AGE THAT CAME WITH WISDOM

‘When will she ever accept that I am now grown?’ I always sadly wondered about my mother’s intervention in every detail of my life.

Mother wanted to be there when I visited the doctor, escort me to the bus station if I had a journey, know the reason for going to town and literally, just have the assurance that I will be fine. I later learnt to accept my fate, knowing that probably that’s part of the package that comes with being an ‘only child.’ It wasn’t all gloom though, being an ‘only child’ came with lots of pampering. I got a full package of this.

Trouble came when I became of age and moved out of home to start my own home. Hubby would definitely need extra grace to match the pampering that my life had been accustomed to. I couldn’t be solely blamed because that was life, how I knew it!

In the seventh month of our marriage, I conceived our first child. The pregnancy was six months when Golola Moses of Uganda came on the scene. I had never had any interest in kickboxing, let alone any sport. It is Golola’s overly exaggerated threats regarding the forthcoming fight that got me interested in the sport. Regarding why he left part of his head designed with silver spray with the mark of an arrow, he said, “I am as fast as an arrow and it also reminds me every day that I have to move forward no matter the obstacle.” He also alleged that he was the only man that could look at a woman and she becomes pregnant. Crazy!

I decided I wanted to go, and watch live that overly hyped fight. The fight was scheduled to take place at midnight, at Hotel African. I told hubby of my plans and informed him that I would need him to tag along for my safety, but also knowing that I have never been a ‘night person.’

‘You can’t be serious. One, you are pregnant, two, such events draw all manner of rowdy people, three, I mean, you just can’t go.’ Hubby protested.

‘Well, I want to go. Sorry, we will go. You know I can’t go alone. We will have to go!’ I put my foot down.

Looking back, that incident gives the classical adage of ‘when you marry a person, you take the full package’ clear perspective.

When yours truly realized that I wasn’t relenting, he advised that we sleep over the issue. I don’t necessarily agree with that approach sometimes, but over the years I have learnt that I can’t always have my way.

The next evening hubby brought back the issue, this time suggesting that he would give me company to watch the fight on WBS TV, where it would be broadcast live.

‘Who can take such a risk? What if power goes off? Well, the truth is I don’t want the broadcast version – I want to be there!’ I firmly insisted.

Hubby was stuck. Stuck with a pregnant wife, making irrational demands and insisting that he must be there, in something he had absolutely no interest in at all.

Hubby decided to escort me to that famous Golola fight in 2011. He was on stage and no sooner had I started enjoying the fight than a knock-out was announced. I looked at hubby, pitied him in my heart for spending half the night out for something he hardly enjoyed. He held my hand and carefully led me out of the crowd and off we set for our home in Mukono.

This year I am a year older. I look back and realize that this particular age did not come alone, this time it came with wisdom. I look forward to a future where hubby will be more understood for his position regarding such things as escorting me to places like a kickboxing match or doing window shopping in downtown. Maybe one day I will grow never to give medics a headache at the mention of the word injection and also outgrow road crossing phobia.

Grateful to God for life. Memories that count!

                                                     ©Prim K. Tumuramye

Prim is a Christian, wife, mother and Communications Specialist at Compassion International. She is passionate about reading, writing, youth mentorship and intentional parenting.