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Raising Disciplined Children: What to Focus on This Holiday with Your Child

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By Dickson Tumuramye In today’s ever-evolving, competitive world, every parent desires to see their child succeed in school. We buy books, hire tutors, and attend school meetings, all in the hope of better grades. But behind every thriving learner is a quiet force many overlook: discipline. Unlike character, which speaks to values and moral standing, discipline is the day-to-day engine that helps children translate potential into performance. It is the muscle behind habits like waking up early, completing homework on time, respecting authority, and staying focused even when distractions abound. Discipline is not about shouting, punishing, or controlling. It is about teaching children to manage themselves. It is the gift of structure, consistency, and delayed gratification—and parents are the first and most influential teachers in this school of life. Many parents struggle with the time to nurture their children with good discipline. You have a chance to be intentional this school...
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Family First, Then Work: A Divine Priority

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By Dickson Tumuramye As we enter the school holidays, it serves as a reminder of the importance of family and how, in God's design, family is not only foundational to life but also comes before work. In a world that often prioritizes career and productivity, it’s essential to reflect on God's original order of creation and how He designed family to be our first ministry and priority. God’s Design for Family: A First Blessing The very first relationship God established in the Garden of Eden was the relationship between man and woman, a family. In Genesis 2:18, God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” In creating Eve as a companion for Adam, God established family as the very first institution, preceding work and society. This divine order emphasizes the importance of prioritizing family relationships over all other responsibilities. Even before Adam and Eve were given the task of cultivating the Garden of Eden in Genesis...
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Listening Beyond Words: What Our Children Don’t Say After School or Work

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By Dickson Tumuramye Many parents are quick to ask, “How was your day or school today?” and the usual answer is a rehearsed “Fine” or “Okay.” The conversation ends, and life goes on. Yet behind that brief response could be a story waiting to be told, anxiety over grades, unspoken peer pressure, silent triumphs, or private heartbreaks. Children and young adults, whether in primary school or at university, or some who could be in the corporate world, often communicate more through what they don’t say than what they do. Our children may be surrounded by noise at school or at work, but often they return home carrying unspoken burdens. Listening as a parent, therefore, requires more than hearing words; it demands tuning into the silences, gestures, moods, and unsaid stories. While younger children may hide behind silence because they lack the words, older ones may retreat because they crave independence, fear judgment, or believe we won’t understand. Whether at home on holiday or navi...
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Whose Voice Will Shape Your Child This Term?

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By Dickson Tumuramye A Term Like No Other As children return to school this week, excitement and anxiety hang in the air. For many learners, this is the most critical academic term of the year — one that will determine their next step in life. From Primary Seven candidates sitting their PLE, to Senior Four and Six students preparing for UCE and UACE respectively, this term is more than just another lap; it’s the finish line. Even for those in transitional classes, end-of-year promotional exams carry significant pressure and expectation. This final term is often packed with tight schedules, revision programs, tests, and emotionally charged preparation. As a result, many children feel overwhelmed, not only by academics but also by the voices around them. Who Is Speaking into Your Child’s Life? In this emotionally and mentally charged season, an important question must echo in every parent's heart: Whose voice will shape your child this term? Will it be the loudest voice, p...
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How Parental Conflicts Affect Their Children’s Success

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  By Dickson Tumuramye In life, conflicts are inevitable, and they are part of us. Misunderstanding may arise between individuals, organizations, or families. They can tear down a strong family to nothing or can strengthen it if well handled, especially where reconciliation is prioritized. When couples fight, children carry silent wounds; wounds that often show up not only in their behavior but also in the classroom at school.  What happens behind closed doors at home can shape a child’s life journey far more than we might imagine. Parental conflict is not just a private affair. It quietly invades the emotional space of children and affects their ability to relate, learn, and thrive at home or in school. According to developmental psychologists, exposure to frequent arguments, aggression, or silent tension between parents creates an unsafe environment for children, no matter their age. Let us walk through the educational impact across different developmental stages. In...
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What Is The Role of Mothers, Fathers in the First 19 Years of a Child’s Life?

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By Dickson Tumuramye Parenting is one of life’s greatest adventures, and it begins not at birth, but at conception. From that moment, both mother and father are called into an intentional journey of bonding, nurturing, and guiding their child. The first 18 years of a child’s life are not merely about caregiving; they are a foundation for lifelong learning, emotional resilience, character development, and academic potential. At every stage, both parents play unique and irreplaceable roles in shaping the trajectory of their child’s life. Mother’s Foundational Role Traditionally and biologically, mothers tend to take on the primary caregiving role in the early years, often being the first emotional anchor for the child. From breastfeeding and bathing in infancy to helping with homework or talking through emotional struggles in the teen years, mothers offer a continuous thread of nurturing and guidance. Her early attentiveness, whether noticing a fever, emotional distress, or chang...
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Behind the Smile: The Hidden Mental Struggles of Our Children

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By Dickson Tumuramye June was Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month. While much of the focus rightly went to fathers and adult men, we must not ignore another group that is quietly battling their own emotional wars — our children. The journey starts so early in the morning. From the classroom to the playground, or from the classroom to the dining area for a short time and back to class, and increasingly at home, many children are absorbing stress, rejection, and confusion in ways we often underestimate. With exams looming, the pressure only intensifies. Teachers expect high performance. Parents demand results. Friends can be unforgiving, and society doesn’t understand them. But amid all this, who is really listening to the children? Home Is Not Always Safe For many children, home should be a place of safety and comfort. Yet it often becomes a zone of performance and perfection. Some children are afraid to go home after school because they fear being scolded over poor grades or ...
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