Sometime ago, one of my son’s teachers reported him daily of some disobedient behaviours. He would refuse to remove his hat during prayers (which he used to do), he was reluctant to continue to be a part of the school choir. Although he remained an obedient and amazing kid at home but we observed he had lost his excitement about going to school.

Everytime we asked him why he didn’t do what was required of him at school, he would say “I just don’t want to”. There was no tangible reason, so we would tell him the importance of obeying the school rules and encouraged him to. He would agree to do it but the following day, the teacher would make the same complaint.

I knew this was not normal, I called my son aside one day and told him to tell me everything that was going on in school and why he was suddenly uninterested in complying with the rules and reassured him of my love for him.

To my surprise, he disclosed that he was being bullied at school! We had recently cut his hair about a week prior, it was quite low but this was not new. Apparently, some people at school started calling him some names I wouldn’t mention just because of his new haircut which made him feel less of himself.

Hubby and I spent weeks teaching and encouraging him and helping to restore his self-confidence after disciplinary measures were meted to the kids who were found guilty.

Today, he is confident about who he is and cares less what anyone thinks or says about him. He would even tell us he needs to have a haircut! He is back doing the things he loves doing and is obedient at school.

Why have I shared this story? Spend time with your kids! If we didn’t have time for our kids and they were left in the hands of drivers, maids, uncles and aunties, we probably wouldn’t be aware of the trauma he was going through at school.

When you notice your child’s sudden unpleasant change in behaviour, and you correct without seeing changes, care to know the why behind this new behaviour. Take time to get close if you aren’t, be patient with the child instead of smacking or yelling at the child at those times. Some kids have been bullied, others have been sexually abused by people you trusted and you have no idea!

If we spend close to as much time as we spend on our jobs with our kids, our world would definitely be a better place!

I’m still a learner on this journey called parenting but I hope that someone picks a thing or two from this post!

Please let me know!

Please share to bless lives.