I have been a mother since 15th May 1996, when my lovely baby girl popped out of my tummy. I know I make it sound so easy but it’s not, I underwent 18 hours of labor. My son was born by cesarean section on 1st December 1999. Two children 13 years down the line I have acquired the status of and title - mother.
My sister Patricia seemed more comfortable in the role of motherhood, she cooks well and being the first born she helped raise all the siblings. To me she just glided through motherhood, from housekeeping, discipline, and nerve control.
My mother always jokes that my daughter cost 10 times more than all the five children she had. Why because I was so scared to leave the hospital. I stayed for over 10 days to learn.
When I got my little girl I did not know what to do. How to carry her, change the diapers, bath her, cook the terrible tasting puree. So off I went to bottled and packaged foods. Did I breast feed? Yes, I breastfed both my kids and enjoyed it tremendously as it made us bond. Breastfeeding brings with it super miraculous moments of touch, sight, sounds, and taste. You see the baby and you know you have arrived, to me giving birth is my greatest achievement yet.
Today my daughter is 13 Years and my son is 9 Years, and I still feel it’s a challenge, especially when one is a working mum and is mentally, emotionally and physically exhausted. The Adopt A Light saga and indeed my political journey were hard for both my children and me. That’s why I have no intentions of running for any Kenya election 2012, it is too big a risk and sacrifice. But I will still work towards my vision for my country.
Back to raising children, now my daughter is a teenager and I tell you they are more of a handful than we ever were. They are vocal, and don’t see anything wrong with voicing their opinions. I can’t stand the arguments. I discipline by trying to make her understand right from wrong and why mum is angry or expects xyz. If talk and go to your room does not work, then it is time out from television and the mobile. The mobile is a big one, facebook or internet in general makes parenting hard. You don’t know how much they get to know before their time. The best is to develop a friendship. Let the children feel free to discuss anything with you and if that doesn’t work set a friend that’s mature on the path. In my case I got my younger sister to be a friend of my daughter and I know that she will always go there for advice. So it isn’t a small leash it’s a surveillance camera.
