My Story: Sorry A Word That Unites.

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Growing up in an African home, there are certain values which are held in high esteem, for instance you cannot talk back at your parents,or act in a way that comes off as you being disrespectful to them,as it is greatly frown upon in the African society.

Indeed such great values have been nothing but helpful as they helped train well behaved children who grow up to be better adults today.

But unfortunately it is not always easy to be obedient at all times as situations like siblings rivary could test your patience and make you act up differently from what is expected of you. Especially if you are in your teenage years,the tend to be alot of hormones flying around.

It was another busy Saturday morning in our house where we the kids are expected to help out with cleaning up the house making sure everything was in place,and make a healthy meal which was important as we were expecting some guests that Saturday.

My mom had to get some groceries which we lacked in the house that morning while she assigned duties to I and my younger sister. I had personal had a very stressful week, and would have just loved to rest that Saturday for a change.

My younger sister was busy sleeping when the task were assigned and i approached her to come join me as we had alot to do that morning,she bluntly refused, turning to face the other side of the bed.

Again i tapped her this time not gently but more aggressively,also taking off her bedsheet as i had had enough of her childish behavior for that week, like it was 8am why are you still in bed ma i asked? She sighed and quickly covered herself again and continued sleeping. So much for enjoying lastborn privileges i said out loud. Upset about the situation i said if you can be in bed by 8am and do nothing,i can rest as well. I decided not to do anything else that morning until she gets up to join me.

Truth is,she behaved like that almost every Saturday, it was either she was sleeping or watching TV and i would just end up doing the work alone,when she knows mom was back she'll quickly come join me so it wouldn't be like she wasn't doing anything and for that day i was so not having it.

My very tired mom came back from the market with the groceries she got hoping to cook the meal and go rest only to realise nothing had been done. Upset she called me out and started scolding me,i tried to explain i didn't do the task assigned because my sister didn't and she said "Are you not supposed to be the mature one?

She went on to say how disappointed she was in me. I was waiting to hear the part where she calls my sister out to scold her but she just focused on scolding me that morning, seeing she hadn't called my sister out as well i burst into my own fury cutting her off and telling her how happy i was that i didn't do the task,and how lenient she was with my sister but not with me,stating how i felt she favored her more. Worse i turned and walked away.

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Nothing touched me more than the moment my mom said "Are we now mates? I'm speaking and you dare walk off ?" Instantly i froze, that wasn't my intention, i was just not happy about the situation but i surely didn't want it to get this heated, remorseful i turned and said sorry but she immediately dismissed me as she was irritated at that moment.

I sat in a coner reflecting on everything that had happened,i felt bad i had to respond to my mom that way,and i managed to take a few things to go hide and prepare because i knew if she saw me when she was angry she probably wouldn't have let me do it.

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Later that afternoon,i approached her again, and said "Mommy I'm sorry please hear me out first". I explained in earnest why i acted the way i did, she listened this time and understood me more,she called my sister out and scolded her as well , cleary stating she didn't favor any of us more,and i should always report such cases to her and not bottle it up so long.

Clearly i learnt my lesson that day, Reflecting on that situation now i'm older, I can't imagine how sore that situation would have turned out if I didn't see my mistake and apologize.

Yes. One of the things my mom later told me when we had a long talk about the situation after everyone had cooled off, was "If you have a problem or concerns you bring it to me, don't keep it bottled up so long,because that is how resentment starts"
Now i see that if i had just told her about my concerns earlier,maybe the outburst may never have happened.

Thank you for reading.
I now invite: @bossj23 @basil20 and @okere-blessing to share their own experience