Boarding school is tough, don't let your kids suffer for no reason

As schools are on midterm break, I'd like to talk about school visits and pocket money for boarding students.

I saw a tweet where the older generations were talking about their boarding experiences with school visits and pocket money. Some of the comments were hilarious, while others were heartbreaking.

If this had happened to Generation Z, it would have been classified as one of the issues contributing to their mental health problems. As I previously stated, that terminology in children was non-existent. One was expected to survive and they actually got praises from parents with words like "Huyu ni mtoto mzuri sana, hasumbui".

One person wrote that her parents never visited her in school; she had to survive the entire term and looked forward to the midterm to replenish stocks.

One person complained that the father lied to him about leaving the food package outside the gate with the watchman because he wasn't sure parents were allowed to bring food.

Many people had memories of their fathers showing up at the last minute of a visit with a few bananas and a newspaper.

One that made me laugh was when a child's father would arrive near the end of visitation time with nothing but a newspaper and head straight to the staffroom, discuss with the teachers, and then send for the child for a dress-down before leaving.

Some of us were fortunate to have a visiting day every Sunday, which was beneficial during our time in Form One.

When we went to Form Two, the Eastlands mentality was still in us, and we were bullies with new survival tactics, so whether we were visited or not, there was plenty of food.

By then, one didn't even want visitors because you would be perceived as a softie. I recall a parent of a friend visiting us while we were on punishment, but he had to lie and say we were on Agriculture practice because we were cutting grass instead of attending class.

Last term, my daughter had a parents' day, and I was in a WhatsApp group of parents when some complained that other students were going round begging for food.

It occurred to me that we have a very cruel generation of parents. Children were not supposed to be denied food when we were growing up.

Some parents live far away and are unable to make such trips. I've decided that the next time I'll buy 10 extra pizzas to share with kids whose parents don't show up.

Also, as a parent, make an agreement with your children, especially those in college, to have a regular monthly payment of pocket money. In this manner, the child will begin to develop financial discipline.

This will also keep them away from older people who can quickly provide for them financially but also take advantage of them.

It is critical for parents to attend their children's visiting days.

If you are a long distance away, try to send a relative or make arrangements with a delivery person. Some of the actions have a psychological impact on some children, and the generation is not as tough as some of us. Let us not make excuses for them because not receiving visitors may cause them mental issues, as they claim.

We should take responsibility as long as the child is under your roof and you are still paying for their education.