I have a lot of memories about growing up in an African home. The African style of child programming is quite unique and different from how the western countries train their children. African mothers are known for their strict discipline, their looks have different messages to send to a child. A mother tapping her feet on the floor could be a sign of warning or her evil look a sign of trouble (beating). I grew up with my grandmother. Even though I was pampered at childhood because of the illness I suffered, she never failed to discipline me as an African mother, no rod was spared, if there was any bible verse they held strongly to, it should be the verse that says "spare the rod and spoil the child".
We had rules guiding our conduct, even to the time we all needed to be at home. Anyone who stayed longer than 9pm outside was locked outside, every opening which would have given us access to sneak inside was strictly monitored. As much as possible we try to meet up to the time but sometimes we err and face consequences. Unlike the western countries, a child has no right as long as he is under his parents, you have no right to even cry or make demands that's not suitable to them.
You have no right to change a TV station even when your dad is sleeping as long as he was the one who selected the channel. This childhood programming was for the children born before the year 2000. Everything seems to change as the generation is incorporating the western lifestyle at the moment. My grandma was so generous enough to allow me eat first before she carried out her act of discipline. Parents understood most children would refuse to eat if they were beaten before they ate. This training not only helped us grow up with morals but also taught us how to be strong and expect the worst.
It's no longer common with the parents of this generation. The African style of child upbringing is fading with the new set of parents who have embraced the culture of the west and children no longer have respect for elders or fear consequences of their actions. A lot has changed, and children in this generation have involved themselves into dubious activities because all that is preached in this generation is making money and making a lot of it. Sometimes I wish our culture could be introduced once again, a culture where parents raise their children with trembling hands and understand that what a child learned in childhood was what he held up to for a lifetime.
