I think some parents do love their children too much that they end up being selfish individuals as a result. No offense, but yeah! They will always want to influence their children to be what they want regardless of their children’s choice in life. This is mainly – and sadly – an African story. Many decades ago and even today, a politician would influence his child to replicate him. A doctor would compel his offspring to attend a medical school. An engineer or a lawyer behaves in a similar pattern. This is not entirely gross, but many of us steer it towards a wrong way thus ramming into a brick wall. It’s being off beam when you want to impose yourself on your child. You rather embark on advising and facilitating than making yourself a dictator in your own house. Yes, I might be as handsome as my father, Mzee John Cyuma Katabogama (RIP). But we are different. He loved military probably because he dreamt of the day he fights his way out of exile. And I did not like the profession. I would never join military unless there is a life-threatening reason. I have always thought that an African army is one institution that anyone can wake up one morning and decide to join, and there he does. In a nutshell, being my father does not necessarily mean that him and I share talent, character or abilities. True story! A father who is a doctor compelled his son to join medical school yet his son had an unbendable passion for media and entertainment. He insisted on pursuing studies in mass communication at Uganda’s Makerere University and he later on established himself as a career radio DJ (Disc Jockey). His monthly earnings are now about 5,000 USD dollars! Would he earn that amount of money as a doctor at Mulago Hospital? Whilst seemingly not fathoming the son’s choice, the father paused this question to him: “My son, why did you decide to become a mere DJ who only plays other people’s music?” The son hastily responded with another question: “Dad, why did you decide to become a doctor and prescribe the medicine you don’t invent?” What is the moral of a story? We must be vigilant enough in understanding the new dynamics of this world which has become a global village as a result of modern technology. Kids today have access to information from every corner of the world through various gadgets placed in their palms. They interact on various platforms, which ubiquitously influence their thinking based on new trends and ways of making ends meet. Parents should be challenged to understand that their children’s career choices cannot be as same as theirs. The environment is too way different today! As a result of our conventional thinking last updated by colonial masters through their education system, we have always believed that being a lawyer, doctor or civil engineer is the sure way to succeed. Yes, it’s a sure way to get a white collar job but not a pathway to entrepreneurship. While a medical student is looking forward to getting a job at a hospital, a creative art student is contemplating a move to run his own advertising firm which results into more money for him and employment for his society. We underestimate things like film production, media studies and graphics or creative art. Many parents would feel very disappointed when a child decides to pursue a career in such fields, and forget that passion can be a key driver in one’s endeavor. Sine qua non. Focus on creating an enabling environment for your child and support him if he chooses to do something he loves. Living in denial could be costly
