Rebecca Alowo
As a single mum, what is the plan if you get seriously sick with covid-19? What have you instructed your children to do? Who is their designated secondary care giver? Even post Covid 19 how do you coach your children? How do you mitigate?
1. A good mother/father (like a good coach) is aware of his children. She/he watches closely and gets to know them well; she/he learns about their gifts, attitudes, weaknesses, and tendencies, then she/he helps them develop their abilities and perform their best. She/he tries to put them in situations where they can succeed, giving each child/member a role so he or she can make a valuable contribution to a/the team.
2. She/he builds strong relationships and a sense of family among the children. She/he leads in such a way that everyone wants to do well for the benefit of the entire family. They know they can trust each other in the heat of battle; they don’t want to let each other down.
3. A good coach (mother and father) provides motivation and encouragement. In life, as in sports, there are great plays and dropped balls, winning streaks and slumps, good seasons and bad. A good mom/dad is ready to celebrate enthusiastically or exhort her/his children to keep fighting—to dust themselves off, learn from the setbacks, and get back in there. She/he tells his children, “I believe in you,” win or lose.
Action Points
Help children set goals for their upcoming seasons. Ask the best way you can help them?”
Enter all children’s activities and some one-on-one time in your calendar.
Ask them questions like, “Why did she/he do that?” “How would you feel if …..?”
Talk with your child about morals and values.
Outcome for the child/children
Self-Motivation
Perseverance
Support at all costs
Above all else, have fun.
Rebecca Alowo is a DEng student at Central University of Technology Free State South Africa. The writer also works as a Senior Consultant Research Studies at Quantum Executive Education. Occasionally the writer also free lances under Kenyonyozi properties.