TEACH THE GIRL CHILD

Hey guys, it's been a crazy long while. Okay, I went on an off-season long break. Sorry, I just couldn't post in a long while. Hope we all have been steps closer to our dreams than the last time you checked here? Definitely, I can say Yes for myself and a few more people reading this. Scratch that, everyone reading this.
The weather has been pretty weird lately. Did I say weird?? Oh, I meant different. Well, it has been raining cats and dogs in Lagos. Mehn, it seems like an all-rainy season. I hope agriculturists are taking advantage of this. You know?? Less expenses on irrigation.. O yeah!
LOL. Don't mind me. A massive welcome to you guys checking here out for the first time. I wish I could do another 'intro' but hey, I'm not here to write an epistle, you know? *winks*
Yesterday, was 'The International Day of The Girl Child.'  It'll be quite inappropriate for me not to celebrate beautiful women and girls out there.

Every child has a dream. Sometimes, the society forces a girl child to terminate her dreams simply because of gender. One day, I overheard a mother in my neighbourhood telling her daughter, 'NO! you can't be a mechanical engineer, it's a profession for boys and you are a girl. Tell me something else....' and the little girl looked up to the sky while closing her eyes, thinking of what to say. I shook my head in disappointment. Why is she trying to tarnish the poor child's aspiration? I uttered rhetorically. I've been a victim of this too. I love sports generally and I watch football at home. Often times, my aunt would say, 'you love football, it is bad. Football is for boys and men. It is not for girls.' In the company of my female friends, when I stop to check livescores.com sometimes for the latest updates on football matches. I have this friend that says, 'Anne change!! You aren't a boy.' and then I just say 'what happened to Amby Wambach and other female footballers?' They just don't care. Sadly, we live in a society that limits what a girl should do, like or become in the future.
I can't thank my parents enough for raising me in the best way they can. They make me survive and thrive in a society that limits the dreams of a girl child. I was taught to aspire and become the best in any field of my choice in a society that looks down on a girl child. Raising a girl child is quite demanding but in the end fulfilling. My granny usually say "the sky is enough for all birds to fly irrespective of size, gender, colour or anything." Anyone can soar irrespective of gender. You can be a doctor, pharmacist, farmer, lawyer, teacher, fashion designer, engineer, just name it!
Today and henceforth, teach the girl child, her dreams can be achieved. She is beautiful, outstanding, smart, awesome, powerful and blessed. Teach the girl child she can go places outside the four walls of the kitchen and her home. Assure the girl child she has a voice in this generation and can change the world. Make known to the girl child marriage is beautiful but not a yardstick to measure womanhood or achievements. Remind the girls and women in your life how unique they are. Constantly whisper to the girl child,  "you can achieve even as a girl child." Teach the girl child the essence of believing in her own prowess. I hope with time, the society appreciates the importance of a girl child soon enough. I celebrate every girl and woman out there. Y'ALL ROCK!
Have a great week,
Anne.
XO
Image source: GlobalGirlPower

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BAD HABIT

I alighted from a motorcycle earlier today and I noticed something. The motorcyclist placed his left index finger into his mouth at first and then he moved to the next finger. He was biting off and chewing his fingernails. He did this in a quite enthusiastic manner as he awaited the money for his service rendered. I searched my purse and brought out a two hundred Naira note. When he stretched his right hand to receive the money, I noticed he barely had fingernails on his fingers. He had virtually chewed them all. A grown up man like that?!! I shook my head in disappointment. "Madam, wetin happen?" he asked. "Nothing o."  I replied. This recession where minding one's business is essential. The fear of getting "who fingers epp?" as an answer left me mute.

I remembered I had this bad habit a long time ago.
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When I was a little child, about the age of five or thereabout, I used to do the same thing as the motorcyclist. I liked to bite my fingernails and chew them. In fact, I loved it. It came with this soothing sensation and fulfilment you can't even imagine. How my nervous system and brain worked hand in hand to interprete and carry out the stimuli of biting off and chewing my fingernails is something I still haven't figured out. I really enjoyed the chewing aspect more. I knew it was a bad habit because most times I was seen doing that, I was cautioned. Sometimes, my mom would scold me. "Will you put that hand down before I spank you." She did this always with a harsh tone in her voice. I would be forced remove my finger(s) from my mouth. Sometimes, in a public gathering, I would get lost in the act, only for my mom to give me an eye contact which meant "be careful".
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One fateful day, I was at home sitting on a plastic chair at the corridor. Having chewed my fingernails to a point where there was nothing to chew, the urge of 'biting and chewing' came. As little as I was, the thought of my toenails brushed through my mind. Yes!! I was excited but I knew the act would be hard to carry out. Trying to get my toes into my mouth was a big deal. A really big deal! Notwithstanding, I kept trying, little did I know my mom was watching me from a distance. I was on the verge of getting the act done when the plastic chair I was sitting on broke. Immediately, I fell backwards and hit my head on the floor. I started to yell thinking my mom would come to my rescue. I sighted her but she was looking away. I began to cry, this time louder so I could be heard.
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My mom approached me and I thought she would pet me as usual. I was too wrong to be right. I got the beating I'd never forget. My fingernails were checked henceforth. On no account was I able to bite or chew my nails. My mom trimmed my fingernails quite often and eventually I got over it. I got over the sweetness it gave me. I stopped biting and chewing my fingernails. I stopped the bad habit.
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Habits are behaviours done repeatedly. Sometimes, they are involuntarily done while other times, they are done consciously. Breaking habits(bad habits) are quite difficult. It takes time but in the end, the freedom from it is worth it.
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Immediately I got into my room, I checked my fingernails. It wasn't looking like that of the motorcyclist. So much to be grateful for today,  my fingernails are no exception. *smiles*

Have a great day!
Anne.
XO

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THE DARK ROOM

Yes!!! I promised a long time ago that I was going to put up a story here. I'll try my best to update the story every week. "Stories" menu is created for it. Make sure you're using the web version then check the header or just click on the navigation bar if you're using a mobile phone and go to "stories". You can always check it out. The title is "The dark room". Enjoy reading it and don't forget to share it with your friends.When I'm done with the story, there will be a quiz and prizes will be won. I promise!
Soon, we'll be having our social media pages. It'll be communicated via this platform. Watch out!
Have a nice time and happy new week. XO

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THE DARK ROOM  

RESUMPTION

 

     Nana snapped her fingers as she walked past the hostel's corridor. 'Oh.. No!!! I should have waited a little while before submitting,' she lamented. Meanwhile, Mariam was walking a little faster to catch up with Nana. 

'Hey you!!! ' she cuts in. 

' Why are you walking alone? anything the problem?' Mariam asked. Nana was mute. 

'Just tell me, it's Chris this time, right??' Mariam asked again paying more attention to Nana's facial expression. 

Nana was a bit tired, she adjusted the small towel she placed on her neck and replied, 

'No Mariam, it's not Chris this time. I didn't write well in the class exercise today and I submitted quite fast.

' Come on girl! ' Mariam held Nana by her left shoulder.' It's not like the end of the session yet, abi na WAEC ni... Abeg! Fashi babe.' She added as she spoke in pidgin English language. Nana smiled. They both laughed and hurried to their room.
     It was a cloudy evening, it seemed darker than usual. Some girls were running helter-skelter in the dormitory to put things in the right order.
'Hey Bunkie, could you please pass that blue bucket across to me?' Mariam requested in a quite fascinating voice as she smiled. Her roommates were surprised she wasn't putting up a serious look on her face.

*            *               *               *                  *

     Nana wasn't interested in having a conversation with Angela. She took another route to class as she spotted her some few miles away. Angela is a dark slim tall girl. Rarely could you grip her arms to feel her flesh without having any contact with her bones. Her hair is quite short and frizzy, black in colour and very scanty. She is quite loquacious and most students knew her as an attention seeker. On approaching her classroom, Nana tiptoed as she sneaked to her seat. She dropped her bag and whispered into Mariam's ear. 'You're such a silly roomie, you left me behind.'
'Pay attention!!!' Mrs. Afolabi, their class teacher ordered as she faced Nana and Mariam's direction. 'Yes ma!' both girls chorused.
    After the class assembly was over, the class became rowdy. Most students resumed today.
'Oh my.....goodness!!! See my beautiful girls.' Betty screamed.
'Beeeettttttyyyyyy!!' Nana and Mariam exclaimed.
'Nana, you look prettier, Chris has really been on point.' Betty swang her tongue out to the right side after the statement she made and Nana felt embarrassed.
'Hope you've been good?' Mariam asked giggling.
'Why not?! ' Betty turned around in excitement as she went to hug Nana and Mariam.
Nana, Betty and Mariam were good friends. Unlike Nana and Mariam, Betty was a day student. Greetings and gestures were exchanged by all students in the class. It was the beginning of the second week of the session. Quite a number of students resumed today.
To be continued..... 
Anne.
Image source: eTimes News Africa

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DO YOU BELIEVE IN LOVE?

DO YOU BELIEVE IN LOVE?

Staring deeply into your eyes,
is an answer to the question;
that I have long awaited.
Do you BELIEVE in love?
My better half,
I do this on your behalf.
Look no further I'm with you
Do you believe my words are true?
Listen carefully and hear my heart speak,
words of expression of love at its peak.
A constant reminder my heart is yours
This feeling I will trust.
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Do you BELIEVE in love?
Pure love, so genuine.
A beautiful stroke that makes me brand new.
A source of inspiration
with a solid foundation,
A heart-pleasing sensation
that cut across nations.
An elixir of great substance,
that brings joy in abundance.
An inexplicable feeling
yet beautiful to behold.
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Do you BELIEVE in love?
To believe is to be alive.
To be alive in love is to overcome through love.
Love is the greatest gift of all.
Selfless and undeniable,
Interwoven yet understanding.
Love is blissful.
Love is me through you,
Love is me and you.
Do you believe in me and you?
Do you BELIEVE in love?
 -Anne
#Neebsy'sdesk

In anticipation to the release of Tega's love song -BELIEVE ft Ade.
#Newjam #vibes
Good music is good for the soul. #BELIEVE.

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THE ROLES OF GENDER, CLASS AND CULTURE AS REGARDS TO GENDER EQUITY. Part1

Good day everyone.
It's a privilege to be writing again. I'm grateful for the beautiful readers.
I'll be focusing on the society and matters concerning us as social individuals for the rest days of the week.
I'll be writing on the topic above and will like to start with a short story I can use for illustration.

"Good morning Nne. " Amaka greeted her mother kneeling slightly with a bucket of water on her head. She had woken up early in the morning to fetch water from the public tap a street away from hers.
"Morning my daughter, " her mother responded as she tied her scarf on her head.
"Where is Obinna? " she asked. Amaka kept mute and pretended not to hear her mother.
"Come and help me with my zip. " Amaka's mother requested pointing her index finger at her back.
" Okay Nne. " Amaka dropped her bucket of water on a concrete pavement and rushed to help her mother.
" When you're done make sure you sweep the kitchen, arrange everywhere and cook o." she instructed Amaka. Amaka wore a sad look on her face as she grumbled.
"Ahn Ahn! What of Obinna na?" Amaka walked out in anger.
Her mother adjusted her wrapper and replied "don't you know Obinna is a boy?!"
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Gender is a social term that defines a man and woman with less regards to biological characteristics but based on roles and functions while class is ordering of people (i.e both men and women) in a society into different set based on social or economic status. Culture is generally the total way of life of a group of people.
Today in our society, 'masculinity and femininity' is a kind of fundamental issue. We can't actually talk about gender without taking a look at masculinity and femininity. Although, masculinity is not really emphasized on like femininity which has led to a rise in the number of women that acknowledged themselves as feminists. 'Gender equity' is most times a controversial topic but I'll try my best to analyze my points.
Masculinity also called manliness is a set of behaviour, attitude, character and roles of boys or men while femininity on the other hand is a set of behaviour, attitude and roles associated with girls or women.
From the above story I told, it depicts a Nigerian society. We can also notice the gender, societal class and the culture from the above short narrative story.
We live in a society that has labelled 'chores is for girls or women, the boys or men can be exempted. In other words, 'house chores' are part of roles. We can tell from the story above that Amaka mother feels that way. The way an African female child is being raised is to care for the home first. Over time, feminists have come out to say gender is a form of oppression for women just because we have being raised to think some particular roles are just for women alone.
What if Obinna joined Amaka in fetching water? What if he assisted her with the chores?
I think the African culture in general is a gap between masculinity and femininity. Also, social class has an influence on gender roles. We notice that a family with a high social class based on economic status raises a male and female child in a different way compared to a family with a lower social class. Culture, social class and gender roles are constructed and developed by humans and it changes overtime. They all have positive and negative effects as regards to gender equity. Our attitude and character towards this will bridge the gap. I believe in fairness. I mean what is good for the goose is good for the gander.
To be continued...
Anne.

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DAY 6; PICTURES THAT SPEAK

Hey everyone!
Hope the week started off pretty well?? Happy new month guys. I had a very busy weekend and couldn't put up something for you guys yesterday.  Sorry about that. This is the last post on 'pictures that speak' theme. I really appreciate you all for reading.

Sometimes, life knocks us down and we feel less of ourselves. This is just a reminder. When you fall ten times, get up a hundred times. No matter how bad you feel, you're cherished by someone somewhere. You're important! You're a star! Keep on shining and make a difference. You truly matter.
Enjoy yourself,
Anne.
XO

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DAY 5 ; PICTURES THAT SPEAK.

Hey... Good morning!
Happy weekend.
I'm posting this early just because I wasn't able to put up anything yesterday. I was really busy.

We aren't perfect and we have flaws. Some people take advantage of this and pass off very awful character hiding under the "that's just how I am" umbrella. We are supposed to improve on our flaws, work on ourselves and be better individuals. Keep striving to be a better person inspite of your flaws. Character can be worked on, you can improve on yourself.

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