Parenting During the Long Holiday

PARENTS AND THE HOLIDAY CHALLENGE

Children are not casual guests in our home. They have been loaned to us temporarily for the purpose of loving them and instilling a foundation of values on which their future lives will be built. James Dobson

Whenever there is a need to discuss subjects as it concerns children, I find my passion sensitising my whole being to connect with it. This is wholly because of my work with children and confidante to many. So I see every child as a friend hence it is easy to listen to them.

Once again it is another "Summer season" School children are going on a 6  - 7 week vacation and so many parents are already bothered about how to plan this holiday season.

A friend once told me that, teachers and schools are no longer supportive due to the fact that summer lessons in her child 's school were moved to September. 

Yes, the question on the mind of so many parents and guardians is "Where would I keep these children, how can I engage them, how do I shuttle between my work and their needs? Who can I leave them with? "These and many more questions bother different parents and guardians.

While you are encumbered with these thoughts, the children are more concerned about daily meals, snacks, game time, holiday trips, sleepovers, late night television time, play time and variety of activities without any restrictions. All a child wants to do is to explore his or her environment, they want to practise what they have heard or seen without anyone sneaking out on them or restraining them.

Lo! Children are the heritage of the lord, the fruit of the womb, a reward –hence we need to be more cautious of where and how our children spend their vacation period.

So many parents are in a haste to go on short trips, prepare for exams, focus on their career, focus on their ministry, run different projects during this summer period, which is a good thing to do but with resumption comes school fees. They need to be pushing on full throttle!

  

However, before you make that decision to take your children to their friends, cousins, Aunties, Uncles, Grandmum's , Granddad's or your friend’s place for their holiday season, you may need to consider if these people share the same parenting values with you. How sure are you that your child would not return with more negative attitudes?

Many children are violated and threatened to keep it as a secret while some others get into a lot of vices during summer period: some who are less than 15years of age have become sexually active with friends, cousins, aunties, uncles, drivers to mention a few, due to their curiosity. Some children have been bullied, rapped, molested, lured into drugs, smoking, alcoholism, masturbation, stealing and much more during the long holiday season. The curiosity of a child will make him go back to that act and once he or she finds pleasure in it, then addiction begins. 

Once they return from summer holidays they would pretend nothing happens hence they will live with the hurts and this becomes a pattern of life. The bold ones might try to confide in their parents but when you are too busy, you might postpone the conversation unknowingly.

Yet some other children have learnt how to be home makers, young architects, technicians, young scientist, graphic artists, creative with arts materials, science inventions, fictional stories, write, to use digital and IT tools during the summer thus becoming more productive and relevant to the society.

Every child has a secret and they know when you are sending them away to keep up with your career or businessperson. They also know how to engage themselves but to whose detriment will it be?  You cannot help your child get over depression, addiction or rebellion by sending them to away for vacation. They need us to be their friends, so they can confide in us.

Dear parents, please check up on your children during this summer. Ensure they are in a suitable environment. Create time to be with them so as to learn from them and be able to correct them. So many parents do not know their children. The best time to go on vacation is during summer, this will help you to know your children more but in a case where vacation is not possible, endeavour to keep a check on them. 

Richie Dayo Johnson, a communication Coach posits that “Rules without relationship will lead to rebellion”. Let there be an explanation for the things they should not do rather than set strict rules. This is why sex education is very important. Make this holiday season different for your child. 

Thank you for your time on Olabusola's Review. 

REF: Observation method

Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_parenting.html

Graphic Display: Paul Ogunlesi' Art works