LITTLE THINGS THAT MATTER

NEED TO BE VERY CAREFUL WITH THEM SOMETIMES, IF NOT ALWAYS 

By Nnabugwu Chizoba
 

Little ones they are called, by parents, guardians, brothers, sisters, family members, family friends, neighbours, teachers, and religious leaders. Don’t get me wrong, referring to them as little ones, is not bad. At ages, 3 – 5 for example that is really what they are.

Some encounters by grownups, with the little ones, in the recent times have brought to my mind, memories of events past, which to me is worth sharing with my esteemed readers. 

On a very serious note, such events have kept me struggling and wondering, as to what the grownups actually have in mind when they address them as little ones.

My struggle stems from the fact that most of the grownups, I interacted with, tend to view discussions with the little ones as not only easy and simple but with a carefree attitude. A development, I don’t think is good enough. Their line of thinking, to me harbours some degree of ignorance. Apart from being dangerous, it has been responsible for some flaws witnessed in the society, due to certain actions of some parents. 

I am very much aware that some grownups have been shocked by some developments in the course of relating with their little ones.

Below are just two examples of such developments.

Helen, is referred to by her parents and neighbors as the pride of the family. In and out of school, she is a beauty to chat with, though 4 years old. After her lunch one day, having returned from school, the usual chat that Helen’s mother has adopted as a means of talking Helen to sleep took place.

In the midst of their conversation, Helen told the mother, that she was punished in school for what she did not do. With anger consuming and almost suffocating Mama Helen, she managed to trick her daughter to sleep, and stumbled out of the room. In her rage, she said:

“That is a nasty thing to do. It is inhuman and wicked. In fact, I will follow this matter to a logical conclusion. Nobody, not even her teacher, would do such a thing, to my child, and get away with it. Punishing her for what she did not do. I will not take it. I will confront her teacher”. All these while, she was pacing about angrily in the room, talking to herself.

Very early the following day, Mama Helen, got her child ready for school, and equally got herself prepared, to fulfill the promise she made to herself - to follow the matter to a logical conclusion. In the school, she registered her disappointment before Helen’s teacher. She poured out venom, and threatened fire and brimstone. The Teacher, maintained her cool, waited and listened until Mama Helen, was through with her ranting. The Teacher, then invited Helen and the following conversation took place:

Teacher: Helen tell your Mommy what you did not do.

Helen: Mommy I didn’t do my Home Work/assignment”.

Mama Helen was taken aback, overwhelmed by surprise. She has never asked her daughter, what it was that she didn’t do.

The second incident was between a Mother and her little child of 3 years, who for the sake of this write up, I have called Rebecca. 

After waking up from sleep one Saturday morning, Rebecca as usual exchanged pleasantries with her parents and other family members. Thereafter, she came to the Mom, and the following transpired between mother and child.

Rebecca: “Mommy, between honey and bees, which one has two legs”?

Mother: My darling, it is bees that have two legs. In case you have forgotten, my little Angel, honey don’t have legs.

Rebecca: “But Mommy, I heard daddy saying, Honey, open your legs”.  

My esteemed reader, what did you make of the two incidents you have just read.They may seem little, but I think they matter a lot.