As for me, I was brought up normally, like every other child should be. My mom tried her best and still tries her best to give us a better life. My parents are not rich, and we are not poor; we are average Nigerians. My mom strives to provide us with a good education by sending all four of us to private secondary schools and later to public higher institutions.
Although I'm an average Nigerian child, I never lacked anything essential. However, as a teenager or young adult, it's normal to desire more. Sometimes, I'd wish for something different from the food at home, but food was always available. My mom would often buy groceries and essentials in bulk because her work wasn't in our town, and she was pursuing further education that required her to travel weekly.
Thanks to her diligence, we never had to leave school in primary or secondary due to unpaid fees. She always paid on time, at the beginning of each term. Despite not being wealthy, my mom managed to provide for us. Often, she'd use her entire salary as collateral for loans from the cooperative. As soon as her salary was paid, the cooperative would deduct their share, and she'd ensure we had everything we needed.
Despite her efforts, I still want my children to have a better life than I did. I believe everyone wants a better life for their children – one with less stress. I had wished to attend a private university, but I had to settle for what my mom could afford. I want my children to attend a private university and have an easier life.
My parents aren't harsh; I don't recall my father ever physically disciplining me or my sister, although he occasionally disciplined my brother. It's not that he's harsh, but rather, he believed in disciplining his children when necessary. Now that we're grown, none of us are wayward; we're living normal lives. I don't believe there's any benefit to going through hardship or teaching my children to endure hardship.
I don't want them to experience hardship, although I'll teach them about its lessons. My mom faced hardships growing up, which motivated her to work hard for us and want a better life for us. I want a better life for my children, just like she did for us. I've observed that people raised with privilege often have an easier life, even after growing up. For me, there's no reward in growing up through hardship; I want a stress-free, richer, and more comfortable life for my children. So, help me God.