The Ramblings of A Nigerian Mom

'Brotherhood of the brothers'  Vs  Uber Cute + Cuddly Owl I just saw / read about the sweet little girl who  innocently plans to sell her younger brother for $54 (in exchange for a toy owl) and I couldn't help chuckling to myself.  Little Rachel would 'sell' her brother because she wanted a toy owl and because 'something in him is wrong'. Never mind that she would later go back to the Pet Store after having her fill of the beautifully quiet and trouble-free owl to see if he is still there and possibly buy him back for $1 but just how funny is that and where in the world do these innocent thoughts and words come from? Source This sure made my afternoon and I'm just here, smiling to myself while wondering what poor little Jason would be doing in the Pet Store even though he is bound to have some really cool company in there. See those little guys up there in the first picture? They can fight for Africa...e...

''Sign up for parenting, and you don't get to do any other shift(s) because that's about the only shift available''   D1: Tomorrow is our Open Day...I want mummy to come. Me: No, daddy would attend because I am going to be very busy at work. Hubby: But you know Wednesdays are usually very busy for me because I'd be in clinic throughout. Turning to the boys: Don't worry...mummy would try and come for 'your' open day, okay? Yeeeeeeesssssss...We want mummy to come...we want mummy to come.... Me: Okay, I will try. So much for reluctant commitments...muttering under my breath, mentally rolling my huge eyes as I stroll away from the trio ganging up against me.

Desecration in the holy places. Horror of horrors. A long moment of silence followed as I tried to digest the latest tragedy in far away Charleston, South Carolina.

I wanted to put up a post on children's day which we celebrated here in Nigeria on May 27 but I eventually managed not to....for the very reason I wanted to in the first place. Confused yet? You see, I was cooped up with four energetic bundles of blessing throughout the day and as much as I loved to take them out, I had to think twice and conserve the fuel we had so we could at least go to work the next day. #NotMyFault

  Credit   Dear Daughters (in-waiting), I had waited so long to remove the 'in-waiting' part so I could properly address you as 'daughter'. I can't explain this but you have been on my mind a lot lately. Maybe it is the realization that time is not slowing down as I celebrate the sixth mother's day and these boys of mine are growing way too fast.

Credit   Can you tell this is another #thingskidssay post? I am seriously beginning to think differently about this motherhood thing .   I see myriads of r a i n b o w y beauty already in the nurturing process. A lot more ahah moments are sneaking in on us as we trudge on, on this journey. So we were gawking at the big screen, the whole 4-makes-a-family-all-of-us and flipping across the screen were the images of some big men chasing one small, round leather contraption, as usual. Not that I had anything against full grown men chasing one teeny-tiny black/white leather ball, fighting for control but my boy sure had something to say which intrigued me. D1: ''Mummy, why are they even fighting for the ball? Is it not better to be steady on the ball than fighting for it?'' Dunno how you can be steady on a ball that is not within your control...do you? ''I even think they can win by becoming steady on the ball'' What does this lil man know a...

  Firstly, I sincerely and somberly apologize for bailing on you. *mentally stares down at feet, hands folded behind back* Been more than a month and believe me, it has been crazy but thankfully, we are still standing and breathing. Thanks be to God, again. I love you guys, especially those who have been concerned, those who reached out to find out what was happening and those who have been goading and prodding me, ever so gently. You know yourselves and I am ever so grateful for your friendship which transcends this virtual divide.

Source My 6yr old little man, D1 now wants to be a Doctor, a Chef and a Teacher. Together. D2 is now 4yrs and still wants to be a Doctor . You ever seen anyone with combined honors a la career before? Maybe it's going to start with my boy, D1. Don't. Dare. Laugh. Yet. Remember this post where he wanted to be a Doctor, an Engineer and a Pastor? Now the tides have apparently turned and the Pastor option has been eliminated in less than a year and the Chef option introduced into the equation.  

I hate to think my boys are the only kids that ask cringe-worthy questions, and in public places too. You know questions that make you feel like O.M.G...not so loud...and not here!

  Source   D1: ''Mummy, your tummy is super-big. There is a baby inside...'' Arghhh...not again!

So the kids and I were on our way back home from dropping off some ordered items on Saturday morning when we stopped at a traffic light. Y'all know elections are round the corner here in Nigeria, so expectedly there are different pictures of different suave looking gentlemen flung in our faces regardless of our political orientation.

   Certificates 1 and 2.. Hello Sweethearts,  Apology for the long absence, November has been incredibly busy on this side of the computer.  In a few hours, we'd be in December...ain't we all blessed and lucky to still be here? #thankful

So my 5yr old is torn between being an engineer and a medical doctor+pastor....the 'Doctoring' + 'pastoring' must go together (in his mind)... Why? Engineers fix things, doctors fix people, save people and 'heal the world' while pastors are always smartly dressed in their suits. He associates pastors with 3pc suits, he loves suits and has also come to associate wearing them with very serious occasions.

Source It was a wet evening on a narrow in-street road. There were houses on the left and more houses on the right hand side. A huge Lawma waste truck was occupying a large chunk of the narrow road to the right. An elderly woman sat behind a tray of ripe plantain just by the drainage on the left side, watching the cars wobbling along on the uneven road filled with random potholes and pockets of puddles.

Yes, my little one -D2 had a dream. (Will get round to sharing big bro's many dreams anytime soon). But you know there are dreams, and there are dreams. I'm talking here about the dream that comes from snuggling in a comfy bed and drifting off into wonder land, you know. So my mighty 3yr old boy has been dreaming much of late. And his latest dream consists basically of one activity. Football. You guessed right...he apparently extends his playtime into wonderland.

  Source   I grew up in an age and environment where children were allowed to be children and adults allowed to be adults. Seriously. It wasn't the stone age but in my house, our dresses and skirts were always knee length and pants had enough room. No skinny-show-me-your-figure kind of stuffs. God help you if you refuse to put on what was picked for you to wear to outings / events / occasions. Never had the 'opportunity' to wear make up until I gained admission into the tertiary institution.

  Totally unrelated to superheroes but it's what we're watching as I type this So we love Spiderman...Superman...Hulk as much as we love Old Trafford. It's official. Because I belong to an all-boys clan and if you can't beat them.... *sigh*...

As I wipe my brow and plonk down ruminating The many ways to accomplish the many tasks ahead The door flew open and in waltzed a stranger panting A very familiar pretty young face to behold Have we by any chance met somewhere? The lines of her face much resembled mine Her nose, cheekbones and the turn of the mouth Much like mine though her garbs speak of another clime Her physique quite like mine turned south Now I am sure I've met her before. She sits uninvited opposite me,  This familiar stranger regarding me with accusing eyes As she silently sends her queries to my mind so dim And for a brief moment, we are united albeit still shy Our bodies are two, yet become one in mind She asks, what had become of the lofty dreams? The fantasies we wove together in glee? Contemplating as I gaze upwards at the bright beams What does this stranger want from me now I am free? Many questions dancing on the tips of her lips She continues, what had become ...

ALL HAIL THE CLASS CAPTAIN Him: Mummy, I am the class captain .  He proudly announced as he wheeled his bag out of the class, his lil brother following close on his heels. Me: Oh my, I'm so very happy . *hugs in the school reception hall*. More hugs. Hi10. My lil man now wears the cap of leadership over his 14 subjects, just like uncle Jona wears his inside Aso Rock.

  Source   This vital subject would definitely come up at least once in every new parent's mind, especially working mums. I mean the 3 months maternity leave (obtainable in Nigeria) flies by so very fast, faster than Bolts.