PROTECT YOUR CHILD

I was not born with a silver spoon or with a gold spoon. My parents were not rich before I came into this world even after my existence but we didn’t beg for food to eat. Though we were not rich, my parent made sure they gave us (their children) that best care in their capacity equivalent to that given to the rich (children) out there. My father and mother never made us do things that deprived us of education or jeopardize our safety. I never hawked anything on the street. I am not saying these things because I am full of myself nor to criticize anyone but to give my opinion on this menace of child hawking.

There is this pain I feel in my heart when I see a child (minor) hawking, especially when he or she should be in school studying. The problem isn’t hawking but why should a little child be hawking when others are studying? I understand that Nigeria has given most homes, situations that they didn’t bargain for, but I think a parent should safeguard his or her child or children from danger. The dangers that come with child hawking is a whole lot to think about.

First, 90% of children that hawk lacks proper formal intelligence because they have limited time to study (that’s if they attend schools). Second, a child that hawks could be easily kidnapped, raped, killed or even joined a bad gang because he or she will go to places even worse places to make sure his or her market is been sold. So tell me what kind of future awaits such a child. Prostitution, addiction, stealing, lying and so on are probably the answers.

 Children are gifts given to families from God. If your friend gives you a gift on your birthday, I’m sure you will cherish and protect that gift with your strength. So, why can’t you protect that gift (children) given to you by God with your strength?

I am very aware of the fact that times are hard. Will that the little money your child brings from hawking enough to make those times easy? My dear, I think it will make things worse because it will change the beautiful future of your child. Your child could be raped or killed or kidnapped. You child might join bad gang bringing ridicule, disgrace or disappointment to you and your family, which will be blamed on you if such happens. If you really need that money from hawking, please do the hawking yourself. At least you are old enough to know danger when you see one but a child might not. Please don’t only care for your child but protect him.