COMPARE NOTES
‘ Femi Adekunle on Parenting
In the daunting task of parenting, you need encouragement. You could get so overwhelmed and frustrated that you feel like giving up. One of the things that can keep you going is to touch base with fellow parents and compare notes.
My wife and I once visited a family friend, they are a younger couple with younger children. They had 2 boys who were a handful. They are so close to each other in age that they look like twins. Our visit was so timely, he said. He was already in a state of frustration as he didn’t know what to do again. The problem? His boys! They were so troublesome that their mischievous activities in the house had become a torment. They spoilt everything in the house. None of the toys he bought for them, even when they cost a fortune, lasted 48 hours. Everything in their room, from beddings to furniture got shred. He showed me a large, brand new and expensive television set that they just damaged. Anytime they were to go out and leave them behind with their minder, they were paranoid. By then, he was sure it was a spiritual issue and was considering taking them both to a prophet for a ‘deliverance’ session.
We laughed so hard that he couldn’t stop staring at us. I assured him his adorable boys did not have a spiritual problem, or any problem at all. And then we shared our own experience with him. As he spoke, it was as though he was talking about our boys. We had a daughter first before them who was quite gentle, charming and extremely pleasant. Her toys were always in place and in fact, she took so much care of her baby doll as though it was her sibling.
When her brothers came, they were so overly active and vivacious that we kept everything in view away from them. At a point, we decided no more toys, as they wouldn’t spare any. I gave our friend a catalogue of mischief that our own boys had done and, by the time I was done, he heaved a sigh of relief and was so thankful. For such highly energetic children like his, I gave him tips on what to do. It would appear this high energy level is more common in boys than girls but then, there are exceptions.
There is no experience you’re having as a parent that is so debilitating that there isn’t someone out there who has survived it. All you need to do is speak out, compare notes and a solution will come your way.
There is no experience you’re having as a parent that is so debilitating that there isn’t someone out there who has survived it. All you need to do is speak out, compare notes and a solution will come your way.
‘ Femi Adekunle, a Parenting and Family Coach, writes from Abuja, Nigeria.
Email: femi383@gmail.com
WhatsApp: 08055103512
18th April, 2026
