Imagine having a child who’s your carbon copy — not just physically, but mentally. Someone who thinks, acts, feels, and reacts just like you.
As I pondered this thought, I couldn’t help but smile at the idea of having a mini-me. Then it hit me in a flash, having a child who’s a replica of you can be a double-edged sword. Let’s lay the positive parts aside, what about my flaws?
So, yeah! What if your child inherits your flaws? Your temper, insecurities, and bad habits. Reading this, I’m sure you’re aware of those things you won’t want your child mirroring. Even if not all, we’re fully aware of some of our flaws. And the most annoying thing is how there’s always a meme to support our bad attitude. We’d see a meme glorifying bad attitude and rush to post it on our status — Welcome to my generation. Something that’s meant to make us sit and have a rethink of attitude, but no — a glorified pride in “iwa buruku (bad attitude)” it is.
The truth is, our children learn from our actions. And if we don’t deal with it early, we might pass on our emotional baggage and unhealthy coping mechanisms to them. It’s a bitter realization, but it should motivate us to work on ourselves.
We want our children to grow into their own individuals, but we also have a responsibility to shape their values and character.
The fear of passing on our flaws should prompt us to confront our demons and break free from toxic patterns. There’s no one too old to be reshaped. We need to open our eyes to our shortcomings and work on becoming better versions of ourselves.
If we want our children to be better than us, we need to set the example. We need to prioritize our character, relationships, and mental health. We need to show them what it means to be resilient, empathetic, and kind.
So, I ask you: are you willing to do the work? Are you willing to confront your flaws and become a better version of yourself for the sake of your children? Or you just want a partner that’ll accept you with the flaws you’re not willing to work on?
Till I’m back to stir the drink, stay gbam!
