time. the plan was when coming back, I would trek some distance and then get a bike to take me home at an affordable price.
Arriving there, I saw some people who came for the same reason. So, I joined the queue, when It was almost my turn, I heard the guys that were before me talking about fuel fees. My heart cut, I didn't want to believe that what I heard was true. I had to confirm from someone else and it was true.
To be frank, the only money remaining on me was 50 naira and the fee was 100 naira. I am not so good at begging for money and even if I wanted to beg, whom would I beg? My body went so cold. When it was my turn, I told the man I only had 50 Naira, I didn't know about the fuel fee.
He asked me to step aside, that was how he kept me there. I became so famished that I almost gave up, he later called me and asked me to give him the money, which I did without hesitation. I finally got the letter but I was very hungry and exhausted and I had to trek home from the place. When I got home I was so angry and my mom was not even around. Thank God I didn't make the mistake of taking a bike home for her to pay, I would have seen hell.
Parents might be right, but not all the time, being a parent doesn't automatically make one go above making mistakes.
