The Side Of My Story Read Count : 55

Category : Stories

Sub Category : YoungAdult
"How dare you talk back at me,ohhh!! You think you are smart, since you are too old to listen to me i prefer you pack your bags and get out of my house". Those were the words i always heard whenever i tried to reason with my parents.

In an African home, a child is not allowed to talk to elders unless you are asked or given permission to. Your reasons, opinions or facts mean nothing to them. Infact they rergad "FACTS" from a child as an insult.
They believe that children know nothing about life, they know better and the duty of a child is to listen and obey to whatever they command you to do. African parents can choose a school,career,  wife/husband for you and never ask for your opinion or how you feel, because they know better right. A child has to believe anything coming out from their parents' mouth, even when you know it's a lie, you must not deny.

You don't deny or question your parents, you can be disowned for that. A child that tries to reason with their parents are seen as a demon, they would say you are either possessed, disrespectful or an abomination.

Growing up i never had the chance to say my own, i would bottle everything in me or just cry it out. African parents think that they are teaching us good manners, which is good but on the other side, they don't know the damage they are causing.
They are destroying our self-esteem and confidence. Them beating or yelling at you for talking makes you feel like nothing right comes out of your mouth. This affects you academically and socially.
In 2020, i was a first year student at the university of Witwatersrand. During lectures i would keep quiet in the room as if i don't exist. I would keep quiet even when i had questions. Many students seemed to enjoy the courses, they would ask questions non stop. I never believed in myself, i would ask myself questions like," what if they laugh at me? What if my question is lame?" I became quiet in everything, i would not raise a point in team works nor meetings because i had the " my opinion doesn't matter" mindset.
During my first year, i failed the Block 1 Sociology first test and i never told my parents because i was scared. When you fail your test they would take away your gadgets and ground you. The problem is they never asked what made you fail and what's the way forward. they never cared, what they care about is their pride. 


We grow up traumatized, some end up committing suicide because most African parents don't care about our feelings nor opinions. They never care about THE SIDE OF OUR STORIES.

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