ITS OKAY AFRICAN CHILD

This is motivation for every child out there, especially African children who's parents and communities do not take into consideration their feelings and worries

Growing up many of us never experienced the luxury of having anyone say "it's okay"
As Africans our parents, communities and society believe its best to not teach children about crucial life matters, perhaps because elders we so much look up to and rely on for passing down information and knowledge were raised that way. Sex education is still a taboo in most households and societies, parents change tv channels whenever there is an intimate scene, they frown when children come home with questions regarding practices of culture, religion, norms and values, they feel disrespected and challenged, they may even view it as a sign of rebellion which in most cases its not. There is not much conversation about relationships, marriage, work. For some reason its believed that teaching girls how to do dishes, clean the house and prepare meals is enough, that teaching boys to herd cattle, work in gardens and do the heavy lifting is enough, that taking you to school prepares you for life but guess what our teachers and lectures in schools are just like you, they play by the book, they don't teach us those things in schools either. All we have now is the internet information that we feed each other
REALITY CHECK: not teaching youngsters about such issues will not make them disappear, those are challenges everyone faces in a certain age, so you can either teach them and openly talk about them and equip them with necessary coping mechanisms so they handle them better when time comes or omit and dismiss em, let them get into them with not a single clue of what to expect or with nothing but fantasies- just don't be angry and disappointed at their mistakes especially because you had a way of turning their situation around but you chose not to.
Cut the stereotypical practices, teach us, talk to us, reason with us, guide us, help us improve the African community because change begins with you, it all begins in the four walls we call home
Tell your children its okay
Its okay to be curious
Its okay to have doubts
Its okay to be angry
Its okay to be disappointed
Its okay to be gay
Its okay to be different
Its okay to be yourself
Its okay to struggle
Its okay to be afraid
Its okay to cry- let it out
Its okay to make mistakes
Its okay to feel vulnerable
Its okay to not be okay sometimes
What matters is how you handle and deal with it
Because dear elders if you don't step in and prepare them they will learn the hard way,
In the meantime as you chew on this
Lemme do it for you,
I CALL OUT TO EVERY AFRICAN CHILD- ITS OKAY!

Author's Note

Every comment is welcome

Reviews

[Apoorv Srivastava]

Ingenious!
this is simple and says exactly what you wanted to say, the best kind of poems.
I think it's more of your desire to break out of some serious stupidity enveloping all of us and that is clearly what i felt from this piece.
if you want to go ahead, then please don't stop.
cheers :)

[Norman 223]

This was a splendid piece of writing, as it gave such a clear picture of the traditional restrictions that can hamper the potential of youngsters in the modern world. Your views are refreshingly realistic in that they do not "preach" anarchy, but encourage mature thought that could improve the lives even of your elders.
Keep writing - even they may realise that change can also be OK..

[barleygirl]

This is a very unusual piece . . . rarely seen: essays about real life around here, especially with regards to how one might wish to teach elders how to teach children. You've offered a solid description of how the culture manifests, such that these lessons are not routinely taught. I offer another point of view: many times such things are not taught here in the US becuz parents are caught up trying to make a living or coping with family strife, so they don't spend time sitting around discussing ANYTHING with kids. I think your writing is clear & organized & convincing. I especially love the list of short lines starting with "It's okay . . ." these are things that every child & even young adults & all adults need to be told often, I think. There's always too much criticism & not enuf "you're okay" going around in many scenarios. Well expressed & reflecting a deep maturity of thought here.

[Thandiwe Mokotso]

Thank you so very much for taking time to review this. Your kind words just made me have faith in my writing- its okay to have no idea under which genre my pieces fall i hope, thanks again am humbled!

[barleygirl]

I remember thinking I needed to write fictional stories that aren't in first person, becuz that's evidently what "sells" . . . nowadays I write whatever is pressing inside me, needing to be released, & I don't care what the "norm" might be. My first person autobiographical essays are well-received, even if they aren't marketable. There are no doubt rewards that go beyond money. So follow your heart, I say! (((HUGS)))

[Thandiwe Mokotso]

"nowadays I write whatever is pressing inside me, needing to be released, & I don't care what the "norm" might be" i love that, am gonna tell that to myself every day. I appreciate you! thank you

[M.R Steiner]

you really explored the points well in this, I'm not sure what to classify it as either but it is still effective, you managed to expose the key causes on a clear concise basis :)

[Thandiwe Mokotso]

Thank you so much for such a kind review its highly appreciated.

[Thandiwe Mokotso]

I just write my feelings and thoughts, i honestly have not been able to identify the genre in which my pieces fall so please bare with me