Disrespecting Parents
I’m cracking my fingers in all eagerness to start typing. Lol. Okay, as many of you know, I’m from Nigeria. When it comes to disrespecting parents, I can’t divorce it from my Nigerian heritage. Sit back and relax while I take you on this journey.
As with most African cultures (please note Africa is not a country), respect is a huge deal. You’re taught to respect your elder siblings and literally everyone older than you. Some tribes even enforce the use of prefixes such as ‘sis…’ or ‘bro’. When it comes to parents, they ALWAYS know how to hit your reset button when you get disrespectful. 😂😂
Growing up, when a visitor comes around and is served snacks, you dare not lust after it! My mom would just give you ‘the look’ from across the room that would speak a thousand words. That’s the same look my dad gave from across the altar if he noticed me chit chatting in church.
Beyond the look, Nigerian parents, and by extension, African parents didn’t hesitate to use the rod in enforcing discipline and respect.
Sometimes, I watch Hollywood movies and see how liberal families are.. Almost like teenagers can’t be controlled. Not in our case! They’d smack the puberty hormones outta you. 😂
You dare not disrespect your African parent (again, Africa is not a country). As long as your parents are alive, you’re still gonna be a kid in their eyes- even if you’ve got kids of your own.
The beginning of wisdom is learning how to greet your parents whenever you see them. This training will be useful when you meet other older people like teachers or senior colleagues. It will amaze you to note that disrespect shown in not greeting an older person can cause serious repercussions.
Likewise respect as a whole. We’ll always have to accord mutual respect to our colleagues and mates. Hence, the entire drilling on how to be respectful is never a waste.
You may not have had strict parents as most African parents tend to be, but disrespecting parents and others in general is wrong and should be corrected.
When it comes to disrespecting parents, let’s be reminded that what goes around comes around and what we sow is what we’ll reap.
What are your own thoughts on disrespecting parents?
Love,
M.
Dainty M. 
Oh My! All the Pictures in this post cracked me up especially the second one!
I think every Nigerian parent has “the look” and every child understand “the look” and all its different meanings.
Woe betide the child who doesn’t. Your maker is indeed ready to receive you back.
Disrespect of any form is bad.
However, The definition of disrespect will vary from culture to culture.
In my culture, Let’s say your parents have visitors and you just say Hi and stroll pass with out a well drawn out and curtsied greeting that shows you have some home training… Ahyaya.. I pirry you. I so pirry you.
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Haha, you know this! I like how you pointed out the varying nature of disrespect. While in some cultures, using first names is the norm, others can like to kill you for skipping the title before their names 😂😂😂 Also, that strolling pass thing when visitors come…I can imagine! Thanks Tamie for sharing!
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As a child you knew what every stare from your mum meant 😂
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Absolutely! Every stare had a meaning that we didn’t have to be taught to know 😂😂
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I remember making the mistake of asking a relative who was visiting when they would leave. The stare I got😂
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LOL! I know right! It’s like there’s an unwritten law never to ask that question 😂😂 Wait, where are you from, T?
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The beautiful country of Zimbabwe😊
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And that disappointed look they give you when you don’t meet up to expectations in school or not doing chores at home. Dad be like
“Victor, look at your room. See how scattered it is. How old are you?
“I’m 16”.
“Can you imagine. 16? At your age I was 17”.
In my mind I’m like “really dad? I can’t even grow up in peace again?”
God bless them tho.
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OMG! That disappointed look is still something I dread. My mom is def gonna panic when she sees my room 🙈🙈 At your age I was 17….VOG you’ve killed me! 😂😂😂 But that’s so true. You’re not allowed to grow up in peace, haha. At the end of the day we love them still! Thanks for cracking me up with your experience.
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🤣🤣 They always achieved some supernatural feat at your current age. They were never slackers.
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At all o! Lmao
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Ah!
The famous look, are you Nigerian (or African) if you’ve not gotten the look before. 😂
And the greeting part, right now once I know I have greeted someone, without the person saying anything I just apologise and greet then continue talking. But they need to relax a bit, they tend to overreact when not greeted.
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