The Sunday Mail
WE were whiling away time, arguing about English soccer, when a colleague suddenly sucked his teeth and threw his hands in the air in disgust after seeing a bus full of boarders parking to drop the learners.
“Now trouble has just begun. We will soon be drinking warm beer from the supermarkets because these naughty learners will be competing with us for cold ones,” he said, while shaking his head uncontrollably.
Gentle reader, the closure of the first term of schooling has come with mixed reactions.
While the learners are happy that at least they are back home to take a deserved rest from their gruelling school routines, not everyone shares the same sentiments.
Their parents now have to contend with increased demands for food, a surge in petty crimes and damaged household effects.
“These children are a blessing from God, but at times they cause us a lot of suffering. They damage our electrical gadgets, like television sets and DVD players. Some of them talk a lot and make it difficult for one to breathe because each time you wake up, be assured of being greeted with a request for money,” one guzzler told this writer at KwaFatso in Glen Norah.
“Oh, now that these children are at home, I have to make sure I hide some of the things I do because they take it upon themselves to report to their mothers everything they see,” wailed another guzzler.
An obese lunatic who was within earshot, however, had a different complaint.
“I have no qualms with these children except the fact that the closure of the school term means I need to put together funds for next term’s fees. These children are expensive to run and their demands for money are just out of this world,” he said while quaffing the wise waters.
It can be worse for parents who rent because some landlords are difficult. They complain each time they see a tenant accommodating many people.
“I love my children more than the word hallelujah but my challenge is that I do not have a place of my own. Each time the children visit the toilet, the landlady follows to see whether they have not messed up the facility. The landlady also constantly reminds me not to let the children prepare meals on the gas stove for fear that they may burn down her house,” said a vegetable vendor as she went about her business.
“The moment schools close, I have to open my eyes like a hawk and ensure I notice any change in behavioural patterns because kids being kids, they can do anything and for me not to be embarrassed, I need to always take precautions.”
True to her view, during school holidays, parents need to monitor their children closely because they experiment a lot.
They experiment with drugs, sex, assets and everything they can lay their hands on at the expense of their schoolwork.
Having children around you is one thing and monitoring them quite another.
Coming at a time when the country is grappling with an increase in drug abuse cases, teen pregnancies and general lawlessness among youths, school holidays bid on parents to be always attentive and never lose their guard.
I share here some of the things that can be done to ensure children are kept under control:
Stranger danger — It is never a good idea to tell someone that you are home by yourself.
Ensure that all doors and windows are locked. If you get home and the door is open or a window is smashed, do not peek inside, instead, go to a neighbour you trust for help.
If someone knocks on the door, do not open for anyone you do not know. If there is an intercom system, ask parents to teach you how to use it and who to open for.
Ask parents to create an evacuation plan with you in case there is an emergency at home.
Do not share your holiday plans with anyone on social networks such as Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter. Thieves make use of such information.
Do not give your home address to any strangers or people you do not know well.
- Never go out to meet anyone you have spoken to on any social networks.
- If you want to practise how to cook, make sure you do it under adult supervision. Ask parents to go over the safety rules of the kitchen with you first.
- In case of an emergency, like a fire or a sibling getting hurt, it is important that you ask your parents to draw up an “in case of emergency” list. It should have your address and home phone number, as well as your parents’ numbers and work address. Also get trusted family members’ details.
When going out with friends, try not to wander by yourself. Let your parents know where you will be at all times and arrange to be fetched and dropped off at a safe public place.
- When going out, stay in groups.
- Keeping busy with homework, chores and play can make your “home alone” time go quickly. If you find yourself getting bored, you could try other ways to keep busy, for example, reading a book or magazine, working on a hobby or trying a new one, listening to music, singing or playing an instrument, writing a letter or sending an email or phoning a friend or writing a story full of made-up adventures of your time alone at home and giving it a happy ending.
Inotambika mughetto.
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