The saying spare the rod and
spoil the child is popularly
used among Nigerian parents.
Nigerians believe in beating
their children in order to
instill discipline into them.
This part of the world is quite
different from the western
parts of the world where
children have the right to dial
the police code number when
their parents hit them. As a
matter of fact, the society
urges parents to beat their
children when they do
something they have been
warned not to do.
In this age, parents are
becoming liberal because they
are not giving their children the
measure of the treatments
they got as kids. They are more
loving and believe the children
will learn the right attitude and
manners when the time comes.
Despite their softness and
sweetness to their children,
there are certain things they
can never condone when it
comes to their wards. Most of
the kids have come to realize
this and would avoid doing these
things.
Committing those heinous
crimes mean the children can
never escape being beaten.
Here are some the things
Nigerian parents would beat
their children mercilessly over:
1. Stealing
Nigerian parents can be so
sweet and loving; they would go
to any extent to make sure
their children take the best to
school and have the best
clothes. However, one thing
they can never stand is their
children stealing from their
peers in school. For this, they
would beat the living daylight
out of their children as soon as
they catch wind of the offence.
2. Sucking
Nigerian parents would beat a
child who sucks too much. This
is one habit they have little or
no tolerance for. It is widely
believed that children who suck
would not eat well and would not
grow well as a result of this.
Some children reject pacifiers
and would end up sucking their
hands. Nigerian parents wear
gloves for children like these.
For those who are older, they
hit their hands constantly once
they are spotted sucking.
3. Breaking plates
broken crockery next to
cardboard box
If you are a Nigerian, then you
would understand that there
are certain things your parents
would kill you for. One of this is
breaking of plates. Parents
often threaten to mark
children’s faces with the wares
once they are broken.
While they would not do this
because they are not that
mean, they would beat them so
that they could be more careful
next time.
4. Not being respectful
Nigeria is a country where
culture has deep roots;
Nigerians are expected to be
respectful and should comport
themselves well while with
elders. Nigerian parents do not
like it when their children
refuse to accord them the
respect they ought to. They
would beat them till they see a
change in attitude.
5. Being rude
Nigerian parents despite the
fact that they could be
charming have little or no
tolerance for rudeness. They
would deal with whoever messes
with them in that aspect. They
would beat their children once
they act rudely or start to
openly disregard them.
6. Being wasteful
Nigerian parents do not like
wastage at all; they talk about
how much time they spend
working just to get the children
the basic needs and to put food
on the table. If a child is
caught wasting food, that child
would definitely be beaten.
Nigerian parents would
encourage their wards to finish
their food and not waste
resources. There are so many
homeless children who do not
have food to eat.
7. Being caught in illicit acts
Children are inquisitive; at a
certain stage, they may be
curious about their sexual
organs and may want to make
comparison with that of the
opposite sex. And in an age
where pedophiles are lurking
around in corners and dark
streets, Nigerian parents do not
want their children abused in
any way.
Even when the children have
become teenagers, Nigerian
parents would flog the living
daylight lout of them if they
are caught playing ‘mummy and
daddy game’.
8. Being careless and stupid
Nigerian parents do not like it
when their children are not
smart or too playful to the
point where they forget things.
They would beat the children
any little chance they have until
they become smarter.
Children who are fond of losing
money when they are sent on
errands can testify to the
beatings and lashings they
always receive when they
return home.
