My name is Oluwatoyin. I live in the area of Ikorodu, Ogijo precisely. I am 14years old. I am the first of five children. I live with my parents at Ogijo. My dad is a carpenter and my mum is a tailor. My dad is a very gentle man who is only concerned about his work and family but my mum, on the other hand, I don’t know how to quantify her, she’s so troublesome and self-centered. Sometimes, I wonder if she is really my mother, I wonder what exactly attracted my dad to her. Despite that my dad is quite poor and cannot afford 3 square meal for himself, he manages to fend for his 5 children. We all attend a government school where we don’t have to pay much to get into except for our writing material which is to be provided by our parents.
each so that he can get something to take care of us. I can tell my dad loves us so much. But my mum has been the issue in the house, several times, my dad will give her money to cook for us instead she will buy garri and ask us to feed on it and she will use the remaining money to buy rice and assorted meat with Pepsi for herself and still eat it in our presence.
My siblings and I will murmur and grumble sometimes cry, my mother will not even pity us instead she will balance her position and continue her food. Whenever my dad goes to work, he comes back late at night because he works at Ikorodu garage and it’s quite far to the house. My dad will come back home expecting his dinner since he left money in the morning before he left for work, only for my mum to bring him garri and say that is what the money could buy. Most times my dad gets so angry with her and will almost want to beat her but anytime he sees us around he controls his temper and just goes outside. On several occasions, I’ve seen my dad cry about the situation of things at home. My dad will call me as the first child to advise and beg me to concentrate on my studies and also do all that I can to take care of my siblings and not emulate my mum’s character. It’s my dad that washes our clothes on Sundays when he is supposed to be resting.
If I endeavor to help him with it, he asks me to go play with my siblings. Several times, I’ve cried while peeping on my dad washing our clothes when my mum will go to the neighborhood to gossip with her friends. Sometimes she even watches dad garri to drink again as usual. She no longer sows cloth for customers she just spends the money for the services she's supposed to render and still not render it, people have come to fight her severally and she will still be claiming that she is right. Whenever she is going out, she locks us outside and we won’t go in until she comes back from wherever even if it’s in the Ketu to please harbor two of his children with her, of which she agreed. So, I was left with the third and last born that is three of us were remaining with our parent.
My dad did
what he could to supply these things even if it will cost him to starve himself or spend customer’s money before delivering their job. My dad started making a saving box (kolo) for #100
each so that he can get something to take care of us. I can tell my dad loves us so much. But my mum has been the issue in the house, several times, my dad will give her money to cook for us instead she will buy garri and ask us to feed on it and she will use the remaining money to buy rice and assorted meat with Pepsi for herself and still eat it in our presence.
My siblings and I will murmur and grumble sometimes cry, my mother will not even pity us instead she will balance her position and continue her food. Whenever my dad goes to work, he comes back late at night because he works at Ikorodu garage and it’s quite far to the house. My dad will come back home expecting his dinner since he left money in the morning before he left for work, only for my mum to bring him garri and say that is what the money could buy. Most times my dad gets so angry with her and will almost want to beat her but anytime he sees us around he controls his temper and just goes outside. On several occasions, I’ve seen my dad cry about the situation of things at home. My dad will call me as the first child to advise and beg me to concentrate on my studies and also do all that I can to take care of my siblings and not emulate my mum’s character. It’s my dad that washes our clothes on Sundays when he is supposed to be resting.
If I endeavor to help him with it, he asks me to go play with my siblings. Several times, I’ve cried while peeping on my dad washing our clothes when my mum will go to the neighborhood to gossip with her friends. Sometimes she even watches dad garri to drink again as usual. She no longer sows cloth for customers she just spends the money for the services she's supposed to render and still not render it, people have come to fight her severally and she will still be claiming that she is right. Whenever she is going out, she locks us outside and we won’t go in until she comes back from wherever even if it’s in the Ketu to please harbor two of his children with her, of which she agreed. So, I was left with the third and last born that is three of us were remaining with our parent.
One of them saw a bottle that looks like it was kerosene that was inside so he picked it up not knowing it was petrol, he childishly rubbed himself with the petrol and went to the playing ground and poured the assumed kerosene (which was petrol) on the stick with sand and the other kid lit the matches immediately it ignited on my brother’s body every other kids ran away, luckily neighbors came to rescue him and quenched the fire. He is presently in the hospital with his skin burnt. (sighs) if my mum had not locked him out, he probably might not involve himself in such mess. This made my dad want to divorce her, they are still deliberating on the matter right now. I, being the first born I sincerely don’t know what to do. I am just in love with my studies because I want to make it in life and kill the poverty in our family if not for anybody at least for my father who is not educated but longs for us to be educated at all cost. I also make up my mind that I will never marry anybody because the things I experience in my parent marriage is not worthwhile and if I must marry, I will patiently search for an educated and ambitious man.
That is the battle am facing right now. And I wish people out there could help even if its where my siblings can stay and assist and I won't mind if they had to go public school.
Thank you #PEOPLEAROUNDLAGOS for the opportunity to say this to the world and I hope we get rescued before things get worse because right now am so down. Thank you
If you have any story to share or any happenings that you will need us to tell the world happening around you just mail us: PEOPLEAROUNDLAGOS@GMAIL.COM
what do you think is the problem of her mother? what advise can you give this child with impunity to shack her positively since she is so much interested in EDUCATION?
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