adminFree life tips From Uncle Charles
Every young person wishes they had a better relationship with their parents.
They wish they were friends and could sit down and talk, discuss their anxieties about school, relationships, ambitions and life in general but this seldom happens.
Even the few youths who proclaim “My mom/dad is my best friend,” still have lines they cannot cross with their parents. Parents usually lose it too fast when it comes to their children and being friends that can discuss everything becomes a fallacy.
Love makes that friendship almost impossible. There is nothing a parent loves more than their child.
Parents may fight, separate or even divorce but nothing will disconnect them from their children.
Their greatest wish is to see their children prosper beyond expectations, be the best, change the world!
Every parent demands the impossible from their children and is often unwilling to accept weaknesses or imperfections in the young children.
Every parent wants their child to be brilliant at school, to be the best in whatever sport or career they choose. They want their child to achieve what they (the parents) couldn’t even dare to dream of. The only problem is children don’t listen to their parents – at least that’s how the parents see it.
As far as the children are concerned, parents give lectures not advice. Parents are also unwilling to have fair discussions where the children can also share their thoughts.
To children, parents are backward beings who are stuck in the old ways and refuse to evolve with the times.
To parents, children are stubborn little beings who think they know everything when they know nothing.
They think the internet is the best and end all wisdom.
These two schools of thought will never find common ground, hence the emergence of this column.
Uncle Charles is at a stage where he understands the curiosities and temptations of youth in a dynamic world. At the same time, as a young parent he knows well the fears and anxieties of parenthood.
He also has many issues that he fails to discuss with his children and has decided to tackle these issues here by being the voice of the parent who is prohibited — by ethics, work, time, emotion and morals – from talking to their child.
Uncle Charles has seen many young people’s success stories and knows what to pluck from their characters to build the next generation’s greats. Young people are motivated by very simple things like becoming a prefect at school or buying a box of pizza or a pair of jeans.
The interesting thing is the lessons they have to learn to achieve this can mould them into bigger achievements that can not only earn them a living but also make them living legends.
That kid who wants to be a prefect for example must master simple acts of kindness that can teach teachers and school heads that they can serve others as leaders.
The good thing is nothing costs money and opportunities to be leaders in school are the same for every pupil. To become a prefect you must come to school on time everyday, you must greet every adult you meet with respect, you must pick that little piece of litter in your way even when no one is watching, you must wear your uniform the right way and keep it neat, you must enjoy helping others.
All the aforementioned are easy free characteristics that will certainly make whoever follows them a prefect in school.
But even more than that, pupils that learn to live their lives like that are likely to be leaders wherever they go in future because these are the same attributes that make one a manager, CEO or president.
Real leaders are humble people who respect even those below them.
The best head prefects are humble and smile even to the newest, smallest pupil in school just like the best presidents should be nice to street urchins.
School is where everything is learnt and where characters are built.
The greatest heroes in life did not learn their crafts as adults.
They owe everything they are to how they applied themselves as children.
Usain Bolt did not decide to be a sprinter at 19.
He was running since he realised he could walk.
So if you follow that example in whatever you seek to be, you’re certain to be a success.
Always remember, it’s the little things that count. – [email protected]
Online Reporter