A Mistake has been made: Hivenaija weekly prompt 71
The question for this week's prompt says; As a parent, what would I do if my daughter gets pregnant before gaining admission into highschool?
In an African culture, it's a stigma to a family whose daughter gets pregnant outside wedlock, even worse if she's still young, but then, that's not the end of life, it's a mistake that can happen to anyone. Before education and civilization was introduced in Africa, parents gave their daughter's hand in marriage at a very young age. Only what has changed from before is exhorting civilization above culture, and that's the reason why everything that was once without much judgment is criticized.
Whatever must have led my daughter into getting pregnant is love at the expense of her education and future(judging from how important education is in this era). And to every action is a consequence.
Every child at a point in their life experiences some changes at a point known as puberty. The impact of these changes if not tamed by constant education can lead to some display of exuberance with severe consequences. No matter the mistake of any of my children, don't deny the fact that they're my children and my decisions or actions sometimes can either change them for good or make them worse.
If my daughter happens to get pregnant by a guy(whether responsible or not). The first thing is to know who the guy is and call him over. Beating my daughter doesn't change anything, but I'll let her know through behavior and my speech the mistake and damage she has brought upon herself and her future. I'll enquire from the guy his intentions over my daughter while telling him the plans I had for my daughter. The subsequent meeting will be with his parents, telling them the requirements for bride price.
My plans for my daughter will remain but would be paused until after she has given birth. She will further her education now with the sponsorship of me who's the father and her husband and would render whatever assistance I have for her. The future of my daughter matters to me, I wouldn't allow a mistake to get in the way, and spoil the beauty of what the future holds for her and me through her achievements. But one thing I'll speak against strongly is her making the same mistake twice.
The mistake has been made, why make more mistakes through the decisions I'll make in anger. No one is a saint, we are only luckier than another. I'll allow her to become a mother at an early age with my full support, and that of her newly wedded husband. The shame will fade over time, but a bad decision made during that moment will leave a scar that may stick for a lifetime. It's natural to feel bad, disappointed and pained, but we are humans, imperfect and sometimes need a second chance to be the best we can ever be. The mistake has been done, but our decision in the present is what really matters in shaping the future at stake
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