A lot of the acts most Nigerian parents of the past few generations referred to as discipline actually do amount to abuse and infliction of grievous bodily harm.
Thinking back, I really don't know what was wrong with many of them.
1. I saw parents beat their children with sticks and thick ropes called "koboko" and left marks and bloody injuries on their children.
2. I saw parents starve their children as a form of punishment.
3. In 2006, a mother beat her 17-year old daughter and hit her head on the wall of their sitting room. The girl died right on the spot.
4. I saw children walk around with hot water burns poured on them by their parents. Some, for doing as little as refusing to do the dishes.
5. Mothers poured pepper into their daughters' vaginas in the name of discipline.
6. A man and his wife beat and slapped their son till he lost his hearing. He was only 10 at the time.
If there were good and effective child protection laws in Nigeria, a whole lot of parents would have been in jail.
Listen!
That you brought a child into this world does NOT give you any right to abuse such a child.
Your children have rights which even YOU their parents have no right whatsoever to violate all in the name of discipline.
Any parent who did 1-6 above deserve to have spent at least a few years in jail.
If I ever find myself in a position of authority, most of you abusive parents will rot in jail.
I noticed that the parents of the younger generations/current generation are not as abusive as the parents of the 70s, 80s, and 90s.
I don't understand how those men and women had the mind to inflict injuries on their own children in the name of discipline. And I don't understand how their children came to forgive them.
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Now, let me blow your mind. This is where many will disagree with me...
Forcing your children to fast with you; especially those fastings that leave them without food beyond 12-midday is ABUSE!
Let me explain...
As a parent, you are legally obligated to provide your children's basic needs and necessities.
Food is the FIRST basic need of every human.
Failure to feed or provide food for your children is negligence.
And no! Religion isn't a defense to this.
Anyone who wants to join you in your religious practice should do so WILLINGLY. Making even your children join you in your religion against their own will is a violation of their freedom and right to religion and assembly; which gives them the right to practice or not practice any religion. This right is a fundamental right that can be exercised from the age of zero.
Yes!
You do NOT have the right to violate your own children's rights.
You are supposed to preach to your children and let them decide whether or not they want to join you in your religious practices. NOT force them to join you.
That part of your Bible that says "Train up a child in the way....." subtly promotes the violation of children's fundamental rights of religion and assembly by their parents.
The Law, legal codes and Constitution supersede your religious doctrines.
Thinking back, I really don't know what was wrong with many of them.
1. I saw parents beat their children with sticks and thick ropes called "koboko" and left marks and bloody injuries on their children.
2. I saw parents starve their children as a form of punishment.
3. In 2006, a mother beat her 17-year old daughter and hit her head on the wall of their sitting room. The girl died right on the spot.
4. I saw children walk around with hot water burns poured on them by their parents. Some, for doing as little as refusing to do the dishes.
5. Mothers poured pepper into their daughters' vaginas in the name of discipline.
6. A man and his wife beat and slapped their son till he lost his hearing. He was only 10 at the time.
If there were good and effective child protection laws in Nigeria, a whole lot of parents would have been in jail.
Listen!
That you brought a child into this world does NOT give you any right to abuse such a child.
Your children have rights which even YOU their parents have no right whatsoever to violate all in the name of discipline.
Any parent who did 1-6 above deserve to have spent at least a few years in jail.
If I ever find myself in a position of authority, most of you abusive parents will rot in jail.
I noticed that the parents of the younger generations/current generation are not as abusive as the parents of the 70s, 80s, and 90s.
I don't understand how those men and women had the mind to inflict injuries on their own children in the name of discipline. And I don't understand how their children came to forgive them.
*-*
Now, let me blow your mind. This is where many will disagree with me...
Forcing your children to fast with you; especially those fastings that leave them without food beyond 12-midday is ABUSE!
Let me explain...
As a parent, you are legally obligated to provide your children's basic needs and necessities.
Food is the FIRST basic need of every human.
Failure to feed or provide food for your children is negligence.
And no! Religion isn't a defense to this.
Anyone who wants to join you in your religious practice should do so WILLINGLY. Making even your children join you in your religion against their own will is a violation of their freedom and right to religion and assembly; which gives them the right to practice or not practice any religion. This right is a fundamental right that can be exercised from the age of zero.
Yes!
You do NOT have the right to violate your own children's rights.
You are supposed to preach to your children and let them decide whether or not they want to join you in your religious practices. NOT force them to join you.
That part of your Bible that says "Train up a child in the way....." subtly promotes the violation of children's fundamental rights of religion and assembly by their parents.
The Law, legal codes and Constitution supersede your religious doctrines.
Your religious freedom is allowed to the extent that it doesn't infringe on another person's right, and/or break the law.
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