We all love our parents. Why should we not? I mean, they brought us into this world when we were nothing but diminutive itty bitty specks of nothingness in this massive universe. They feed us the most scrumptious food they are able to prepare. And the lucky few like me who have Africanadian parents know how delicious the traditional food they cook tastes. They educate us to become the smartest we can be, buy us necessities such as clothing to keep us warm, congratulate us on our achievements, and they reassure us when we have lost. And of course, they are there to nag us nonstop about countless problems that half the time, we do not even know if we have caused them. But we know that, no matter what, no matter how annoying they are, (especially the Africanadian parents) they will always be there for us. Or will they?
Recently, there was a little trouble in the air when two young women were arrested for causing a scene on a Sunwing flight to Cuba. They drank, smoke, and argued to the point where two jets had to escort the Sunwing flight back to Toronto. They could be fined a whole lot for their inappropriate actions or face life time jail sentence, and if they were my children, I would scold them endlessly for their reckless behaviour. But that is not how one of the parents of the accused acted. She stated on the news that her child is an “A-plus student” and that she “doesn’t drink, never”. Ironically enough, a majority of her social media photos are of her drinking.
Even though her daughter is clearly guilty and there were hundreds of witness’ onboard the flight to witness the crime being committed, she still tries to support her and stay on her side through it all. She is there to support her daughter in her time of need, of failure, and I guess she realizes that her daughter does not need another person barking down her back about what she did, especially if that someone was her mother.
For the mother of the accused, this is a moment of revelation for her. She has finally seen, if not before, her true, grown-up daughter. She is no longer her little princess but rather her full grown queen (with a criminal record!) I can compare this moment to a couple of funny animal incidents. Last year, a zoo in the People’s Park of Luohe, in the central Chinese province of Henan, had on display a suspicious animal labeled “African Lion”. When visitors approached, it started barking—it was a dog in disguise! Later on, it was revealed that the zoo’s leopard was a fox and its wolf was a mongrel. You would expect this to be a trick only done by one zoo who could not afford these animals but alas, this zoo was not the only one disguising common animals as wild beasts. At the Marah Land Zoo in Gaza City, the zebras were a pair of white donkeys painted with black stripes!
Please understand, I am not calling these two women animals in disguise! Oh no, I am just saying that all the years, specifically their teen years, that parent thought her daughter was a intelligent, joyous young woman; A majestic, prideful lioness. But, all of a sudden one day, she slips up, barks, and completely destroys the image of herself in her mother’s eyes. It is revealed that she is nothing more than a big, lying dog and nothing more.
All parents are not like this mother though.
If I was being charged by police, all hell would break loose in my Africanadian household. My father would shatter my fingers and burn the beat-up flesh until it is nothing but ashes if I ever got myself into criminal trouble. My mother would help the authorities find evidence against me and convince them I am the culprit of whatever. My father would report every single pencil I stole to the judge if that is what it would take. My mother would not visit me in prison no matter what, even if it was a life or death situation, even if she had won the lottery and could bail me out faster than you could snap your fingers. If I was not found guilty, I would be grounded for even being considered a suspect. My mother would smash my gaming consoles if my father cannot stop her in time to sell them.
If I got in school trouble, my mother would help the principal choose me a suitable punishment; something like no recess, triple homework, or detention. If I got in trouble at home, my dad would come into my class and tell my peers everything wrong I have ever done, let alone telling my principal and other teachers. My mother would even drive me into the police station to openly confess my small mistake (telling the officers her Tanzanian saying, “a small crack on the wall if not fixed can grow into a bigger one and cause the wall to fall”). Together, my mother and father would make sure that, by any means, I pay the price of my wrong doing.
In the end, who are the better parents: the ones that do not want to believe that their child is wrong or the ones who will make sure that their child knows what he/she has done is wrong and that he/she has to face the consequence? I believe that even though my parents are hard on me with their disciplines, they mean well. They want to make me learn that wrong is wrong and will never be right by any means possible. Sugar coating my problems would not take me anywhere in life but downwards. What can I say about my parents’ flavor? I am enjoying the rhythm.
Angelous