A mother's priority must be her children

There is a certain Kenyan woman (I refuse to call her a celebrity) who did a despicable thing according to me. This dear woman, left a seven-month-old baby in the hands of a house help to go and participate in a reality show. Attending such a show is a gamble, and the chances of emerging as the jackpot winner are so slim, you cannot bank on such an event to buy diapers or formula for a baby.

Anyway, thank goodness she was kicked out of the show before it ended. I was just imagining how miserable the poor infant would have been the three months the mother was away in some far of country idling away.

Thank goodness Africa heard her baby’s cries and sent the misplaced mama back home to take care of the innocent baby. I mean, which mother does that. A single girl, at whatever age with no baby can afford to make such reckless decisions. But the moment you go to a labour ward and pop a baby or the gynae pops it on your behalf (I’m talking elective CS), it is no longer about you, but the baby.

So once one is a mother, it is no longer about them but every minute decision that they make, has to be tied to the baby’s best interest.

I remember when I was in my early and mid-20s and starting off in my career, I was single and childless. That came with some level of recklessness and spontaneity. I could party how I wanted till day break, I could go to Mombasa after an SMS from the girls “Lets hit Coasto.” Life was easy breezy. My life had no speed governor.

If my boss wanted me to go to Dadaab for an assignment, as long as there was good per diem, I was game.

But since I became a mother and a wife, things have changed tremendously. I cannot just take up a lucrative offer just because of the money factor. I cannot leave behind my two-and-a-half month old baby and take up an attractive offer that requires me to be away from Troy for even a day.

As long as he is still breastfeeding, I either go with him to that Big Brother house or I drop the offer. At this point in my life, my baby comes first. All the other things are details. It’s called having your priorities right.