It can be pretty overwhelming to prepare the kids for church. Even with much preparation and division of labour, we almost always barely made it to church in good time. We were through with church service and were on our way home. My husband and I were tired. My children wouldn’t let us be. They went on and on, reminding us of the promise we made, for them to visit some of their cousins. A promise we had made earlier. [note to self: do not make promises to my kids; heck! They are worse than elephants!] I convinced my husband and off we went to their cousins’.

They were evidently very excited to see one another. In no time, everyone was occupied – the kids playing, the men watching a game of football, my sister-in-law and I sweating it out in the kitchen as we prepared lunch for everyone. Food is ready, lunch was served. The kids were so restless; they couldn’t wait to get on with their running around and playing. I observed that the youngest cousin kept following one of my sons around; begging frantically. “What’s happening?” I asked. “Charles will not let me win”, Bolaji answered with tears in his eyes. I intervened, begging Charles to let Bolaji win especially since it seemed to mean so much to him. Nah scratch that, I did not beg Charles. I ordered him to let Bolaji win. So Bolaji won by duress.  Ok, so my approach to conflict resolution was not what you’ll consider appropriate, but it worked…….…that does not make it right, or does it?!