The name Papilo was used for an advert on the television, in that advert Papilo was perceived to be a promising child who loved football. From being a footballer he became a star and was a source of pride to his family and parents, he was determined and never gave up. Most of us are like Papilo and we are predestined to be one thing or the other. Just like Papilo so many children wants to follow their dreams but their parents are always of the opinion that it is what they choose for them that they would become.

To the parents... the guardians

"I want you to study medicine and surgery." The popular statement of some parents. Or they would go again, "If you become a pharmacist you would get a car on your next birthday." Hahaha. I used to be a friend to this rich girl in high school. Just like me science was her major, but she never did well with her tests or exams. One day I called her privately and asked her what exactly the problem was, she started crying saying her parents wanted her to study medicine and surgery but she wants be an artiste.

I became confused and I went further with my questions, "How do you intend doing that with this kind of results." She said everything was already in place for her. Waoh! This can't be happening. Well it was happening and I was surprised to see such happening at this age and time.

All parents wants the best for their children, a strong fact that is inevitable, but what does the child want for himself. I've seen so many young people with talents to kill for but yet their parents are not ready to support. Those days if a boy comes up with the intention of being a footballer, well he will hear the full story concerning the circumstances surrounding his birth. Sarcastically, If then was now with the likes of Messi and C. Ronaldo on the field some parents would even give the child a mansion on his next birthday.

Mentalities surrounding success

In the story of Papilo, his parents could not afford him studying medicine or any related course in this category, but there was one thing they did not hold back and that was their support on him being a footballer. Through determination and hard work Papilo stood out. Every child has a dream and such dreams needs to be backed up by parental supports.

I remember back in the days a child would come up with the idea of being a musician and the next thing, the parents would compare him with some children who are doing well in the professional sector and eventually talk that child out of his dream. This is how amazing dreams and talents has been crushed by parents because of their oppositions to their wards dream.

The mentality parents always attach to success always revolve around the professional and occupational set-ups like medicine, nursing, banking, accountancy and so on; forgetting that there is a talent in that child which might bring so much blessing and happiness to the family if supported. Every child has one talent or the other, its something that can not be taken away.

Let them live their dreams

A parent is to guard and not live the children's lives. The idea of choosing what a child would be is a thing that had remained quite disturbing making the child live in a shadow of himself. For instance a father wants his child to be a nurse so that she can save lives, but the child wants to be a musician. A typical parent would feel that being a musician is a waste of time and resources. However, who says music does not have it's own ways of saving lives.

Pushing a children to be what they do not want to be is as good as telling them they are not good enough. Every child's dream have to be supported, it is then the duty of the parent to be behind them, guard and back them up. To those that lived their dreams, we can only hear them excel and follow their stars while on the other hand, those who lived by their parents dreams are only living for them.

You have lived your life, let them live theirs

I understand that no parent wants their child(ren) to fail or make mistakes in life. I mean, what is life without those two. "we only want the best for you." Y hear them say again. For crying out loud, you have lived your lives full of mistakes and yet stood tall. Why not allow that child live his own life.

Allow them be like Papilo, let him find his way and make you proud. Children are the light of the future, all they need is to be guarded and given good and quality education. Once that is achieved, the rest is theirs to decide because the future is in their hands. Hence, no matter how long it takes to actualize that dream, always hope that your child will come out to make you proud.

Conclusion

Children are the masters of their own dream and future and so should not be forced to be what they do not want to be. All they need and deserve from parents is support, quality education and guardians. Most parents are fond of comparing their wards to others, this is a very not okay thing to do because that child is indirectly being exposed to low self-esteem and inferiority complex which is not a good vibe to instill inside a child. Children whose talents have not been supported has either ran away from the house in other to chase that dream by all means and this leaves parents in dare shock and trauma.

Be supportive and be their best friends. Let them feel free to discuss their future ambitions with you, that way you know what your child is up to and help sharpen that dream to a beautiful reality. Hence, they need to be left to discover themselves, make mistakes but through determination rise up to make you proud like Papilo.

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