I can count so many families I knew personally while i was growing up, who had the-male child-is-more-important syndrome. Even now, I still see a lot of parents exhibiting this syndrome.
Over the years I have wondered why this is so.
I hear parents tell the elder sisters of a five year old that he is their father and I am like, “seriously”? So you are automatically more important than others because you are a male child?
I am sorry, I just don’t get the rationale behind a full grown woman who is a mother of four having to kneel down for her husband’s nephew who is barely a teenager all in the name of tradition.
Neither do I understand why it’s okay for a husband’s younger brother to talk down at or beat up his brother’s wife.
What has this disrespectful aspects of tradition done to us?
Increase in the rate of domestic violence as a result of residual deposits of twisted attitudinal tendencies passed from generation to generation to our boys.
Reality has dawned on the fact that we teach the girl child everything. And assume the boy child should be able to figure out the right thing since he has a male brain.
We have built our boys into men who think they are gods in their homes. . .
Men who beat up their wives at any slightest provocation.
We have instilled in them totally distorted mentalities. . .
Men who believe it is below their status as males to do house chores.
We have intentionally and unintentionally taught them that they are better by far than their female counterparts. . .
Men who believe they are always right and just must have the final say all the time.
We have told them verbally and non- verbally that they can do whatever they like without having to suffer any consequences.
Men who take advantage of women and do all in their power to suppress them because they believe they are weaklings.
It is high time fathers and mothers began teaching their male children how it really should be.
Train up your child in the way of The Lord is the instruction. Not the way of tradition.
Teach them to love.
Teach them to be kind.
Teach them to be compassionate.
Teach them not to think too highly of themselves.
Teach them not to be violent.
Catch them young.
The time is now for us to arise and shine the spotlight on the boy child. They need their own seminars too. We need more books that talk about the God fearing men God wants them to be.
Dear mother, tell your boy child where the way is.
Dear father, model the kind of man God will be pleased with to your boy child.
Receive grace not to fail in raising your child the way God wants you to in Jesus’ name!
I pray for you as I pray for myself.
~ OMOSEBI Mary Omolola
© 2016
