20/06/2026
What experience made you realize that children are beginning to understand where they are loved and where they are merely tolerated?
Let me share one.
I once had a neighbor who had been married for over ten years. He and his wife desperately wanted a child, but it hadn't happened yet. Still, they kept hoping and praying.
At some point, he went to the village and brought back a little boy, probably between seven and nine years old. From what I gathered, the boy was a relative. Since there were no children in the house, the idea was for him to help with little errands around the home.
When the boy first arrived, everything looked perfect.
They took good care of him. He was fed, clothed, enrolled in a private school, and provided with things many children in the village could only dream of. On the surface, it looked like he had been given a better life.
But there was one problem.
My neighbor had a habit of verbally abusing the boy.
Any little mistake and insults would start flying. Sometimes he would even flog him. Now, correcting a child isn't wrong, but constantly humiliating and insulting a child is something entirely different.
What surprised me was the boy's reaction.
He hardly reacted.
He would just keep quiet.
The verbal abuse continued until the family traveled to the village during the Christmas holidays.
After some time, they returned.
But the boy didn't.
At first, I minded my business. One day, I finally asked about him. My neighbor smiled and said the boy was still enjoying the village and would return soon.
Weeks passed.
The boy still didn't return.
Then one day, I overheard him mentioning that the boy had refused to come back.
And I won't lie, I was happy.
Not because I wished hardship on the child.
Not because I wanted him to lose access to a better school or a more comfortable life.
I was happy because a little boy, not even up to ten years old, had recognized something many adults struggle to recognize.
He understood that being provided for is not the same thing as being loved.
He understood that a comfortable environment without kindness can still feel hostile.
He understood that some things are more important than material benefits.
When the opportunity came to choose, he chose peace.
Imagine that.
A child who could have remained because of the benefits decided that his emotional well-being mattered too.
That moment reminded me that today's children are paying attention. They may not always have the words to explain what they feel, but they know when they are genuinely loved, respected, and valued.
Children deserve more than food, shelter, and school fees. They deserve kindness, respect, and a sense of belonging.
That's the lesson that stayed with me from that experience.
On a lighter note, this is an outfit I recently made for a little gentleman. Clean, simple, and stylish. Hopefully, he wears it in places where he feels every bit as valued as he looks.
What do you think of it?
Storytelling tailor — Jay's Klothing ✂️👔
Your humble tailor wey no dey disappoint 🙏
Signing out with love and needle ❤️🪡
