The plantain plant is no different from the banana plant. They may have originated from different shoots but their purpose is equal; to feed. Motherhood or fatherhood must be regarded as such. Discriminating due to sources is unfair. So step mothers or step fathers must learn to deal with their step children fairly. I do not know the heart I have, but I cannot stand seeing children being molested even if the children in question happen to have parents who have done damage to me. My reason? The child knows not. Children just need to be loved. People do not know this but children pay for the love they get; in kind. Those smiles that you see, their touches, these are their ways of showing gratitude and opening their hearts to their care givers. I tell you this in all honesty; if you wrong a child, you have wronged God. Though the existence of God is still a myth, I believe if there is a God, his sole reason is to watch over the helpless
which includes children.
One might ask why I am writing with so much emotion today, Simple; because women and men who are sometimes blessed with children and step children molest them. When I completed my university education and was sent to a village in Tamale called Dohani (in the northern region) I took a liking to a boy because of his performance in studies. For a month, I realized the boy was inactive and looked anemic. I watched as nothing was being done about it. I complained to the headmaster to let his parents know because he was from that village. Before I knew, he was not attending school with the excuse that he was not well. So I decided to visit him at home. Upon reaching the house, I saw him lying on a scattered straw mat almost lifeless with two women cooking close to where he was sleeping. I greeted and asked why the child was lying there that sick with no one bothering to take him to the hospital. The reply I got was that his mother run away from her matrimonial home to engage in prostitution. So the boy had been branded accursed.
Horrified and not satisfied with what I was being told and with communication being a barrier, I went for our headmaster and brought him to their house and demanded to see the head of the house. I was told then that he was a driver and had gone to work. I told them that I would take the child to the hospital, and afterwards, report the case to the police for neglecting the child. The men were shivering because they had probably not seen a woman who wielded so much confidence in speech. Within a few minutes, about seven men had gathered, all pleading with me. When they got to know that I was working in a radio station as well, they apologized and immediately sent the boy to the Teaching Hospital. I was told he received two pints of blood just that day and stayed in the hospital for over three months. My questions then were what did that poor boy do to warrant such treatment? Was it his fault that his young mother had to run away from his polygamous father? Did he ask to be brought into this world? Why must his existence be tied to a degrading thought and bruised egos of family members?
I did not get those answers but I continue to hear of children being abused by their step parents and even sometimes their very own parents which is a very sad situation. I have an advice to potential child abusers; do not give birth if you intend to abuse your child. There are so many cheap contraceptives on the market. If you decide to bring a child into this world with thoughts of abusing that child, let the law not ‘catch’ you, those who marry and take over children from different marriages, please be careful and know that your step child may even take better care of you when you find yourself helpless. Remember our children are like the plantain and our step children are like the banana. Whereas we need to cook the plantain before it becomes edible, the banana is always ready to quench our hunger. I do know some step children are not easy to live with, but just think that you are living with your own children and treat them as you should, without unnecessary judgment and prejudice.
Mum Cee 