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Most parents train up their children in their ways, not in the actual way the child should go.
As a parent, you failed at medicine. The next thing, you are training your child to go in the way you desired to go, forgetting that the child is actually an art student, not a a lover of science class. You see how much the child loves music and anything art, but no, it has to be your own way.
Training up a child in a way he should go does not only have to do with moral training, but also pointing him to the possibilities that lie in his interest.
Helping a child to maximize his gifting is one of the major reasons God entrusted that child into your hands, not just to flog and flog and flog.
No doubt parenting is not easy, but we can always do better.
Watch your child. Encourage his passion. Not just fighting with him for not greeting his elders and all those cultural trainings.
As well, engaging your children is one of the best gifts you can give to them. Stop leaving them to be idle.
An idle child tends to be more destructive than an occupied child. When a child is occupied with the things of value he loves doing, there would be little time to spend on idleness. No doubt kids would always be kids, but we can limit their idleness by occupying them. Their future does not start tomorrow, it starts now.
'ohun eye je l'eye gbefo'. Your kids can only fly with the things you instill into them.
If you are not too proud of your child's output, you might want to check your level of input as a parent.
You like the way other kids are involved in extra activities? Enroll your child as well.
Kids that go the extra mile are usually smarter, and more confident.
Your children might not know the extent of the things you do for them now, but trust me, they will thank you for those things later.
Reason for my many epistle?
Most Nigerian parents force their children to go to 'ori oke' and the likes. Looking back, how many of such kids are pastors? They basically do what they have to do to put up with their parents, pending their independence.
Imagine if such parents had trained their kids in their line of passion? Imagine how grateful they would be upon growing up? But no o, _you must do vigil 247 and climb mountain join._ Busy training the 'poor' children in their own way, just because they happen to love religious activities themselves.
Am I saying you should not bring up your children in a religious way? Absolutely not, but know where to stop so they won't end up hating God. It's one reason most pastors' kids end up rebellious.
Introduce your children to God, guide their growth as well. Preferably, let them see Christ in you. When they do, you wouldn't have to force them to love God. A Godly life can make you your children's hero, instead of their nightmare. Exemplary leadership never fails.
You have at least 15years to influence your children. In those years, you can either become their hero, or their nightmare.
Maybe one other thing:
Parents, kindly know that the era of 'only book' has passed. You put your child at a disadvantage if all he has is education.
This is a skill era. You can't afford to train that child like you were in a 'certificate era'.
Education is good, but pay equal attention to extracurricular activities. Even Barrack Obama didn't get to the White House through education alone, he got there through community service & social engagements.
God help us all.
