Veteran Nollywood actress, Patience Ozokwor, has warned parents against giving their children a life completely free of hardship, saying excessive protection could leave them ill-equipped to deal with the challenges of adulthood.
Ozokwor, popularly known as Mama G, gave the advice during an interview with Femi Babs TV while speaking about parenting, wealth and the need to raise children who can become independent.
The actress said parents who try to spare their children every difficulty they experienced while growing up could inadvertently deny them the opportunity to develop resilience and learn how to navigate difficult situations.
She, however, clarified that allowing children to struggle should not be confused with deliberately subjecting them to suffering.
“The fastest way to ruin a child’s life is to say you don’t want them to suffer the way you did. I’m not saying allow them to suffer. What I’m saying is, allow them to struggle. Go through the process,” Ozokwor said.
The actress also cautioned wealthy parents against leaving substantial properties and other material benefits to their children without first teaching them the discipline, sacrifices and hard work required to build and preserve wealth.
She illustrated her point with the example of a parent who owns several houses in different cities, saying the children could inherit the properties without appreciating the effort that went into acquiring them.
“When they don’t struggle, can you imagine you have like 20 houses? You have in Enugu, you have in Aba, you have in Lagos. Your children will just be struggling, ‘Which one belongs to me?’ They don’t know how you struggled to get those things,” she said.
Ozokwor urged parents to allow their children to work for some of the things they desire rather than making everything readily available to them.
According to her, experiencing manageable difficulties can help children understand the value of comfort and privilege instead of growing up believing that an easy life is guaranteed.
She encouraged parents to expose their children to some of life’s realities while still providing the care and protection they need.
“Let your children know the pains of life. Not all the pains, but the little they know will tell them that when they look back, they will see that people go through harder ones, and they will thank God for where they are,” she added.
