SHAPING CHILDREN’S DISCIPLINE ENSURES CONTINUED LEGACY

Kealeboga Ngwigwa | Tuesday June 30, 2026 13:19

This literally means that we play a pivotal role in shaping and honing their character so they may become people of substance and worth in the future. I wonder whether we are aware of this note, or if we are just parenting without heeding this inspiration. In our generation, I have come to terms with the fact that we love our children so much that we refrain from instilling proper discipline in them. This is often triggered by the backdrop that we do not want them to live the type of lifestyle we have led. Yes, our parents were too strict on us, and whenever we went astray, they would clobber us so that we got back into the composure and posture that they desired and wanted. They did it so that whenever we go and expose ourselves to the world, their name would be praised through the characters we shall display. Our attitudes and behaviours reflect our upbringing. If a child misbehaved, an older person would ask, 'Whose child is this?' When you meet yet another parent, they would ask about your genealogy so that they could easily trace the character of where you originated.

Some would go so far as to disapprove of marriage alliances with certain families because they are not fond of how they nurture and raise their children. All this is very key even in this day and age. We may not know each other as deeply as older people used to, but social media exposes us in ways we cannot comprehend. Job offers and other opportunities are dependent on learning characters, and what the children or we, parents, possess matters a lot to the attainment of such opportunities. So, it is crucial that we also instil a sense of discipline amongst our children, and that cannot be achieved only by beating them with canes or belts, as our parents used to. Meek words lash one more than a stick or whatever could. The Jews are very rooted in this principle. Unlike us, the black people invite their children into their businesses as young as they may be, while we chase them away to go play. The Jews kids grow up knowing the ways of running a business because they are taught all of that at a tender age, and when they reach a certain age, they are financed to operate their own.

This gives them a sense of responsibility and independence. Right now, in Botswana, we have people, graduates, who are forty (40) and above, and they are unemployed and still dependent on their parents. During a season of retail stores dubbed Lucky Seven, our parents never included us in such business arrangements to gain any knowledge of their operations. When the schools closed, they sent us to the cattle posts or farms because they believed that the business was not for the kids. Even on the farms, they did not have the audacity to explain to us why they made such investments and what the benefits were. This is why we, the children, always felt that we were under oppression by being sent there. I still believe that we can do better if we truly believe that our children are the future.

Why create a legacy that would only survive during your life tenure? Don’t you want it to span over the next 100 years? Currently, Colonel Sanders is late, but the people who are running his brainchild business; Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) have never met him in person. If you teach your children the ropes and loops of your system, making it more interesting for them to be part of, and nurturing how they behave towards the environment, you are certain that your legacy shall thrive beyond what you could have imagined. Kealeboga Ronald Ngwigwa is an Author, Columnist, Trainer, Radio Feature Presenter, Motivational Speaker, and an Entrepreneur. He believes that beauty awaits to be born in anyone, despite our shortfalls. Call him on +26771830584 +26772522213 to enquire about his services, or email: krcoloringsouls@gmail.com