AFRICAN SHORT-STORY: THE ROD OF CORRECTION

It took Mr. and Mrs. Edoja almost 8 years after marriage before they could have their first child, a male child whom the named Okiemute in their local dialect (Urhobo). The name Okiemute when translated to English simply means 'God'sTime' and the name reminds Mr. and Mrs. Edoja of how God removed the reproach of childlessness from their lives in his own time.

Okiemute was given very special treatment by his parents because his birth gave them great joy after such a long time of waiting and they never deprive him from doing or having whatever he wants. He also grew very fast and appears twice as big as his age that most people find it hard believing his parents whenever they told them that he is just 3+ years old.

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Okiemute is a very active child and he loves running and throwing things around. Whenever his parents take him out, he hardly sits on one place like most kids his age do. Even when his parents try to caution him and forcefully make him sit on one place, he always finds a way to resist and whenever he observed that he couldn't have his way, he'll use crying aloud to blackmail his parents until they let him be. He also loves demanding for whatever he sees with other kids and he wouldn't stop disturbing his parents until they get such thing for him. Whenever anyone tries to question Okiemute's behaviour, his parents will always come to his defence with the "he is just a kid" and "he will out grow it soon" lines.

Okiemute went with his parents to a wedding and he was sitting very close to his mum around one of the tables in the wedding reception when his eyes caught a fancy bottle on the table adjacent to the table his mum was sitting. He quickly got up from where he was sitting without his mum noticing and went straight to the table the fancy bottle that got his attention was and grabbed the bottle. One of the guests on the table tried to collect the bottle of wine from him but Okiemute refused to let go. Shouting on top of his voice continuously "no, it's mine!" It was when the guest asked aloud, "who get this pikin? Make e come hold am o!" That Okiemute's mum realized that Okiemute had left where he was sitting and was dragging the bottle of wine with the people on the table adjacent hers.

"Oh my God!" She exclaimed in shock as she rushed down to the table to ask Okiemute to drop the bottle of wine. "Okiemute! What are you doing? Come on, drop it down now!" His mum ordered as she got to the table where Okiemute was dragging the fancy bottle with the guests. "No mum, it's mine! Tell them to leave it" Okiemute replied his mum. "What? Are you out of your mind? Come on, leave it now!" His mum got to him and tried to take the wine from him. But Okiemute refused and started crying aloud. Shouting repeatedly "No! No! No! It's mine, I won't leave it!" His mum is now beginning to feel embarrassed as every attention has started focussing on her and her obstinate child. She dragged the bottle from Okiemute, placed it on the table and started carrying Okiemute outside the hall because his loud cry was disturbing the whole place.

"Is it not cry you want to cry? I will give you cry today " Mama Okiemute repeatedly say to Okiemute as she carried him outside. The moment she took him outside the hall, she searched around and found a stick of a thin cane. She picked it and walked aggressively towards Okiemute. "Hope it's cry you're looking for? You will chop cry belle full today!" She said to him as she started flogging him to keep his mouth shut. Okiemute cried and started pleading, " mummy please, I will not do it again!" He could see that his mother is really angry because she has never used a cane on him before. Mrs. Edoja stopped flogging her son and ordered him to shut up and hold his mouth. "Keep your mouth shut! I say keep your mouth shout now!" She ordered him, raising the cane up as if she wants to give him one more flog. To her surprise, Okiemute quickly obliged, covered his mouth with both of his hands and started to sob heavily.

"So this is what you want en? When somebody will be telling you word small small, you won't listen. From today, should I tell you to stop doing something that is wrong and you refuse, you will see what will happen to you". Mrs. Edoja said to Okiemute, pointing the cane directly at him. while Okiemute just stood there looking scared and continues to plead, "I won't do it again!" She released a big sigh, "hmm.....m!" Stoops down, and started petting Okiemute not to cry again. She brought out her handkerchief and started using it to wipe the tears from Okiemute's eyes and face. "When they tell you to sit on one place next time, sit there until you're told to leave. If you had not acted stubborn, this wouldn't have come on you. Don't try it again next time en!" She said to Okiemute softly as she finished wiping the tears from his eyes and dressed him properly.

"Oya come let's go inside" She said to Okiemute as she picked him up from the ground and started carrying him inside. From that day onward, whenever Mrs. Edoja raises her voice to ask Okiemute to stop any act of misbehaviour, he obliges quickly and behaves himself because he doesn't want to see the other side of his mother and be cautioned with the rod of correction any more.

It's not wrong to discipline our children sometimes because it lets them distinguish behaviours that are acceptable from behaviours that are not. Parenting is not an easy task. It offers each and every one of us the opportunity to raise kids that will be our pride tomorrow. Don't just fold your hands and watch your kids turn into something else that you never planned for. Be a good guide and don't hesitate to use the rod of correction in correcting them sometimes because it teaches them more about life.

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