07 May
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Playgrounds are deserted

The playgrounds are deserted. Children who were meant to be in school this week are staying home. But that was never the plan. Teachers were ready to teach after the holiday. Children, many of them tired of staying indoors,...
29 Jan
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School is my safe space – or not.

Today morning, a young boy, about 5 or 6 years old at most, got slapped. Really hard. By his mother. I’ll call him Amani*. Amani was looking sharp in his school uniform, which was topped up with a slightly...
20 Jul
  • 1266 Views
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If you don’t have milk, drink it black.

Life will not always give you what you want. Great. We know that. So what? This is one of the statements our loved ones tell us and leave us to process on our own, without telling us how. Yet,...
07 Jul
  • 750 Views
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Effect of Family on Youth Mental Health

Many young people end up at a counsellor’s office when they exhibit the wrong behavior, drop in their academics or are caught using illegal substances. This is always after the tell-tale signs have escaped both the teen and the...
21 Aug
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Want a Forever Friend?

The last month has been one wild relational month. And it’s been about friends. Not my own, but the next generation’s friendships. I have been witness to some standing by each other in times of trouble; being there for...
04 Sep
  • 865 Views
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Stuck on the Road of Life

Our teens are stuck. Our youth are stuck. They know that growing up is something to look forward to, but they are too anxious about what they will find when they get there. Those who have recently got there...
14 Sep
  • 877 Views
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It still takes a village to raise your child

It is often said that it takes a village to raise a child. However, the village analogy is slowly fading into oblivion as we no longer have villages to identify with. In Kenya, we call it ‘ushago’. We now live...
27 Jul
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Welcome your darling Teen Home – or someone else will

Schools are about to close. Some already have. We are getting into the three to four week period when all our children are home. This is a time of joy for some and dread for others. Deportation to grandma’s...
24 Jul
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Mirrors and Parenting (III)

The Mirror will always be relevant. The size and shape may change, but its role will always be relevant. The role of an adult in a child’s life will also always be relevant. The parent – maybe not. How do you...
17 Jul
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Mirrors and Parenting (II)

The mirror always catches you – it’s real time. Want to confirm if you have a good smile? Look in the mirror. Want to deliver a great speech? Practice in front of a mirror. The mirror will often reflect...
10 Jul
  • 1325 Views
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Mirrors and Parenting (I)

I have a theory: Mirrors can teach us a lot about how we parent. The mirror shows us what we cannot see for ourselves. You will see the spots and creases on your face by looking at a mirror....