Momma Bear: Developing Physical, Mental & Intellectual Fitness In Children

There’s no one size fits all guide to raising children, but there does exist a few key tenets that can be adopted by any parent that’s privileged to raise children/dependents. I would like to share these with my readers in a bid to aid the development of physical, mental and intellectual capacity in children.
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Discipline 💪🏿
My mother followed biblical principles (Proverbs 13:24) and this meant that she did not spare the whip! While I didn’t appreciate sore buttocks or bubbly cheeks at the time, it did facilitate the necessary realignment required for me to know better and do better.
What should you consider doing? Where talking and ku nyengelela (persuasion) don’t result in changed behavior don’t spare the rod.

Reading Culture 📚
In my childhood every night before bed my mother would read me a story such as little red riding hood or the boy who cried wolf. Until on one night the rules of the sleep game changed. I was the reader and her the listener😓. I wasn’t amused at the time but looking back on it now it was a game changer! My command of the English language grew stronger with each book and so did my creativity and imagination. She inadvertently raised a blogger!
What should you consider doing? Parents, take an interest in fostering the reading culture of your children by committing to having them read to you every night before bed. If you have older children proceed to pass down the books that you read to them and have a book review when they’re done. Expose them to mature material and marvel at the enterprise, articulation and maturity that comes from it. Passing first at school isn’t the only education metric that matters nor is a chemistry book the only book of relevance in a school going child’s life.

Fitness Culture 🏃🏾⛹🏾‍♂️🏊🏾‍♂️⚽️🤾🏾‍♀️
I was an active kid involved in various sports growing up. I was clearly genetically gifted (I got it from my mama😎) and technically talented but what meant the most to me and kept me going was seeing my mother present at my events. She’d cheer me on and support me as I competed. I retain a spirit of an athlete (tenacity, competitiveness, resilience) today at 30 because I have that foundation. For other useful family fitness tips, read this.
What should you consider doing: avoid being too busy to show up to your kids sporting activities. Be present and cheer them on because your child might just be the worlds next global athlete. If not, then they’ll benefit from the social aspects of team work and learning to work/play with others which will serve them well in later years i.e. ma office politics. Other tips include enrolling your kids for extra sports such as soccer practice at Barca Academy as opposed to constant TV watching or playing endless PlayStation games.

Instill Belief😎
My mother always told me that if someone has done it, you can do it too! She softly pushed me to demand more of myself and demand more from life. She encouraged me and believed in me especially when I doubted myself or was quick to offer excuses. I gradually became the embodiment of determination in human form.
What should you consider doing? Encourage your children especially when they’re struggling. Please don’t force them...be gentle as you help them realize their potential. There is nothing as powerful as a parent that shows unwavering belief in their children and their abilities. Children live to please their parents; show them how.

Respect, Humility & Hard Work 😊
Growing up my mother was a one woman army with 3 core values: respect, humility and hard work. Umuchinchi (respect) was a pre-requisite to any and all interactions with fellow human beings regardless of social class. Absence of this swiftly led to ma mbama (slaps) or the belt depending on the distance between us😅.
Humility was a constant state of being with the firm understanding that no man is an island. Either you humble yourself and live with others without the feeling of superiority or wait for gravity to teach you that lesson.
Hard work was the theme in the Majula household. Waulesi asadye (lazy ones mustn’t eat) was clearly established. I made my bed, cleaned my surroundings, and washed dishes among other things. This work-if-you-want-to-eat formula eradicated a spirit of laziness and made me a responsible child. I wasn’t just vegetating in front of a TV as a child; I learnt the grind early in life.
What should you consider doing: Children will repeat what they see, not what you say so be the ultimate example of the values you hold dear to your children. You must also endeavor to make them do chores starting with making the beds they sleep in to the washing the plates they eat off. 👉🏾 Waulesi asadye.

Everything I have outlined is principles I benefited from as a child of a peerless mother and principles that might be of value to other proud parents growing human mushrooms 🤱🏾🍄.

To my mother, you raised me well...thank you for taking the time, I have become what you made me 🤴🏾


👇🏾🤳🏾 📸my beautiful mother controlling the situation at my adorable kid sisters party with little me flanking her🥳🎈🎂