For the next few weeks, this blog will feature series of stories to educate us. These stories are collated from different authors. On this note i present to you TEST OF TIME (culled from Busola Akinniyi's blog)

 For the next few weeks, this blog will feature series of stories to educate us. These stories are collated from different authors. On this note i present to you TEST OF TIME (culled from Busola Akinniyi's blog)

Test of Time (Introduction)

Introduction

About twenty-five years ago, Akin Thomas impregnated 18-year old Kanyinsola, but instead of Akin to take up his responsibility, he took off, leaving Kanyinsola alone with the pregnancy.

Kanyin had no choice, as she will not subscribe to an abortion. She had the Baby and named her Jadesola. She brought her up with the right precepts and values of life, reminding her never to make the same mistake she made.

Some years later, Kanyin found solace in another man, she got married, and had other kids, while Jade grows up, finished from the University and left her mother's house for her cousin's place in lagos.

..................................................................

A youth/single's convention was organized in Port-Harcourt. Youths from diverse cultures and all parts of the country came to attend.

Some of those who attended are:

JADE, beautiful, talented and intelligent, stays with her cousins in Lagos.

YINKA, a young man in his twenties, intelligent, stays with his family in Abuja.

YOMI, a young man in his late twenties, an Architect.

NIKE, an young lady in her mid twenties, a successful banker.

BOSE, in her early twenties, an undergraduate of Uniport.

SOLA, in her early twenties, an undergraduate of Uniport.

MIKE, in his late twenties, an engineer in Abuja.

And a host of others....

(The convention was slated for a week, different programs were organized ranging from entrepreneurial programs, Gender, career talk etc.

During the career talk section, issues were raised and different opinions were given...)

ANCHOR : after all said and done, we want to prose a kind of debate on career issues. Career-driven Couple, what is your take on it? Is it advisable, wrong, good, or bad? What do you think about it?.....(He looks around for hands but only one hand is raised)...yes, young Lady please introduce yourself and tell us what you feel....
JADE : (standing up)....my name is Jade and to the question I'd say, there are more disadvantages than advantages to a career-driven spouses. If one of the spouses is career-driven, most especially the man, its all well and good. But if the woman is also career-driven like her husband, then there's going to be problems. Firstly, for the kids, the woman cannot have enough time for the kids. The early stage of a child's life is mostly characterized by learning. At that stage, what the child learns is very important as it will grow with him. A mother needs to spend more time with her children in other to inculcate the right values into them. For example, I had a friend whose parents are Bankers. Its a family of five and believe me they wait for their parents to go to work. After they leave, the children find their ways, doing whatever they like, and while doing it they keep checking the time in order to come back home before their parents come back. With that kind of a family expect anything, because the parents are hardly home to guide them. So, I'll say I don't totally agree with both parents being career-driven.
(Applause)
ANCHOR : hmm....so you are speaking against the motion, good. (Looking around)...is there anybody speaking for?
(Then he sees a hand raised up amongst people's murmuring) yes, you...(Pointing at another Lady)
NIKE : hi everyone, I'm Nike, a banker. I am speaking for the motion. I believe when you say career, its something you aspire to achieve. Ever since I was little, I'd promised to be a banker, and now I've decided to become a Bank MD and absolutely nothing can change that. I can't because of my kids kill my dreams. When I get married, as for my babies, I'll put them in creche, they can be well taken care of in a good Day nursery. When they get to secondary school, in other to have time for my job, I'll put them in a boarding house. So, I don't believe that kids should be any reason why one should not be career-driven. Thanks.
(Applause)
ANCHOR : (seeing Jade raising her hands again)...hmm....its getting hotter. It seems this two Ladies are out to get each other....yes Miss...Jade right?
JADE : yes....(Standing up)
ANCHOR : bring it on.
JADE : thanks. I'm not saying ones' dreams should not be achieved, don't get me wrong. What I'm saying is that, we should not pursue our dreams at the detriment of our kids.(She sits down)
ANCHOR : seeing another hand raised up)...yes, that young man....(Pointing)
YOMI : my name is Yomi, my point is to that lady...(Pointing at Jade)....are you saying you'll drop your dreams and aspirations for your kids? Because, as far as I am concerned, I believe you're making money for them too....
(At a corner Mike and Yinka are talking)
YINKA : hmm...look at her. She'll make a really good lawyer.
MIKE : hmm....a beautiful one at that.
YINKA : I love her natural beauty. No make ups at all.
MIKE : yet her beauty radiates.
YINKA : that's how I love my girls to be.
MIKE : hmmm....(Concentrating at the front again)...she's standing up again...
(At the front)
JADE : (standing up, laughing)...well there's something about dreams and life. Your dream is what you want to achieve right, but what if life doesn't give you the opportunity to achieve those dreams. Well, to me life is all about comfortability. I want to be comfortable in life. I'm not interested in making so much luxuries...
YOMI : you haven't answered my questions.
JADE : yes, I'd rather not have kids than have them only to make them terrible people in future.
YOMI : (smiles)...so you'd prefer being a full house wife?
JADE : hell no. Of course I'll do business...my intention is to do business. With business I can have enough time for my kids.
YOMI : who says? There are so many people whose businesses takes more of their time than 'bankers'...
JADE : well, if you always have it at the back your mind that family comes first, then your family won't suffer while your business booms.
(Someone else raises her hand and the anchor asks her to talk)
LOLA : so what do you want to say about those in the Western world. They do have kids and run their careers too.
JADE : have you heard anything about stay-home-Dad, or stay-home-Mum? In the Western world, people don't get married there because of kids, as a matter of fact, after marriage most times, the couple will have to decide on when to have kids, why, because over there they don't joke with their kids. They understand the concept of learning and upbringing in kids so when the couple is ready to have kids, they know one of them will have to stay home to take care of the kids or they look for a Nanny. And recently, you should check the outcome of kids brought up more by the nannies and those brought up by their parents.
(At the corner)
YINKA : waow! I love the way she takes them one by one, she's good!
MIKE : we should get to meet her. Get her name or something, I'm sure she must have studied law...
YINKA : yeah, she sounds like it....(Admiring her)
YOMI : (standing up again)...in one word, you'd advice a banker to resign when she's getting married?
JADE : well depending on her. If her job is not so demanding, its up to her. I won't give such an advice, I'd rather just tell you the dangers involved in spending less time with the husband and kids. I mean, you come back from work around 7pm every week day, you'll cook for your family, listen to everyone of them, I'm sure the kids will have one or two things to say to you, even your husband and by the time you finish all that, you're so tired you want to sleep, then your husband says he wants to make love to you....tell me, where is the strength? This is why most marriages have problems....Your name is Yomi, right?
YOMI : yes.
JADE : how would you feel if your wife rejects you 3 times consecutively saying she's tired?(Yomi becomes dumbfounded)...I'm sure you'll be an understanding husband because believe me, after walking back and forth at work, and doing the whole work at home, she will be tired.
YOMI : so what then do you propose?
JADE : work for a while, gather some money, go into business, simple. That way you can attend to family issues at anytime, 'cause you don't answer to anybody. If you run a supermarket, you can bring the kids there to spend time with you instead of staying with the nanny. You can go home at anytime and let me tell you another secret, you may even end up making more money than those working in corporate organizations if you're business inclined.
YOMI : I rest my case.
(Everybody claps)
ANCHOR : wow! Any cross examinations....? (Nike raises up her hand again)...yes miss.
NIKE : (standing up)....still at that lady....(Pointing at Jade)...have you heard anything about job satisfaction? If you are doing a job that you don't derive satisfaction in, you're as good as unemployed. So why will I do business when I'm not interested in it?
JADE : hmm. Have you heard anything about opportunity forgone? You see in this life you can't have it all. Let's even come to the economy of Nigeria, how many people are studying what they put in for at the university? You want to study economics they give you psychology, pharmacy for medicine, mathematics for engineering. The same thing applies to us when we want to get jobs, you study engineering and end up working in a bank as a cashier. This economy does not support the achievement of ones dreams. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying you should not pursue your dreams, but if those goals are not forthcoming, we Nigerians are known for being able to adapt. In as much as you can adapt to being a pharmacist instead of being a doctor, then you can as well do business just to have a happy family...(She sits down)
(People started murmuring instead of raising hands)
ANCHOR : are there any other cross examinations?...(No hands are raised)...if there are none, this is where we'll end this section. Please note, a website is being created as we speak. A facebook page is also created for the purpose of this program. Some of our interesting sections will be posted on our website, you can get to view it, get more information on our upcoming program and talk to us through our website. What's more, you can get to know each other more and chat with each other on our website, page or even group. We want to keep this program going online. Thanks. Once the website is ready, you will receive the mail from us so please log on and let's keep having fun. (They all clap) God bless you all.


To be continued...