Parenting is an ongoing battle between mind and heart of the parent. What is the best way to raise the children? To make the children do house chores or not? To spoil the children with gifts and freebies as House helps do the work or not? To balance the tasks at home or not? Whoever uses the heart to guide the young ones, is most likely to win and make a great parent. For that reason, uneducated parents make great parents as well just like their educated counterparts— parenting with a heart is the equalizer. The winner is always someone…
The tragedy of parenting
What is the predictor of success in life? Is it nurture or nature? I learned a lot from my late grandpa, who I lived with a big part of my early life. He told me many profound insights. He used to say, “education does not help the lazy.” Now I know that this meant more work is after getting that degree! He was right. To get ahead, one must put in the extra effort. Have an ambition. Wake up early. Work hard by always going the extra mile. A genius may need just one hour to cover what an average…
The cost of parenting
It is too expensive to produce. Kampala has finally made me stop my dream of having three children. Two are already too many. This morning, James a 30-year-old asked me: “Mustapha, I need advice. At day-care they are asking for Ugx. 1,500,000 per month to look after my 2-year-old baby. I cannot afford it.” That baby is too young. Why not let him be with the mother? I asked. To which James replied that the mother left us. “She woke up one day and said, I am going back to school. Your child is here. You are not yet ready…