Hello people, I used to be here a lot and this blog served its purpose. When I needed a listening ear or an avenue to vent, I would come here. If i was bored, it provided an opportunity to do something tangible.
On/through this blog, I met a lot of wonderful people, I made friends who have stayed with me through the years and have now become like my own sisters. People who were there with me when I had very dark days/times. It was worthwhile.
Then life got busy, first I lost the zeal to write when after I got pregnant with my first child. I had thought I would be overjoyed to share the journey but I only wanted to be in my own world where I was basking in the joy of eventually being on the way to becoming a mother. Then I started a new venture; Kiddies Treasures whichkept me quite busy.
When my son turned 1, I got pregnant again and it was a miracle and a shock. I wasn't expecting it and my life took a different turn (for good). Initially, I was upset, not minding where I was coming from but a lot of people especially my darling husband put things in perspective for me. When I look back, I'm so grateful our little princess came along then. She is such a delight. I digress.
Then we had to make a major move from A Abuja to Lagos. It took a while to settle in, especially with two children under 3 years. Then the idea came to my husband and I to set up an online store for my business. We started on it and we eventually launched out last year.
Being consumed with all these things, being a good wife and mum, launching an online portal and generally being an entrepreneur definitely put blogging on the back burner for me.
It's taken a long time but I know where my passion lies and where I am able to add value so instead of coming here to ramble or gist, I would like to blog meaningfully. I have learnt a lot about infertility, fertility treatment options, managing the waiting period, getting pregnant and having a baby in one's arms up to the poi the of caring for little children and I believe I do add value when conversations come up. I want to write about these things and also give mums the options to conveniently shop for their babies/toddlers. We will talk about products too...After all that is what I do. Today, I asked my son what I do and he said 'you sell baby things'. That definitely made me smile and I gave him a high five.
I won't be blogging here (so often) anymore but you can find me here. Make sure you stop by. We have a post up already and will be looking forward to your readership and participation .
May I also add that we have a giveaway for the first three readers to leave a comment. Look forward to updates from us as often as we can get a post up.
Thank you for reading and for remembering to come back to this blog that has gathered cobwebs over the years. God bless you.
Saturday, June 27, 2015
Tuesday, November 04, 2014
On Being an Entrepreneur...In Case You're Looking For Me
Just in case you've missed me here and you are looking for me, I am well and alive, so are my husband and children.
A lot is happening in my life and they are all good things. I am growing, I am evolving and I am becoming more of the woman God intended for me to be. I can say, I am fulfilling purpose. There is a lot more to come and I am definitely looking forward to it.
My little girl will be 2 in a week's time, time does fly! I'm planning a fun day for her and I do hope she has a lot of fun. She's a very smart 2 year old even if I say so myself :) so I am sure she will enjoy the day.
My business has taken off the ground and is growing steadily and so in case you are looking for me, I am always here. That's my fourth baby after my husband and children. I love babies, i love toddlers and it just makes sense that I do a business around them. I also love being an entrepreneur, so many challenges daily but it has been a good ride. I wake up everyday energised, knowing there are hurdles to cross. Oh and juggling it with the home front, that has to take some wisdom especially since I work from home. I like being able to be there for my children, doing school runs and generally working my schedule around them.
That is not the purpose of this post though, I mean talking about how I balance my work life and home front, some day I might talk about that. Recently I got interviewed by Uzezi on being an entrepreneur. You can find the post here. So if you never knew what I look like, now you know.
So check out my online store. Recommend Kiddies Treasures to someone who is pregnant, someone who has a baby or toddler, buy gifts for your nephews, nieces, friend's babies, every child in your life etc etc. Spread the love.
Thanks for reading, hopefully I will be back soon again with my randomness...
A lot is happening in my life and they are all good things. I am growing, I am evolving and I am becoming more of the woman God intended for me to be. I can say, I am fulfilling purpose. There is a lot more to come and I am definitely looking forward to it.
My little girl will be 2 in a week's time, time does fly! I'm planning a fun day for her and I do hope she has a lot of fun. She's a very smart 2 year old even if I say so myself :) so I am sure she will enjoy the day.
My business has taken off the ground and is growing steadily and so in case you are looking for me, I am always here. That's my fourth baby after my husband and children. I love babies, i love toddlers and it just makes sense that I do a business around them. I also love being an entrepreneur, so many challenges daily but it has been a good ride. I wake up everyday energised, knowing there are hurdles to cross. Oh and juggling it with the home front, that has to take some wisdom especially since I work from home. I like being able to be there for my children, doing school runs and generally working my schedule around them.
That is not the purpose of this post though, I mean talking about how I balance my work life and home front, some day I might talk about that. Recently I got interviewed by Uzezi on being an entrepreneur. You can find the post here. So if you never knew what I look like, now you know.
So check out my online store. Recommend Kiddies Treasures to someone who is pregnant, someone who has a baby or toddler, buy gifts for your nephews, nieces, friend's babies, every child in your life etc etc. Spread the love.
Thanks for reading, hopefully I will be back soon again with my randomness...
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
Imagine....
Imagine if I actually came back here....
Imagine I had posts to write and I revived this blog..
What would I write?
What would be my new writing focus?
I'm not as random anymore.
Imagine that I came back...
What would I write?
Any thoughts?
Imagine I had posts to write and I revived this blog..
What would I write?
What would be my new writing focus?
I'm not as random anymore.
Imagine that I came back...
What would I write?
Any thoughts?
Sunday, December 09, 2012
Blessed Not Once But Twice
At 9 am on 10/11/12, we welcomed our beautiful daughter into the world and I'm just so awed by how God could make me bring such a jewel into the world. I've been blessed not once but twice; privileged to be a part of God's creative process. I don't take the honour lightly.
I don't take being blessed with kids lightly. I was that lady who really wanted kids but for some unexplained reason was finding it difficult. The road to having mr king was long and eventful and when we eventually got pregnant with him, we were extremely relieved and grateful.
When in March this year I found out we were expecting again, I was in shock. I had been content with being mum to one gorgeous boy and finally life could move on. We now had our much desired boy and he was just enough for me. I couldn't believe it, we weren't actively planning for another baby just yet. I was in awe. Eventually I wrapped my head around it and all I could say was God is awesome, He's bigger and mightier than what we can think. He's a miracle working God and I believe in miracles, they happen to me! A friend told me God told her he was making my life a sign. I totally agree.
I had a very uneventful pregnancy, I desired a vaginal birth although my son was born via an emergency Caesarean section. We got it. She was born perfect at 40 weeks and 5 days. It was quite a long labour but God showed Himself faithful.
Today, the eve of my 6th wedding anniversary to my wonderful hubby, I think about how faithful God has been and my heart is full of gratitude. Something we used to tell each other in our waiting period was that 'the first house in a city is not necessarily the most beautiful'. We also used to say 'delay does not mean denial'. Sometimes I wondered if those sayings were right but God's word is always true and faithful.
If you're waiting for something, find a word in the bible, hold on to it, remind God of it and even it takes a long time, God is faithful to perform His word. He's proven himself to me. He's faithful to perform what He says He'll do.
Now we've been married 6 years and we've been blessed with two lovely kids. If I had my first kid when I planned, it would still be the same thing I'd be saying.
I'm just really grateful and I feel very blessed. I'm married to a great guy, a wonderful father to our kids and God chose to bless me even when I didn't expect.
Happy anniversary to us, I'd choose my hubby over and over if I had to do it again. To the man who completes my world, I say: "I loved you yesterday, I love you today and will love you forever my darling husband. Keep being the best that you are".
I don't take being blessed with kids lightly. I was that lady who really wanted kids but for some unexplained reason was finding it difficult. The road to having mr king was long and eventful and when we eventually got pregnant with him, we were extremely relieved and grateful.
When in March this year I found out we were expecting again, I was in shock. I had been content with being mum to one gorgeous boy and finally life could move on. We now had our much desired boy and he was just enough for me. I couldn't believe it, we weren't actively planning for another baby just yet. I was in awe. Eventually I wrapped my head around it and all I could say was God is awesome, He's bigger and mightier than what we can think. He's a miracle working God and I believe in miracles, they happen to me! A friend told me God told her he was making my life a sign. I totally agree.
I had a very uneventful pregnancy, I desired a vaginal birth although my son was born via an emergency Caesarean section. We got it. She was born perfect at 40 weeks and 5 days. It was quite a long labour but God showed Himself faithful.
Today, the eve of my 6th wedding anniversary to my wonderful hubby, I think about how faithful God has been and my heart is full of gratitude. Something we used to tell each other in our waiting period was that 'the first house in a city is not necessarily the most beautiful'. We also used to say 'delay does not mean denial'. Sometimes I wondered if those sayings were right but God's word is always true and faithful.
If you're waiting for something, find a word in the bible, hold on to it, remind God of it and even it takes a long time, God is faithful to perform His word. He's proven himself to me. He's faithful to perform what He says He'll do.
Now we've been married 6 years and we've been blessed with two lovely kids. If I had my first kid when I planned, it would still be the same thing I'd be saying.
I'm just really grateful and I feel very blessed. I'm married to a great guy, a wonderful father to our kids and God chose to bless me even when I didn't expect.
Happy anniversary to us, I'd choose my hubby over and over if I had to do it again. To the man who completes my world, I say: "I loved you yesterday, I love you today and will love you forever my darling husband. Keep being the best that you are".
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
On Friends and Friendships
Hello blogville (is it still called that or am I stale?lol) Lately I've been thinking about and assessing my friendships. I saw a quote somewhere that said 'friendship is not about who you've known the longest, it's about who came and never left your side'. I pondered this saying for several days and decided that it's mostly true.
I used to believe in the concept of one best friend. I'm very sentimental and emotional and when I call someone my friend, I invest a lot in the friendship emotionally. Unfortunately there are times when it seems my efforts or 'feelings' (almost sounds like I'm talking about the opposite sex) are not returned accordingly. I have come to realise it's not that these people don't like me, it's just that they see our friendship in a different light.
The bible talks about a friend who sticks closer than a brother. I reckon these are the friends who stay when you need them or the ones you can call on when you need them and you know they'll answer. They are those friends who you're not afraid to tell your innermost fears or secrets because you know they won't judge you. When you need counsel, they'll be there with the right one and when they don't have any counsel, they still listen to your ramblings, when you need a knock on the head, they can give you without being afraid. When you've done well, they're also there to rejoice with you. They can tell you the truth without blinking.
I have come to the position that not everyone is going to have that one best friend who is there through the years and knows all about you. If we do look closely though, we might be able to come up with a number of close friends who meet different needs in our lives and vice versa. If that's what we can get, then it's worth investing in the different relationships and keeping them going. Sometimes when I watch movies and see how some people have that one very close friend who is like family and knows everything about them like Oprah and Gail, I wonder what it would really be like to have that and then I realise those kind of relationships might exist but again might not be for everyone. They might also be easier to cultivate when people don't move away. These days though, it might be harder to cultivate such friendships with how much mobility we all have.
Over the years, I've watched how my mum has kept some friends. They might not see each other often but they're the same people she calls when she needs people to rally around her. They're there for her birthdays, her kids' weddings, same friends. What stands out is she didn't even meet some of these people till she was in her 30s but they have remained friends for about 30 years. They've watched each other give birth to their children, celebrated milestones together, sadly stood by some when they lost their husbands, now they're celebrating grandchildren together and many other things. My hubby and I then came to a conclusion that we haven't necessarily forged all our close friendships yet and that one could make the mistake of thinking one's life has already been lived when it's just starting actually. I'm keeping my mind open and seeing which of my present friendships or even new ones will make it into the future. I definitely want to have people to call on when I need them in the future.
In the past few years, I've met some amazing people who have been there for me in my dark times and in my good times. I want to take them with me to the future and I'm open to what God brings my way in terms of friendships. Sometimes it's as though I'm quite alone in this city where I live. I haven't lived here long enough anyway.
I'd like to hear your thoughts on friendships and learn a thing or two :)
I used to believe in the concept of one best friend. I'm very sentimental and emotional and when I call someone my friend, I invest a lot in the friendship emotionally. Unfortunately there are times when it seems my efforts or 'feelings' (almost sounds like I'm talking about the opposite sex) are not returned accordingly. I have come to realise it's not that these people don't like me, it's just that they see our friendship in a different light.
The bible talks about a friend who sticks closer than a brother. I reckon these are the friends who stay when you need them or the ones you can call on when you need them and you know they'll answer. They are those friends who you're not afraid to tell your innermost fears or secrets because you know they won't judge you. When you need counsel, they'll be there with the right one and when they don't have any counsel, they still listen to your ramblings, when you need a knock on the head, they can give you without being afraid. When you've done well, they're also there to rejoice with you. They can tell you the truth without blinking.
I have come to the position that not everyone is going to have that one best friend who is there through the years and knows all about you. If we do look closely though, we might be able to come up with a number of close friends who meet different needs in our lives and vice versa. If that's what we can get, then it's worth investing in the different relationships and keeping them going. Sometimes when I watch movies and see how some people have that one very close friend who is like family and knows everything about them like Oprah and Gail, I wonder what it would really be like to have that and then I realise those kind of relationships might exist but again might not be for everyone. They might also be easier to cultivate when people don't move away. These days though, it might be harder to cultivate such friendships with how much mobility we all have.
Over the years, I've watched how my mum has kept some friends. They might not see each other often but they're the same people she calls when she needs people to rally around her. They're there for her birthdays, her kids' weddings, same friends. What stands out is she didn't even meet some of these people till she was in her 30s but they have remained friends for about 30 years. They've watched each other give birth to their children, celebrated milestones together, sadly stood by some when they lost their husbands, now they're celebrating grandchildren together and many other things. My hubby and I then came to a conclusion that we haven't necessarily forged all our close friendships yet and that one could make the mistake of thinking one's life has already been lived when it's just starting actually. I'm keeping my mind open and seeing which of my present friendships or even new ones will make it into the future. I definitely want to have people to call on when I need them in the future.
In the past few years, I've met some amazing people who have been there for me in my dark times and in my good times. I want to take them with me to the future and I'm open to what God brings my way in terms of friendships. Sometimes it's as though I'm quite alone in this city where I live. I haven't lived here long enough anyway.
I'd like to hear your thoughts on friendships and learn a thing or two :)
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Thankful For My Little Boy and Everything Else
Bless the Lord, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Psalm 103:1-5 (NKJV)
I've neglected blogging, yeah yeah, the busy line. My life is a flurry of activities at the moment. May God help me.
I'm really grateful to God for a lot of reasons, I can't name them all. God has been far too kind so I'm just going to say what my human mind can remember.
I'm so grateful for healing. The past 1 week has been a roller coaster with Mr king being admitted into hospital and all. He had to have a surgery to clear his airways. The surgery took longer than expected, apparently, he didn't breathe for some time. It was the longest 2 hours of my life. God glorified himself and brought our little charming boy back to us. He's back home now and recovering well.
I'm thankful for deliverance, protection and safety for my family. Two weeks, hubby found a half dead scorpion in our dining area at night when I'd taken mr king to bed. Now Mr king is a professional cruiser and crawler and is all over the house, sometimes you find him rolling on the tiles, Next day, there was a small snake just outside where the kids play. God delivered us, I'm totally grateful.
I'm thankful for that special miracle that God gave my husband and I. He's said He will use us as a sign and a wonder and He's being true to His word.
I'm thankful for my darling hubby. He's just completed a programme and he made a distinction. With all he had to combine, the spirit of excellence on him is evident, God is faithful.
I'm thankful for my charming little boy who's such a delight to me. He brings me so much joy with his antics and his recent love for patting my back when he's sleepy :)
I'm thankful for my parents and siblings. God is keeping them alive, protecting the and giving them testimonies.
I'm thankful for what God is doing in my friends' lives and helping them to make impact. Aloted's project superworking mum is really laudable. Rita has a book out that will impact lives, is making waves and will make more. So glad to have cool friends:)
I'm thankful for love, for life, for friendship, for so many things.
Over to you. What are you thankful for?
Ps- I'm blogging from my mobile, so in case the formatting looks odd, please pardon me.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Writefreak Blogs Again; Who Do I say I Am?
Say what? I thought she was gone for good...
Hmmm, I thought so too. For some reason, I've been so engrossed in being a wife, a mom, an entrepreneur, a home maker that blogging hasnt been high on my list of priorities. A few times, I actually came here and then I silently went back out. I didn't know what to write. Yep, Writefreak, didn't know what to write! How ironic! I'm not out of ideas, it's just been tedious putting it together.
Maybe I'm back fully, maybe I'm not, I dont know. But it's my space and I can come as I wish, I think....Thanks to a friend who reminded me on yahoo messenger that I'm a blogger..:)
Loads have happened in the past 6 months for which I'm eternally grateful. Hopefully, gradually, I might get to share. For today, I'm blogging about an idea I got from aloted's.
I'm writing Ten good things about me.
1. I love God and seek His opinion on all the matters of my life, even the minutest details.
2. I'm very dedicated to my family. My hubby takes no 1 priority in my life, then comes my little boy (chairman). My siblings and parents are also always top on my mind. I make sacrifices for them everyday and i'm always willing to do it.
3. I'm a good writer. I get compliments about my writing skills all the time.
4. I am compassionate. I think people find it easy to talk to me about their problems. Hubby jokes all the time about me starting a Dear Aunt Pam column in a magazine.
5. I cook well. Hubby says my food is the best :) Not just him anyway because he'll be a partial judge LOL.
6. I am very neat and organised. I can't function properly in an untidy space. I like everthing spick and span.
7. I am quite amiable. People find me very likeable and i am easy to talk to.
8. I am easygoing and don't fish for trouble. I've never kept malice with anyone, I don't know how to do it.
9. I am entreprenuerial. I always quit my jobs to start something, so I have chosen to be my own boss.
10. I love children. I connect with them easily and people find it easy to leave their kids with me.
Gosh! There are actually so many good things about me, I could go on and on..
I'll stop there for now and leave you with this..I'm totally awesome! *cheeky grin*
Hmmm, I thought so too. For some reason, I've been so engrossed in being a wife, a mom, an entrepreneur, a home maker that blogging hasnt been high on my list of priorities. A few times, I actually came here and then I silently went back out. I didn't know what to write. Yep, Writefreak, didn't know what to write! How ironic! I'm not out of ideas, it's just been tedious putting it together.
Maybe I'm back fully, maybe I'm not, I dont know. But it's my space and I can come as I wish, I think....Thanks to a friend who reminded me on yahoo messenger that I'm a blogger..:)
Loads have happened in the past 6 months for which I'm eternally grateful. Hopefully, gradually, I might get to share. For today, I'm blogging about an idea I got from aloted's.
I'm writing Ten good things about me.
1. I love God and seek His opinion on all the matters of my life, even the minutest details.
2. I'm very dedicated to my family. My hubby takes no 1 priority in my life, then comes my little boy (chairman). My siblings and parents are also always top on my mind. I make sacrifices for them everyday and i'm always willing to do it.
3. I'm a good writer. I get compliments about my writing skills all the time.
4. I am compassionate. I think people find it easy to talk to me about their problems. Hubby jokes all the time about me starting a Dear Aunt Pam column in a magazine.
5. I cook well. Hubby says my food is the best :) Not just him anyway because he'll be a partial judge LOL.
6. I am very neat and organised. I can't function properly in an untidy space. I like everthing spick and span.
7. I am quite amiable. People find me very likeable and i am easy to talk to.
8. I am easygoing and don't fish for trouble. I've never kept malice with anyone, I don't know how to do it.
9. I am entreprenuerial. I always quit my jobs to start something, so I have chosen to be my own boss.
10. I love children. I connect with them easily and people find it easy to leave their kids with me.
Gosh! There are actually so many good things about me, I could go on and on..
I'll stop there for now and leave you with this..I'm totally awesome! *cheeky grin*
Wednesday, March 09, 2011
Writefreak Plus One
Writefreak returns o! Well, she didnt really go away. She was just quiet...very! So I return and I'm not alone. My husband and I welcomed our little man on the 5th of February. Yes, God blessed us with a little charmer...our son.
We feel so blessed to have been chosen by God to become his parents. Everytime I look at him, he reminds me of the faithfulness and awesomeness of Jehovah Elshadai.
I'm grateful to know the joy(s) of being pregnant and eventually giving birth. It can only be God!
This is a short post, my attention is needed but I have to say this to someone. God never forgets us, He will never deny us and if there's something you're trusting Him for, hang in there, hold on to Him, stay in Him and in His word. He'll come through for you. He did for us.
God bless you all. Have to go. The king calls! :)
We feel so blessed to have been chosen by God to become his parents. Everytime I look at him, he reminds me of the faithfulness and awesomeness of Jehovah Elshadai.
I'm grateful to know the joy(s) of being pregnant and eventually giving birth. It can only be God!
This is a short post, my attention is needed but I have to say this to someone. God never forgets us, He will never deny us and if there's something you're trusting Him for, hang in there, hold on to Him, stay in Him and in His word. He'll come through for you. He did for us.
God bless you all. Have to go. The king calls! :)
Thursday, November 04, 2010
Thankful
My BBM status all of yesterday was 'Lord I know you are faithful, even when life seems so unfair'. My hubby joked that it was sounding like the kind of things people write to each other in a polygamous home and i told him not to worry, everyone know he only has one wife and he is faithful to her. He was kidding but i was serious about the status. A lot of times, we feel we haven't gotten what we deserve, or maybe people close to us but the bible makes me realise that God is ever faithful and He does no wickedness. Every good and perfect gift is from the father of light.
I know the God I serve, a faithful one and I'm thankful for the so many ways He is showing His faithfulness in my life and that of those close to me. I am thankful for the following reasons.
I can call God my father without a shadow of doubt, I can call Him my friend. I have access to the throne of grace anytime and everytime of the day. I am awed at this fact that God calls me His own and I am just thankful that I have a personal walk with Him.
I have a loving and faithful husband who never gives me a cause to doubt his love for me. We can talk about anything and everything without fear of being judged.I don't take this for granted. We share a beautiful relationship and it's not just because we know how to, it's because we have Christ at the centre of it all. Thank you Lord.
I'm thankful for the ability to be able to call on friends to pray and know that they will. It's awesome when you know there are people all around who cover you in prayer and that when you call on them, they will answer.
I've been in good health. My family and I are well. This is something I think I might have taken for granted but events in the past few days have made me realise that health is nothing to be taken for granted. Dear Lord, I am grateful!
It's awesome when you know you can minister to and inspire someone. I had one of such opportunities again yesterday and I'm thankful that God used me to turn a heart that was going astray back to Himself. He has given me the tongue of the learned that I may know how to speak a word in season to those who are weary!
A friend has been in hospital and although it seems she might have lost something, all is not totally lost. What the enemy meant for evil is turning out to not be a total loss. For this I'm extremely grateful.
Lastly, The Soulsistas are back! Aloted and I took an extended break from our blog but we're back now and for good this time I believe. I'm thankful that both our lives are wholesome enough for us to know we have things to say to our generation!
I could go on and on, God has been faithful to me. What are you thankful for?
Ps: We have a post up on the soulsistas blog, please check it out and don't hesitate to leave your comments.
Much love peeps!
I know the God I serve, a faithful one and I'm thankful for the so many ways He is showing His faithfulness in my life and that of those close to me. I am thankful for the following reasons.
I can call God my father without a shadow of doubt, I can call Him my friend. I have access to the throne of grace anytime and everytime of the day. I am awed at this fact that God calls me His own and I am just thankful that I have a personal walk with Him.
I have a loving and faithful husband who never gives me a cause to doubt his love for me. We can talk about anything and everything without fear of being judged.I don't take this for granted. We share a beautiful relationship and it's not just because we know how to, it's because we have Christ at the centre of it all. Thank you Lord.
I'm thankful for the ability to be able to call on friends to pray and know that they will. It's awesome when you know there are people all around who cover you in prayer and that when you call on them, they will answer.
I've been in good health. My family and I are well. This is something I think I might have taken for granted but events in the past few days have made me realise that health is nothing to be taken for granted. Dear Lord, I am grateful!
It's awesome when you know you can minister to and inspire someone. I had one of such opportunities again yesterday and I'm thankful that God used me to turn a heart that was going astray back to Himself. He has given me the tongue of the learned that I may know how to speak a word in season to those who are weary!
A friend has been in hospital and although it seems she might have lost something, all is not totally lost. What the enemy meant for evil is turning out to not be a total loss. For this I'm extremely grateful.
Lastly, The Soulsistas are back! Aloted and I took an extended break from our blog but we're back now and for good this time I believe. I'm thankful that both our lives are wholesome enough for us to know we have things to say to our generation!
I could go on and on, God has been faithful to me. What are you thankful for?
Ps: We have a post up on the soulsistas blog, please check it out and don't hesitate to leave your comments.
Much love peeps!
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Are we really free or Neo-colonised?
It's Wednesday, and I'm so thankful for God's grace and mercy. There are so many amazing miracles around me that I can't count.
But it's not really a thankful post. I'm bothered about something and I need to let it out. Aloted wrote a post recently and although I didn't comment on it, I was saying hear hear!
I know a lot of us would rather lose our green passport if we carry any and pick up a blue or red one for life. We hate this country. Does anything even work here? And for some of those who live abroad, when I hear comments they make about Nigeria, it makes me want to cry. There's nothing wrong with living abroad or anywhere but there's something wrong when you see no good in your own roots or your own culture.
Trust me, I know a lot is wrong with this country that should be fixed. We have a million and one challenges. Governance, leadership, etc etc..but it's not all gloom and doom. I watched a show yesterday and all the expatriates that were interviewed had one word in common about being here- opportunities. I kept listening for that word, which sadly a lot of my country men and women don't see.
This is actually not a post about patriotism either. I'd like you to be patriotic though. Your country is your country and even if you do carry another passport, your roots are here. Neo-colonialism is a word I'm sure a number of us are familiar with and I'm seeing a trend that is just making me so sad.
I have been guilty of it too. On Independence day, I asked hubby why the president couldn't have worn a suit and he wisely asked me why he should. Should he wear a suit so he can look colonised? That word got me thinking. But I had my pay back time a few days later (lol). Hubby accused me jokingly of speaking too much Yoruba when we visited a friend. I let him finish and I reminded him of what he told me. I asked him what was wrong with speaking too much Yoruba, not enough colonialism in that, is there? We all laughed.
I speak a lot of Yoruba, I grew up speaking mostly Yoruba to my parents and none of us (my siblings and I) has turned out badly in the English speaking department. Infact, two out of us five have English degrees, and the third person is on his way to bagging one. I speak very good English if I dare say so myself. My mum majored in English for her teaching certificate and she made sure we said English words with the right diction but she taught her children Yoruba. I see it as an advantage, I can hold my own speaking the two languages. Maybe she should have insisted I learnt a third language. I don't write Yoruba too well but I can write it.
On the show yesterday, a black American woman who had lived here for 33 years said she migrated because she wanted her kids to have a culture and a root and she insisted that they spoke only Yoruba in their house while growing up. She said we have a rich culture but we're losing it gradually. I agree and it's extremely sad. I don't do Yoruba traditional worship in case you're wondering lol.
These days I hear of kids who live here in Nigeria but can't eat any real Nigerian food. What in God's name is that? They can't even pronounce their own names correctly! And they think it's 'razz' to speak their native languages. If they can't speak, how can they write??? I'll blame a lot of it on their parents who have given them no sense of pride in their heritage. Some kids won't touch native wear ever, when they can wear jeans.
I saw something on facebook a few days ago and I actually ranted on my profile. Someone wrote 'erekpa lo wah shey'. Is that Yoruba or some foreign language??? I can understand when a non Yoruba peron writes like that but for a Yoruba grown man, it's just totally unacceptable. We should be able to write the basics of our own language. Erekpa is erepa, wah is wa and shey is se. I felt like giving him a lecture...I have seen people write 'jo' as jor. Please it's not an English word, no yoruba word ends with an R.
I bet such blunders might be going on with other Nigerian languages, only I don't know those languages.
I reject every form of colonialism, I am free and I refuse to resell my birthright. I'm proudly African, proudly Nigerian and proudly Yoruba. We should be proud of our rich heritage. I'm afraid the younger generation will meet no culture if we go on this way. God forbid that I let that happen to my children!
But it's not really a thankful post. I'm bothered about something and I need to let it out. Aloted wrote a post recently and although I didn't comment on it, I was saying hear hear!
I know a lot of us would rather lose our green passport if we carry any and pick up a blue or red one for life. We hate this country. Does anything even work here? And for some of those who live abroad, when I hear comments they make about Nigeria, it makes me want to cry. There's nothing wrong with living abroad or anywhere but there's something wrong when you see no good in your own roots or your own culture.
Trust me, I know a lot is wrong with this country that should be fixed. We have a million and one challenges. Governance, leadership, etc etc..but it's not all gloom and doom. I watched a show yesterday and all the expatriates that were interviewed had one word in common about being here- opportunities. I kept listening for that word, which sadly a lot of my country men and women don't see.
This is actually not a post about patriotism either. I'd like you to be patriotic though. Your country is your country and even if you do carry another passport, your roots are here. Neo-colonialism is a word I'm sure a number of us are familiar with and I'm seeing a trend that is just making me so sad.
I have been guilty of it too. On Independence day, I asked hubby why the president couldn't have worn a suit and he wisely asked me why he should. Should he wear a suit so he can look colonised? That word got me thinking. But I had my pay back time a few days later (lol). Hubby accused me jokingly of speaking too much Yoruba when we visited a friend. I let him finish and I reminded him of what he told me. I asked him what was wrong with speaking too much Yoruba, not enough colonialism in that, is there? We all laughed.
I speak a lot of Yoruba, I grew up speaking mostly Yoruba to my parents and none of us (my siblings and I) has turned out badly in the English speaking department. Infact, two out of us five have English degrees, and the third person is on his way to bagging one. I speak very good English if I dare say so myself. My mum majored in English for her teaching certificate and she made sure we said English words with the right diction but she taught her children Yoruba. I see it as an advantage, I can hold my own speaking the two languages. Maybe she should have insisted I learnt a third language. I don't write Yoruba too well but I can write it.
On the show yesterday, a black American woman who had lived here for 33 years said she migrated because she wanted her kids to have a culture and a root and she insisted that they spoke only Yoruba in their house while growing up. She said we have a rich culture but we're losing it gradually. I agree and it's extremely sad. I don't do Yoruba traditional worship in case you're wondering lol.
These days I hear of kids who live here in Nigeria but can't eat any real Nigerian food. What in God's name is that? They can't even pronounce their own names correctly! And they think it's 'razz' to speak their native languages. If they can't speak, how can they write??? I'll blame a lot of it on their parents who have given them no sense of pride in their heritage. Some kids won't touch native wear ever, when they can wear jeans.
I saw something on facebook a few days ago and I actually ranted on my profile. Someone wrote 'erekpa lo wah shey'. Is that Yoruba or some foreign language??? I can understand when a non Yoruba peron writes like that but for a Yoruba grown man, it's just totally unacceptable. We should be able to write the basics of our own language. Erekpa is erepa, wah is wa and shey is se. I felt like giving him a lecture...I have seen people write 'jo' as jor. Please it's not an English word, no yoruba word ends with an R.
I bet such blunders might be going on with other Nigerian languages, only I don't know those languages.
I reject every form of colonialism, I am free and I refuse to resell my birthright. I'm proudly African, proudly Nigerian and proudly Yoruba. We should be proud of our rich heritage. I'm afraid the younger generation will meet no culture if we go on this way. God forbid that I let that happen to my children!
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