I have spent over a week feeling unwell. In fact, I couldn’t even step into office because I was in excruciating pain. All I wanted was my medication, mugs of tea and a warm bed, and that is exactly what I did. Of course, despite my state, Kwezi, who is aware that I am in pain for two seconds before her attention shifts back to her cartoons, was very happy to have me home. On the other hand, I honestly wasn’t in the mood to entertain a child, unless there was a written agreement that she would sit or sleep close to me and simply be quiet. But of course by now, we all know that is impossible. Every sound seemed to be amplified. A door opening and closing sounded like thunder. One child’s cry sounded like a whole school of crying children. I had a headache, I was in pain and I was irritable at the slightest opportunity. However, whether I frowned or raised my voice calling for silence, Kwezi, like any toddler simply didn’t hear me or just didn’t care. When I started throwing up, she seemed to snap into attention. She spent time trying to keep me warm, pulling the covers over my feet. There are times where I had to suppress laughter and emotions when she would find my head in the toilet as I puked and would ask me if I was okay, if I needed a glass of water or on several occasions, running to the sitting room to tell everyone who has ears that her mummy is sick. There are small gestures that can warm your heart but having Kwezi asking me where exactly I was hurting and seeing her massage the area with her small hands and using her mouth to blow the air on the area just made me an emotional wreck. Fortunately, I am now fine and everyone has assumed the role that they are accustomed to. I make the money, she spends it. In Kinyarwanda, there is a saying; “Urukwavu rushaje rwonka abana”. Roughly translated, it means that as we grow older, children and parents’ roles switch. In the end, it is the children that have to care for their parents. Of course Kwezi and I still have a very long way to go but I was warmed by being given an opportunity to look into the future of what kind of person I am raising. May God bless this journey.
