Contentment is better than being punished

I'm always glad and happy when my parents get something for me on their way back from work. But what saddens me most is when my mom forces me to eat food I don't like. It is not that this food disturbs my body system, but maybe the taste or appearance of the food is not good enough to meet the taste I need from the food.

This often makes me go to bed with an empty stomach. Sometimes, if I notice my mom has prepared a meal that I don't like, I will go to bed on time so that she won't force me to eat the food.

The habit of rejecting meals that I don't like becomes my constant habit. My dad would sometimes plead with my mom that she should try her best to cook my favorite food in order for me not to develop an ulcer. And my favorite food is often rice with fish. I dislike meat because of the constant rage of chewing it so long in my mouth. And if I eat meat, it must be a soft, tender rage just because I like it fast to get eaten easily before swallowing it.

One faithful day, my mom told me that she wanted both of us to visit her close friend. I was so glad to hear this because it's been a while since I've seen my friend. Upon getting there, my mom was so glad to see her friend. Because her friend had been out of the country for a while due to business, she finally came back to Nigeria just because of her friend.

However, I observed that her children were not at home. I observe a delicious aroma in her kitchen. She told Mom that we had come at the right time; she just finished cooking, and she wanted us to dine with her. But my mom said she was okay; we ate at home before coming over.

She asked, What about me? She just prepared a delicious bowl of rice with roasted fish. I felt so happy, and I said yes.

Do you know what happened?

I looked at my mom's face; she was blinking her eyes, telling me not to ask for food. But I still insist on saying yes.

She even tapped her legs on the ground, giving me a strong signal that I should not collect the food, but I wanted to taste the food because I refused to eat at home.

To even worsen it all, I then said,

“Mummy, what's wrong with your eyes?” She smiled and said something that dropped inside my eyes.

My mom's friend was about to get the signal, and my mom had to adjust herself quickly.

My mom's friend went to the kitchen to get food for me; she gave it to me.

With the excitement in me, seeing the face of the food. I started eating it, and I looked at my mom's face. She frowns at me. I quickly take my eyes away.

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My mom and her friends were in the parlor while I was at the dining table eating a delicious meal.

After I finished the food, I took the plate to the kitchen, washed it, and placed it where it belonged.

I later went to join them in the parlor, and then I said

“Thank you very much, ma".

It was a nice meal, especially the fish. I really enjoyed it.”

Then she said, “You're welcome", in a smiley tone.

She asked my mom, "You didn't tell me that your daughter likes fish a lot." My mom's response was back with a mere smile, and she said "don't mind her".

Later that day, we left my mom's friend, but before we got home, my mom started giving me her hungry reaction to not obeying her instructions. When we got home, my dad was already at home waiting for us. She told my dad what exactly happened at her friend's place.

But my dad told her that I was just a child; she should have told me earlier on, before we got to her friend's house, not to collect whatever her friend gave me.

My dad scolded me, for my disobeying mom's instructions.

I didn't know that my mom was not satisfied with the way my dad scored me that night.

The following day, my mom went to the market, brought my favorite food items, cooked, and called me to the dining table to come. I was happy at first, but looking at the quantity of the food, I knew I wouldn't be able to finish it.

She asked me to remove my clothes so that I could enjoy the food. It was a well-cooked roasted fish spiced up to the way I would enjoy it.

My mom sat in front of me, watching the way I was eating the food. It's gotten to the point where I was tired, but she insisted I finish it. I pleaded for so long that I was okay, but she refused and said, ”You must finish it; it's your favorite." After much scolding and talking, my mom made me face the music of disobedience through serious talk. She flogged me with words I was not expecting, which taught me a lesson: never to disobey my parents and also to learn the body signs of my parents.