What I Thought Was Punishment Growing Up

When I was younger, there were many things my
parents especially my mum used to force me to do. At that time, I always feel like they are punishing me. I no understand why they always pick me to do those things while others are playing or resting. But now that I don grow up, I dey see am differently. I dey even smile now when I remember some of those things.

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One main thing my mum always make me do was wake up very early every day, even on weekends. Sometimes as early as 5am. She will knock my door and shout my name like five times. If I no answer quick, she go come in and pull my blanket. She go say, "Stand up Lazy girl no dey eat for this house o That time I use to vex well well. I go ask myself, "Why can’t she just let me sleep small like other people

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She always send me to sweep the whole compound and sometimes wash plate or go to the market. I remember one time I was crying because she asked me to grind pepper with hand grinder. That thing no easy at all. My hands pain me well that day and I cried and cried. But she still make me finish it.

I thought all those things was punishment. I felt like she didn't like me. Sometimes I even pray that one day I go leave that house and have peace.

But now I realize say, those things helped me become strong, responsible, and smart. Waking early has now become part of me. Even without alarm, I dey wake up on time. It has helped me keep job and meet up with appointments. And because I sabi cook, clean, and go market, I no dey wait for anybody before I do what I need to do.

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One funny experience I remember be say, one day she sent me to buy ‘Ogbono’ but I no hear well. I went and bought ‘Okro’ instead. When I got home, she laughed and laughed. That was the first day she called me “madam fast ear But she still sent me back to change it. That day I learn say, it’s not just to go errand, but to listen and understand first.

Now, looking back, I just thank God for her training. If to say she pamper me too much that time, maybe I for no get sense now. Sometimes love no dey come with soft things. Sometimes it dey come in form of what we call punishment.

So to anybody wey dey feel like their parents are too hard, just hold on. One day you go understand say them dey help you. It may not make sense now, but one day you go smile and thank them just like me.