Why you need to stay with your children during this long holiday

Schools are closing for long holidays and some parents are already dreading spending two whole months with their children at home.

Some already have plans in place to send their kids upcountry to ‘bond’ with ‘kina shosh’ but do they have the best intentions at heart? Well, maybe yes maybe no.

In all honesty, living in Nairobi is a skill on its own. It is understandable for single parents who do not have househelps to take their children upcountry but for some, it is a matter of convenience.

Unfortunately, some people look at children as an unwelcome distraction to the usual party life and ‘cheers baba’ kind of thing.

Nyama choma outings, trips to vasha (Naivasha) and random plots occupy the diaries of many on a weekly basis leaving no room for their children.

Life coach Robert Burale recently weighed in on the matter and urged parents to spend more time with their children despite their tight schedules.

“So the schools are closing for about two months and the so called “dot com” parents are getting ready to transport their children to their grandparents so that you can go on with your lives of Nyama Choma,Chamas, watching football with the boys etc ...

“Unless it’s absolutely necessary please take responsibility,” he said.

Adding: “Your parents took care of you...take care of your children. Nothing wrong with taking them to visit their grandparents but shifting them there for two months and “showing off” with shopping for the two months is not honourable ... Holidays are here...CREATE TIME FOR YOUR CHILDREN.”

You can even teach them a thing or two about running a business, farming or enroll them for a short course that can make a positive change in their lives.

Do not be too quick to send them upcountry unless it is necessary.