Positive Parenting

By Dickson Tumuramye I have realized that when peers are together, irrespective of age or social status, they are the same in the way they crack jokes or do certain things. the common characteristic is what brings them together. as long as they have a similar goal and are in the same group, the former does not matter. Personally, I am engaged in different groups and fellowships. But each group is unique depending on their agenda. However, what is common is that we all respond to our issues with similar instincts, which makes fun and easy to learn from each other and enjoy our group. This too happens to pupils and students. As we know, children learn well from their fellow children. They understand better when they imitate what their peers are doing.  Some scholars say that students  learn  a great deal by explaining their ideas to others and by participating in activities in which they can  learn  from their  peers . They develop skills in organ...

By Dickson Tumuramye Anyone desires to live a life that is admirable by others. Though some people like to live a private life, there is still something that they would like the world to know about them. In this world, we are like fruits on a shelf. We choose to be juicy and fresh or raw and rotten in the eyes of those who pick us, said Amos Wekesa. I relate Wekesa’s statement with your personal branding.  Personal branding is a way of establishing and consistently reinforcing who you are and what you stand for in your career and life. It is true people will always have their own way of looking at us and judge. Each one of us can never be good or bad for everyone. Nonetheless, our style of living has a lot to do with our branding. The person who can sell your worth and value is you. You know yourself better than anyone else knows you. You are quite sure of your inner ability, strength, and weaknesses. In case you don’t know, I advise to ask your friends to help you....

Dickson Tumuramye After the meeting we had recently, my friend got so caught up on her cell phone. She was busy watching different video clips and other recorded messages. The different voice recordings attracted some people and we really became inquisitive. We were able to learn that all these were from one person who loved to play with my friend's phone every time the person got a chance of accessing it. This person never missed using the opportunity to pass on her feelings to the phone’s owner. As we clicked on each at a time, we were also interested in listening to what is happening. By the time we finished, some listeners became emotional. The story went on from watching the video clips to a discussion. There was an engagement from all of us. This was my friend’s 7-year-old daughter who was "accusing" her mom of neglecting her claiming to be busy. The mom narrated on other clips she had deleted. One of the touching clips was where this girl was tellin...

Prim K. Tumuramye Recently, I had a chat with my children aged six, five and three. I asked them what they would like to become in the future. My eldest son was the first to respond to my question, saying he wants to be a ‘digger man’ when he grows up. My second son was quick to say that he will be a ‘fixer man’ when he grows old like daddy. My three-year-old daughter came in last saying she wants to be a mother when she grows up. Digger man, fixer man or even mother, are not on the list of the most sought-after careers in Uganda today. I don’t even think they have ever been the enviable dream jobs anyone would pursue in quest for success. ‘So, what will you actually be doing in your said career roles? I asked them. I will be digging in my garden, the digger man said! It’s then that it occurred to me that his job was farming, his tittle literally translated from one who digs. The fixer man elaborated that he will be fixing shoes. Probably he wanted to be a shoemaker...

Dickson Tumuramye Deshauna contested to become miss USA 6 times in 6 years and she lost all. At the 7 th time, she made it for Miss Columbia and 6 months later in June 2016, she was crowned Miss USA, becoming the first USA Soldier to win that title. She says that life is full of nos and fewer yesses. But if you keep on track and focused, you will make it. Life has a lot of setbacks and pitfalls. They keep hindering us from reaching our destiny. The picture of our future plans and dreams with “you can't make it.” Such voices sound louder in your quiet moment than anything else. They paint the life we desire to live with the darkness that you cannot easily see any light/hope ahead; I mean success at the end of your planned endeavors. Every time you are alone, the devil will always whisper and remind you vividly about your life failures. It’s when you start recalling how you failed here and there. You start looking at yourself indeed as a real failure. You realize how yo...

By Dickson Tumuramye Most of the time we only focus on setting goals for one or five years as a family. Most organizations and individuals are used to a 5-year strategic plan. But at the end of the year 2019, my mind started realizing that I was beginning a new decade and I will not be young anymore. We asked our children to come up with a 10-year plan, it sounded strange how we could ask of 10 years’ plan from them. But when one in P.2 did it and learned that he will be at the university by 2031, he got so inspired. I know you could have already set your goals for this year or the next 5 years. But do you realize that you could still set goals for 10 years from now with your children? You know it is good enough to dream big than to dream small or not at all. Do you realize that if your child is in his/her 20’s, by 2029, a lot will have changed in their lives? For example, they will have graduated, will be working, married with children, will have possibly done second or mor...

By Dickson Tumuramye, After the release of PLE and UCE examinations by the Uganda National Examination Board, one would think the anxiety and stress are over. The struggle continues until the child is admitted for either S.1 or S.4. This happens even when the child is going to higher institutions of learning especially at the university. I know there are some schools where S.1 students have already reported and others are still waiting to begin soon. Last week, my friend moved around some good traditional schools seeking S.1 vacancy for his child. The child didn't perform to their expectations but he managed to get the first grade. The parent was at one of the schools (which I won’t mention) by 9am ready to see the headteacher. There was already a good queue for a similar reason. By 10pm, my friend with other parents had not yet seen the headteachers. At some point, the headteacher hid from the parents. I think he had no more words to tell them. Remember, some parents co...