A brassiere vendor at Kaneshie Market in Accra, Hannah Hagan, has advised parents, especially mothers, to avoid expecting something in return after raising their children.
According to her, many mothers feel bitter towards their children, who, after becoming prosperous, do not take of them.
While it is acceptable if a grown-up child decides to support their parents, Hannah says it should not be a requirement simply because the parents raised them.
Speaking on the latest episode of GhanaWeb TV’s Everyday People programme, she stressed that such expectations can lead to bitterness or even cursing their children.
“As a mother and a single parent, I became a single mother when my last child was six months old. So, I have been a single mother for about thirty-four years, as that child is now twenty-four years old. Do not be swayed by things like funeral clothes and other distractions. Work harder to take care of your children. In Ghana, unlike abroad, your hard-earned money doesn't necessarily work for you in old age.”
She continued, “Many Ghanaians who travel abroad to work as nannies earn their income from those jobs. However, in Ghana, the situation is different. After raising your child, if they become prosperous, they might take care of you, but you shouldn't expect it as a given.
"If you do, you may end up feeling bitter and cursing them if they don't meet your expectations. Instead, focus on raising your child so they don't become a burden to you. Then, if they grow up and are blessed, they can choose to take care of you in return," she said in Twi.
Meanwhile, Hannah, who is also a single mother of three, shared during her conversation with GhanaWeb’s reporter Victoria Kyei Baffour that she prioritizes educating her children over building a house.
She said, “When you educate your children, no one can take that away from them. If I say I am going to build a house, I know I will surely die one day, and family can take the house from my children. But if I educate them, it’s different.”
Currently, one of Hannah's children has completed technical university, another has finished nursing school, and the third is attending the University of Ghana, Legon.
During the same show, she advised her fellow women to prioritize their children's education over purchasing items like funeral clothes and other unnecessary things.
Watch the full interview below:
VKB/OGB
