4,000 school girls pregnant in a span of two months. How did we get here? Where did the rain start beating us? I know you have heard all about it, seen the news, the memes and the downright truth. One thing about the truth it eventually comes out. It also gradually shows its colours. From the way I see it, the truth is, parents stopped parenting.
I am not quite elated on the subject involving children. And in this generation no one wants to bring forth a kid to suffer,so we stick to securing the bag first. Getting one's finances in order before you reproduce a liability. Sounds like a good plan. But really its fear, fear of turning out to be a bad parent. Eventually I would want to become a parent heck I would not want to die alone. These few weeks of lockdown have given me a preview of what retirement would be like and I very much would want to have kids around.This is what I would tell my daughter.
I would tell her that she is a goddess, the source of life so femininity should be her core business. That no one has the right to touch her whether married or dating it doesn't matter, they all need her consent. If anyone tries to touch her inappropriately, she should hit them, she has my permission. (No I am not promoting violence, it's called self defence)
I would tell her that she can make mistakes, that pregnancy is not the end of life but sex is sacred. And safe sex is not as bad as it sounds. That there is no shame in waiting for love, no matter what age you are. That good men exist and she will find them. To not trade her body for toxic love.
I will tell her that education is not key but knowledge is power. I will encourage to read books, any genre, to see the whole world in a piece of paper. I will also remind her that its not a man's world nor is it a female's world...it is our world...ours...all of us.
I will enlighten her on periods, that as a female she gets to subscribe to the cycle for life. That there is no shame in it nor should anyone make her feel less of a person because she sees red once a month. That the colour red is the associated with fire and blood- energy and primal life forces, that red is the colour of love. That she should also pick red lipstick, no matter what the lady at the counter says about her 'pigmentation'.
I will teach her that her hips were meant to sway, and her boobs were meant to stand, that the friction between her trousers is okay.That her hair is wild like that.That being obese while young is not a sign of 'maturity' and no she is not ready to get married. That no matter where she comes from her dreams are valid and that Lupita was never a Princess.
That she can say no, even when everyone is chanting yes, that she can turn left when everyone is going right,to follow her heart. To unyoke herself from the bondage of microscopism. Assure that the world is hers for the taking. That she will stumble and fall but she will rise again.
I will also teach her to pray, that a higher being exists. Remind her that bad people exist too and that whatever is happening around the country concerning rape, poverty, bad parenting, lack of self love all leading to the these outragious numbers is not right. Inform her of the fact that she has the power to change it.
Enlighten your daughter or your son, they say when you educate a girl you educate the whole village because she is a village in herself. You are woke and you are the change we have been waiting for Make a better parent.
You, me, her, him. We can revolutinalise the narrative and no it will not be televised.