Would you allow your parents train your children?

Child training, once a non-negotiable subject between couples, has taken a new dimension. Nowadays, couples engage their aged parents with the responsibility of training their children. LifeXtra takes a glimpse at different perspectives and reports.

Mr. Kingsley Okon, 38-year-old graphic artist, said he cannot allow his parents train his children when he is fully able. “My parents have labored to train me through primary and secondary school. Why should I allow them train my own children again? Just as I am battling to train my children today, then imagine after 25 years the same children bring me their children to train, am I a trainer? I would chase my children and grandchildren back to their house. If they want to come for holiday, that is fine but not for training. Every parent should take responsibility for their children and give them the best-advanced training.

Mr. Joseph Babameji, 46-year-old taxi driver, HND holder and a father of three sets of twins, said he would allow his parents train his children. “I have six children. The three times my wife gave birth, they turned out to be a set of twins each. My first set of twins are a boy and girl, the second set are boys, and the third girls. I shared my first set of twins; I gave my mother-in-law my first girl, and my mother my first boy while the others are living with me.”

He added that the best way to appreciate his mother-in-law was to send his first daughter to his wife’s family because they are amazing. “This act makes my wife and I remember home and always remain indebted to taking care of our parents. If none of my children happens to be with them, I will still take care of them, only that it will not be as frequent as when my child lives with them. Another reason why I can allow my parents or in-law train my child is because if my in-law or my parent did not give birth to myself and my wife, how would we have met and gotten married?

“Today, I do not have any regrets about where my first set of twins are. In fact, I am grateful to my parent, in-law, and above all God,” he added.

Blessing Chukwu, an entrepreneur, said “It’s better for me to train my children myself because my parents have already trained me, they have done their own part, so the only thing I would require from my parents is advice. Probably, when handling my children becomes difficult, I can always ask my parents how they did it; so, it is not my parent’s responsibility to take care of my own children.”

Ahmed Yunus, 34-year-old teacher, said allowing his parents train his children is a very good idea. “I would be glad to have my parents train my children. If we look critically today, the level of discipline passed down from our parents to us is different from what our children experience as training today. The standard in child training keeps depreciating by the day.

Gabriel Anigbo, an architect, said it all depends on the type of parent that you have. While some parents are good, other parents are not; while some parents are educated, other parents are not. Before a couple makes such decision of allowing their parent train their children, they have to weigh it on a scale. For example, if your parents are not educated, allowing them train your children would not be the best option because they cannot offer quality guidance academically and when this child grow up with them, you will notice a difference in the child. Personally, I will not allow my parents train my children, but they can go for holiday and return home. But if couples find their parents worthy enough to train their children, then it is in their best interest.