Posts tagged dreams

Between Butterflies, Dreams, and Babies

Would you laugh if I told you I worry a lot about my children when I don’t even have any? It may sound ridiculous, but it is true that I worry about them. I care a lot about being a good mother to my kids and providing them with an equally good or even better father. As a matter of fact, I have already found a godfather for my first child. I mean, if I can’t marry this man to be the father of my kids, I might as well get him involved in at least one of my kid’s life. Are you wondering how we got here? I’ll tell you.

“Godfather” ticks almost every box for my future partner, the father of my kids. To say he’s brilliant would be an understatement because he’s, in fact, a genius. He’s got the looks, good fashion sense, a good sense of humour, great profession and alladat. But what caught my attention, aside from his brilliance, was his heart and emotional intelligence. He is an empathetic human who knows how to treat people with respect. He is kind and gracious, and I do not doubt his genuineness.

He’s the kind of man I see myself raising kids with. An excellent example for a son and daughter. For a son because he would see what a proper man should be like and grow up to be an even better version. For a daughter because she would see how he treats her and her mother and not expect less from men when she is older.

But why am I settling for the role of godfather to my child rather than husband to me? Well, well. First, I don’t consider myself his type—not like I know his type, but I assume his type would be a genius, and trust me, I’m not that. Of course, I’m a smartass, but not genius level. Secondly, we might also bore each other out (I don’t know why I think so). I also do not know if I like him in that way. I’ve never bothered to find out, but I know I greatly respect and admire him.

This doesn’t mean he doesn’t stand a chance to be my husband and father of my kids because all those “excuses” are nothing. Actually, he’s on my list of potential husbands (I promise I’m not crazy). I just need to be the woman of my dreams first before I start chasing these men of my dream.

As much as I’d love to do forever with someone I’m helplessly in love with, that is secondary for me compared to having a good husband and an even better father. If I find myself a man who would be a near-perfect father and good husband, I’m dragging him to the altar. Butterflies will grow later. So long we like each other, and there’s a good level of sexual attraction and respect, I think we’re good. I’ve come to learn that in life, we can’t always have it all (sighs in sadness). Even Adekunle Gold said, “Love is not enough.”

That’s how much I love my children still waiting to be born. Sometimes, I’m convinced that being a mother is a core reason for my existence (I do not think it is the same for everyone). And over time, I’ve realized it doesn’t necessarily have to be children from my fertilized egg. I’ve always had a thing for nurturing. It is why, when planning my future at sixteen, I dreamed of having a family of six children, three born and three adopted or four born and two adopted. I also had plans to start a foundation for orphans, less privileged children, or children with single parents. I don’t even mind being a stepmom.

I know how challenging parenting can be, but I’d still love to be one. In fact, it can be exhausting. Still, I want to be responsible for other responsible humans who would also raise responsible humans. I want to invest a lot of love into some little humans who will grow up to do the same. It might seem delusional, but I want to create an incorruptible cycle.

I want to be good people who would birth and raise other good people with another good people. But the evil in the world sometimes scares me and makes me rethink my choice of wanting to be a mother. Honestly, there have been times when I decided I won’t birth or raise any child cos I may not be able to forgive myself if the evil in the world hurts them or they become the evil themselves. It’s crazy, I know.

I also want to be a career woman and be up there. At the same time, I want to be a very present mother. I want always to be there to shield them from the world’s evils. I want them to feel and know the love of homemade meals (I’m not too fond of cooking, but anything for my babies). You might say some have done it before me and succeeded, but if we’re being honest, one of the two would always suffer for the other. Well, well. I guess I’ll cross that hurdle when I get there, or I’ll just run away. Until then, let me go back to curating my list of potential husbands.

PS: I didn’t mention something about my relationship with “Godfather.” No, I’m not about to say it because you’d either laugh at me or think I need therapy because I must be crazy. I guess I’ve just successfully piqued your curiosity. Still not telling you. I just hope he knows I wasn’t joking when he agreed to be godfather to my child. Who knows? He might be lucky enough to get upgraded to father instead of godfather. May God spare our lives till then.

Why Birthdays Are Meh For Me

Go! Go! Go shawty! It’s your birthday, we gon party hard, cos it’s your birthday… Lol. Okay. That’s the farthest I can go with the lyrics of 50 Cent’s hit song. A groovy song that sets you in the mood to party silly and hard on your birthday. Unfortunately, the song never works its magic on me; I’m never excited about my birthdays. Birthdays are a reminder of my setbacks, a reminder that things didn’t work out as planned, a reminder that I’m getting old, without achieving any of my very big dreams which sometimes scare me.

On my birthdays, I’m always thankful for the gift of life, and at the same time, moody. I’m usually very reflective and sober. Most times, I want to be alone but the people who love me, despite my flaws, never allow me be sober for long. They flood me with love on my special day. Love so overwhelming, till the point I shed some tears— happy ones.

When did this lack of excitement start? Since I clocked eighteen. Not like I was ever a birthday person. Before eighteen, all I always wanted was to be treated specially (no punishment, no scolding, no hard labour… Just pampering) and prayed for on my special day. Nothing more, nothing less. Good thing is, my birthday was usually during the long break from school— I owe fate for that. There were times I forgot my birthday on my birthday (please, don’t roll your eyes at me. Shit happens).

Before I officially became an adult, I had my life mapped out. Here’s what it looked like;

Graduate from secondary school at 16-17.

Get into a higher institution at 17-18, cos you know, smart pants, acing my exams at one sitting shouldn’t be a problem.

Get my first boyfriend in my 3rd year at 20, or after university at 21-22 depending on whether I studied Agric or Nursing.

Finish service at 22-23.

Get a job immediately after service, work for a while to attain financial independence before getting another degree, cos you know, all that brain can’t be wasted.

Make my first million before I’m 25. Own a nice home and car before I’m 30.

Get married to my one and only boyfriend (worst case, third boyfriend cos you know, life happens) at 27-35.

Have four kids and adopt two.

Build my mama a school and others…

Occupy a top position in my field. Be a model for young girls and teenagers in general. Own an NGO. Make an impact in the world and have my name written in the sands of time.

Looking back at my ridiculous list, I find it laughable. I must have thought life was just in black and white. I didn’t think I’d have many challenges. So you see, why I totally stopped being excited about my birthdays after 18, is cos I wasn’t where I was supposed to be, and I hated that I wasn’t in control.

Once upon a time, I would confidently share my age with those who asked and I got comments like “you’re very wise for your age”, “you’re such an old soul”, “you act and look older than your age”. Such comments acted as confidence boost, and left me always pleased.

What about now? Except I’m comfortable with you, I just tell you I’m in my early twenties cos I think it’s stupid to lie about it. Truth be told, most times, I have to deduct my birth year from the present year to get my present age. Yes, it’s that bad, and for three years straight, I kept thinking I clocked 18 on my last birthday. Tragic, right? And Just when I was gradually beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel cos you know, one more year and I’ll be done with school, Covid-19 happened, and ASUU decided to add some toppings with their strike. How perfect! Anyways, all I know is that I’m deducting this year from my age and I won’t be disclosing my age freely, until I complete my first degree program, and I’m financially independent.

Well, well. I’ll make deliberate effort to be excited about my birthday, next year. So help me God. I might just end up taking special birthday pictures too, and maybe for once, friends won’t have to stress, digging out pics from the last decade to celebrate me with. Lord knows how many of my potential customers they’ve sent off with some of those embarrassing pictures (which I honestly find cute and funny)… In case you’re wondering what service it is I offer, I offer backbone services. I can be your backbone, if you’re invertebrate. My services are for men only, PLEASE!

To my star girl, Nkechinyere, thank you for being my ginger and for infecting me with your excitement for my birthdays. You’re the reason I have more birthday cake pictures than I’d have had. Thanks for the peppered chicken and chocolate that year.

And that concludes my story of why I’m never excited about my birthdays. Who else can relate to my story? What do you think of birthdays? Do you find them overrated? Feel free to drop your comments.