Noooo, Auntie whyy? Ahh, those are the words that came out from my niece mouth. Heeew, what happened? I mean, what triggered such words out of her lips? A continuous reading of this post will unveil it. Meanwhile, let's exchange some pleasantries first.
Good day dear lovely friends of weekend experience community and all my fellow contestants. Am here to narrate this terrible experience of mine that took place years ago over an action I took which I shouldn't have taken. This is the full gist.
I have a pretty niece whom am always fond of because, I was living with the mother from the time she was conceived down to the day she was born. There is a special kind of bond in-between both of us right from her infant stage. Ohh, that reminds me of a time she slapped her senior because, she's answering same name with me. Ever since she was born, I never for once beat her. I always pamper her to the extent the mother became a kind of jealous over the love existing in-between me and the baby. Honestly, the girl can't eat without me and whenever I travel, she must fall sick and immediately am back or retuned from my travel, she'll be ok.
Nevertheless, one faithful day, she became victim of tragedy. Hmm, I call it tragedy because, the unexpected happened. Yes, the world turned upside down in a blink of an eye. Time without number prior to that very moment, my mumcy always warn me over the freehand I gave to the little girl. According to her, one day, the girl will insult me or prove stubborn to me.
This story am narrating took place when the girl was 8 years old. Approximately 2 years ago. I was mopping the floor and I told her in advance not to walk in until the floor dries up. Hmm, immediately after leaving the site to my room, she ignored the rule and went in not just barefooted, rather with her sandy soiled slippers. Ahh, I noticed her presence in the sitting room and came out to be sure. Ohh my goodness, the little girl greatly messed up the environment. Out of anger, I beat her.
As soon as my hand touch her, she shouted loudly saying:
No aunty, why? Sorry. I will not do it again.
Those words really touched my heart leading me into having a rethink.
- Is beating and flogging the best approach to discipline?
Honestly, I shouldn't have done so. instead, the best approach to discipline here is to give her water and mopping stick (or rag since she's small) to clean up the mess. By so doing, she'll learn and understand that mopping is not an easy task.
The outcome
The fear and agony of seeing me in such mood and that of receiving a small beating from me really shocked her to the extent she cried for hours though at the end, I consoled her with sweets and biscuits. Yet, she felt sick and that also cost me money.
The lesson
Such terrible experience really taught me some great lessons.
- To always control my anger
- To exercise patience
- To have a rethink
- To discern the best way to discipline a child
Conclusion
At the end, though the baby learnt her lesson, yet, am the one that spent some cool cash on her behalf and the trauma is also affecting me till date, because, sometimes, I will hear those her above words ringing on my ears and immediately, I must feel bad.
This is my entry to this week's writing prompts. You too can participate by clicking on the below link馃憞