The face of parenting has changed drastically! The strategies of our parents can no longer work for this new generation of children. As parents of this technology-driven and “woke” generation, we need to think out of the box and seek out ways to communicate timeless principles in fun, engaging ways to our children whilst not losing the value. In this article, I share simple tips to help you adjust to the new Era of Parenting.
My name is Morolake. The Chief Playful Strategist at In lush Meadows. I recently became a mom and I was clueless about how to raise my child in a way that honors God ( the Biblical, Christian way) particularly because I am a Nigerian mom abroad.
Life here in Europe is completely different from what I have always known and seen. The system gives room for so much and it got me really thinking! How do I raise my child in a way that he has a rich heritage in God? You would agree with me that this is a tall order given my current location. I was very concerned but the more I did my research, the more I realized it is indeed a herculean task but it is not impossible! I started to read up aggressively and seek out tips, search out communities where I can get tips that can help me to meet the need of the 21st century Christian Parent with the Nigerian sparkle. After a lot of searching, I started this Blog!
The goal of this Blog is – To provide tips, resources, Book Recommendations, Videos amongst other things to help us raise wholesome, well-rounded Children who have a solid foundation in God, Particularly if you are abroad like me.
As I started researching, my first point of call of course was my Mom! I started probing and asking to get tips. You can trust that she shared a lot with me but as much as my mom was sharing powerful tips with me, some of them were no longer relevant for this current world. Not that they weren’t great tips, but applying them the way she shared it will lead to serious trouble here. Apart from this, she grew up in a completely different world. A world without this level of exposure and decadence. The Pandemic of 2020 along with other major events has also changed the world order completely and that includes Parenting.
1. Open up your mind – Isn’t it interesting how the world has changed from how we grew up? Remember when our parents used to say “In my Days” or “when I was growing up“? Well, with the way the world is going, we are going to be saying a lot of this too! I find it quite funny and interesting at the same time but the truth is the world has changed drastically. It is important to accept that we are currently living in a different world. While we want to do things the way we have always done it or the way we have seen our parents do it, we must come to terms with the fact that things are different. Having that open mind, putting ourselves in the shoes of our kids will help us think outside the box and find strategies to break through the barriers and reach our children.
2. The Values are timeless but the application will be different – Yes. The values we want to teach our children transcend time but the approach and even means of communicating with them has to be different. We are going to have to use colorful, engaging resources and videos, Books, Tech apps amongst others to achieve the goal of teaching our children. I am an advocate for letting children be children. Playing, colouring, traveling, using colorful relatable resources amongst others is the new way forward. We can no longer force things down the throat of our children. We must put in the work to get their attention.
3. Knowledge is Power – If you are a new mom like me or generally new to parenting or in a new stage of parenting ( because every stage requires a new set of information), we need to seek out knowledge and information voraciously. We must seek out knowledge and information through Podcasts, Youtube Channels, Books, Messages, etc so we at least know the peculiarities of each stage and then apply ” to taste”.
4. It still takes a Village! – It is important to have a network of other moms you can learn and get tips from time to time. You’ll be shocked to find out that you are not alone on this journey. Someone has gone through exactly what you have been through so find your Village. I have come to discover that just as the Bible says, if you seek, you will find! If you prayerfully seek a community, God will bring people your way. This is my personal testimony. Please note that the word village here is just to signify the fact that you can’t do it alone. It doesn’t mean you have to have up to 10 to 20 people giving you all kids of advice at the same time. Your “village” might just be a 2 Moms or a Virtual Community that you belong to. The most important thing is to not isolate yourself as parenting can be demanding and you will need the support.
Look out for more tips and resources from us!