Motherhood: Breaking Generational Cycles: Raising Children Differently (1)

Hello Great Mothers!

The Onus of parenting lies more with the mother than the father. This is because mothers, because of our responsibilities in the home, we are always with our children. And so much is expected from mothers when it comes to parenting.

There is a Nigerian Adage that says; ‘’The good child is for the father, while the bad one is for the mother’’.

Meaning: When a child turns out good, he or she becomes the father’s best, and the father sings his/her praise, but the mother is rebuked for the child who turns out bad.

Therefore every mother aspires to nurture their children better than they experienced. But sometimes, unintentionally, we find ourselves training our children the same way we were trained.

You will agree with me that there are some modes of training that our parents used in the 80s and 90s, that work, but will not achieve the good results now as they did in our days. It will cause more damage to the child’s upbringing.

Hence, there is a need for us to be more creative in our parenting styles, adopting the ones that are still relevant to this present generation and dropping the ones that could cause more damage to their mental health and their relationship with us.

Also Read: The impacts of social media on motherhood.

For instance, in many households, past generations relied on strict discipline. This often involves physical punishment or verbal shaming to enforce obedience. While discipline is essential for teaching responsibility and respect, research has shown that harsh punishment can lead to fear, low self-esteem, and emotional withdrawal rather than genuine learning.

Children raised with this parenting style may struggle with anxiety, poor decision-making skills, or difficulty in expressing their emotions.

We will explore generational parenting styles that negatively impact our children today.
Note: Motherhood is more than an obligation—it’s a legacy of love, strength, and purpose that lasts beyond a lifetime

Bye!