Children don't learn values by accident – Celestine Donkor

Gospel musician, author and mother of three, Celestine Donkor, believes that good values are not inherited by chance but deliberately taught through consistent parenting.

Speaking at the second edition of Convergence of Mothers organised by media personality MzGee, Donkor shared how she and her husband have intentionally built family traditions and routines to help shape their daughters' character.

"We have been very intentional about how we raise our girls," she said.

According to her, effective parenting requires more than providing food, shelter and education. It demands deliberate effort in teaching respect, responsibility, family values and healthy relationships.

Donkor revealed that her husband has played an active role in raising their daughters from birth, participating in everything from school runs to prayer sessions.

"He is very involved in their lives," she said.

The couple also intentionally nurtured strong family bonds, teaching their daughters to maintain relationships with relatives and celebrate important milestones.

Growing up in a large family herself, Donkor came to appreciate the importance of staying connected and ensuring children understand the value of family support systems.

As a result, birthdays, family check-ins and regular communication became part of their household culture.

One of her daughters, she revealed, has become so attentive to family relationships that she remembers birthdays across the extended family and reminds everyone when special occasions arise.

For Donkor, these habits are not random acts but the result of years of intentional training.

She believes many of the qualities parents admire in their children later in life are often the product of consistent routines established during childhood.

The musician also stressed the importance of involving children in everyday family life rather than treating them as passive observers.

Whether helping around the home, greeting visitors or participating in family activities, she believes children learn responsibility through practice.

"Life becomes lonely sometimes, and these children must become our friends and partners in the home," she said.

Donkor's message to parents was clear: the values they hope to see in their children tomorrow must be deliberately cultivated today.

For her, parenting is not accidental. It is intentional, consistent and built one lesson at a time.

AM