Be Close To Your Children, Experts Advise Parents

Over 24 public secondary schools in Ikeja Loca Government Area were represented recently at the second edition of the ‘More Than a Just Parenting’ Seminar which was organised by the Rotary Club of Ikeja.

Themed, ‘Role of Parents in Gen Z’, the seminar took place at the Ikeja Senior High School Hall., Ikeja, Lagos and some of the participating schools who had their parents attending the seminar are, Army Cantonment Junior and Senior High Schools, Agidingbi Junior Grammar School, Community Junior High School, Oregun Junior High School.

Others are Opebi Senior Grammar School, Oke Ira Senior High School, Ogba Junior Hugh School, Community Senior High School.

Speaking at the seminar, lead facilitator and Chief Executive Officer of OJ Martins Consulting Limited, Ojo Martins Olatunde and Mrs. Adenike Faronbi who is the Chief Executive Officer of Fadenik Global Ventures advised parents to be closer to their children.

According to Mrs. Faronbi, ‘To be a Real Mom is not about comparison, we are not comparing ourselves nor our children with others, either socially, academically or otherwise. Some parents do this and must stop this attitude.

‘’You must be the best mom for your children in every area. You are to show empathy and acknowledge their feelings, even when they do not enjoy your food, do not fight them or blame their fathers. Ratner, we should talk and engage them in conversations.

‘’You must grow along with your children knowing fully that their physical, emotional and spiritual needs change from one age to another.’’

For his own part, Mr. Olatunde said that, “I am passionate about helping today’s father change the old narrative that a father is the grand commander of family forces to a new narrative that today’s dad is a coach and not His Royal Majesty at home.

“At the beginning of our journey as fathers, when our children are growing up, our goal is survival, meeting daily needs and keeping head above the water. In the short run, it can pay off, but we are not here just because of short run, but for both short and long run.’’