Reflection on my childhood discipline

The training I never appreciated until now...

Good day, good people of Hive! I'm so glad to be here again today.

Growing up, life was tough. I had this mentality that my parents hated me so much, especially my mum. I've even said it to her face sometimes, out of childishness, though 😄. I never knew they were shaping me for the future ahead.

I started assisting my mum in her business at the age of 7. I would hawk buns, oranges, pure water – is there anything I've never sold in this life? I don't think so. When I got to secondary school, the hustle was on another level. My mum would make us miss school on market days, and I was already known for being someone who doesn't come to school on market days. Whenever she traveled, I'd take over the business. She taught me how to make snacks (puff, buns, egg roll, fish pie, etc.) in primary school, and I started frying on my own from JSS3 anytime she traveled. At the time, I didn't see these things as training; I thought she was just maltreating me because I was doing too much at my age.

Everything continued till after my WAEC. My parents always sent us to Asaba after secondary school – once each person was done, you'd join your siblings in Asaba to start working and experiencing life for maybe a year before thinking about university. So, I got to Asaba, and a few weeks later, I started my first job. I was just 16, but you wouldn't know except if I mentioned my age to you, and considering the kind of things I could confidently do...

It's in Asaba that I realized the good things my mum did for me with those training back home. I ended up working for two years, and during that time, I gathered a lot of money. So, I proceeded to write JAMB, wrote the exam, got admitted, and immediately COVID started, and I couldn't resume. I'd already stopped working and stayed home for two weeks doing nothing. I couldn't cope with it anymore because it was as if I was already used to doing something.

I decided to go into the snacks business at the front of our house, using the knowledge I learned from my mum back then. I started selling buns, puff puff, and egg rolls, even zobo drink. I was consistent and made lots of customers; I even got to the stage of supplying to shops and schools.

My mum was so proud of me at that point. I did it for almost a year because of the ASUU strike too. I was so busy during the whole break making money. After the strike, I went back to school, and the money I made from the snacks business was enough to pay my school fees and accommodation. I was able to support my parents at that point because things weren't easy for them.

Currently, I'm in my 4th year in medical school, and I still do other businesses. I cook food, sell snacks, and currently sell gadgets to support myself with school because it's just my mum now

– I lost my dad during my 100 level. I've come to realize that if I wasn't brought up that way, I wouldn't be able to face the circumstances life brought my way. I wouldn't be independent , I don't really have to call home every time for money and yes it's something I'm proud of...

I'm so grateful to my mum and to my late dad .I'm already emotional writing this 🥹. It's well,let me end it here .

Thank you for reading through my story

All the photos are mine