Kyoka Abazungu!

Moses

My 7 year old son (Moses) feels he is now old enough to go out by himself to the children's playground to play with his agemates. At first we used to accompany him and wait until he gets hungry or tired. Sooner than later, we saw boys and girls of his age on their own. So we allowed him to go out on his own to play on condition that he tells us where he is going and how long he will spend there.

A few days ago, 2 girls slightly older than Moses escorted him back home carrying his bicycle. They reported to us that 2 of Moses' friends had kicked his bicycle and the tyres got stuck. They told us their names and where they live. We examined the bicycle and realised it was not damaged beyond repair. We decided to leave it at that.

When the girls realised we were not reacting, they went to the homes of the boys and reported them. That evening the 2 boys and their fathers came to our house. They wanted to take away the bicycle for repair. We explained that it was not really bad and that we would do it ourselves. Despite, their insistance, we chose not to accept their offer. They talked to their children and made them apologise to Moses promising never to do it again.

I was impressed with such upbringing and acceptance of responsibility. It reminded me of a time a delivery person brought some furniture home and inadvertently broke the bulb in the entrance hall. His immediate reaction was to clean up all the glass which he kept in his van and asked me how much he should pay in compesation! I was impressed with his sincereity and chose to forgive him.