The Good Life

Karen has always been the 'go to' person. Always sticking her neck out for people. So it was nothing strange when Nicholas came begging for a connect to a job as he has been out of one for a pretty long time, his family was suffering and just somehow, he remembered his long time friend Karen could hook him up with jobs. Karen was big time into gaining contracts to do supplies, from household to office equipments. Being the kind hearted soul she was and upon their long time relationship Karen was quick to go all out in helping Nicholas. She took him under her wings, began introducing him to her contacts, allowed him tag along whenever she had a job to do, would let him use her office space in his little hustles, on and on they went. One day, Karen got a job of millions. After giving it much thought and looking upon the state of her friend and his family, Karen directed the job to Nicholas. This was one of her big contracts she'd been hoping to clinch for the year...

Ohhhhhhhhh peaceful night! Beautiful night! With the night comes peace, calmness, solitude and more. As a parent, after having a day of refereeing, screaming and exhaustion, the minute the kids fall asleep is like a golden moment of sanity. Most times after successfully putting the kids to bed, the relative peace and quiet becomes a strong allure, such that majority of the time I choose this quiet time over sleep. Knowing fully well that I have very few hours to sleep, I still choose my quiet time. For a good part of these alone times, I get carried away only to realize that I've got about an hour or two to sleep before waking up to prepare breakfast, lunch and the kids for the new day. After getting them sorted and concluding with the school run, it's almost like I'm a walking zombie as all the sleep I'd have missed would come rushing back in strong demands.  Sleep deprivation or not, I'm already looking forward to my peaceful alone time. That's the...

'I'm disappointed in you'  Jenny exclaimed the minute Kate answered to the call.  'Kate, it's been almost two months and you can't even call me. You just forgot me. Na wah ohhhhh' So many persons have used the phrase above when addressing issues. However, most fail to realize that a good communication is a two way street where one must engage in talking, listening, repeating/engaging emotions. We were taught to conceal our feelings and emotions. Some person's like Jenny, do not realize the fact that nobody owes them anything and life doesn't revolve around them. If a person doesn't call, you can call that's that simple.  Learn to love back Learn to live every moment to it's fullest Appreciate everyone who really is always there for you  It's no time for emotional blackmail. Everybody is going through something Everybody is trying their best to be strong and pull through  If you must call someone today, be the reason they...

I was appalled when hubby said he wanted just one child. The Naija indoctrination in me came flying out in strong protest.  Such a strange idea wasn't even subject to discussion to begin with so why stress myself to even engage hubby in any form of debate or argument? One child! For what? A boy would need a sister and vice-versa. Neither of us were only kids, so this oyibo mindset won't bear fruit in my home. Don't you know a child needs a sibling(s)? The more the merrier. Our parents of old had close to 10 children if not even more. Our kids therefore have no reason for being alone, so society taught us.  So I engaged every arsenal known to me. Of course hubby didn't stand a chance and overtime caved in to my demand for another child.  My people, that's how baby no2 landed and in God's graciousness we were blessed with a boy and a girl. In the bid to have a play mate for baby 1, supreme mother baby 2 came with power. She's the one giving everyon...

In today's world, kids are super smart and very quick to learn. I'm guessing one of the contributing factor is the method of teaching. Back in the days, you had slates and pencils, then we moved to having white boards and markers. It was all writing, craming with crude ways of doing calculations. Gradually, tv became introduced, right now, almost every child has a kiddie's tablet with fun children videos to help them remember and sing along. Games have been incorporated as teaching method for the kids. Teachers have become very creative to engage the minds of children as against the hard ways of yesterday. You go to school and find kids engaged in painting, wrestling, obstacle climbing, rubics, dancing, skill acquisition... The goal has shifted today from straight jacket pre-programmed teachings to stimulating the minds and tapping into the brain of kids to discover what they love and can excel in doing. This way, the kids learn faster and rarely forget. I was w...

I watched hubby as he gritted his teeth when he felt the prick of the needle. All I could say was sorry but I was almost tempted to say 'I told you so'. Hubby had been so busy lately and barely rested. Returned home one day and was sounding funny. I persuaded him to go visit the pharmacy and some drugs were prescribed to him. Two days later hubby's jetting out of the house when I ask him to take his medicine. He squeezes his face and tells me 'Babe I'm late. I'll take it when I get back'. I became his reminder for two days and he always found a reason to avoid taking his drugs. Third day he was on the bed quivering and subsequently landed in the hospital. This scenario is a common occurrence to many. You fall ill, drugs are prescribed to you. After the first or second dose, you start feeling like superman and refuse to complete your medication. This has been the root cause of people's illness growing worse, suffer irreversible health damages ...

Nothing is accomplished without a person setting goals, so no matter what the idea is, goals would definitely help in actualizing them. Sometimes our ideas might seem so big and overwhelming, sometimes we might be at a loss on how to accomplish the idea but the most important thing is to begin, no matter how small. Secondly, after achieving your set goals, never ever settle. Be intentional about not resting on your what you've accomplished, there's always more. Haven't you seen old persons say ' Ahhhhhhh, I used to be this this and this, if you knew me in those days, I used to do this this and that'. They go about talking about their yesterday's with so much glint in their eyes and end it with, 'i wish I didn't stop. I would've been in so so so and so place today'. Lastly, do all you need to do, do your best as well and never accept impossibility as an option. There must always be a way out.  Every dream can be brought to reality. Nev...

'You this girl, you think you can deny? Pretending that you don't know me shebi? I remember your face very well and you're claiming you can't recognize my face. Wait until we get down from this vehicle. I'm definitely calling your parents' . I entered this bus with just the thoughts of getting home but see how I found me, defending myself against what/who I had no clue of. The other day, I was walking home when someone ran to me and gave me a big hug, while exclaiming with so much excitement. I played along until after awhile as the conversation deepened, she finally caught the whiff that I wasn't who they thought I was. A friend walked into my family house, saw my baby picture hung on the wall, turned around, faced me and asked to know when I took those baby pictures of my daughter. Of course it was funny, besides looking at my daughter and my pictures hanging on the wall, one would've sworn they were one and the same person. Heard stories o...

Marriage is a very very beautiful and blissful thing especially when you're doing it with a friend who's interested in going all the way with, by and for you. However, that same marriage and partner can test you that you'd be tempted to hang your salvation for a bit and shake them until you finish letting out the steam. Years back before I got married, I remember a friend of mine ranting(in my opinion back then) about her husband. Why? Before they got married, while courting, he knew she wasn't so much into cooking and he even told her severally that he wasn't that much of a foodie. Would buy their meals outside whenever she was tired and all. Many years down the line after marriage, hubby loves nothing but eating at home😡🤣🤣🤣 Here I was, staring at another pile of clothes on the bedroom setter, bubbling inside like a volcano and wondering how best to reset hubby. Everytime I visited while we were courting, his things were always organized. My biggest...

He sat behind his Dad, all serious, listening to the preacher as he gave his sermon and most interestingly he was taking note.  For every time his Dad bent his head down to write, our son did the same even when he barely could comprehend what the preacher was saying not to mention writing properly at his age. At first I didn't understand why he was insistent on having my writing materials. Until few minutes down the line he was seriously scribbling points from the sermon.  It's amazing of course because he's just a 4 years old boy who should've been more interested in playing or snacks or something more fun. The bottom line here's, our kids are watching! We may think they're little children who don't take cognisance of things so we just live anyhow . Well let's hope and pray that we're showing good examples and living right before their eyes because someday they'd begin living out the same lifestyle before our eyes. Therefore it's...

Right now every Nigerian definitely has their dictionary by their side, flipping back and forth, A-Z and awaiting the next post to drop. Long story short, our brother, Brother Chimaroke lost his political bid to return as a senator and hmmmmmm our honourable had let all hell loose. Where do we begin? He's been online making sure we see hell. Posts upon posts seasoned with so many big grammars . Banters about other contestants Banters about bad governance and being betrayed Banters about how everything is bad, bad this, bad that, bad Peter obi, bad, bad,bad. He wouldn't stop ranting and it cuts across as funny for a man who sat as state governor for two terms, straight up to serve as a Senator.   and was running to be re-elected again...   What can we hold unto that he had done given all the positions he had help? Why do we have all these persons who had held a position become bitter and disgruntled after the people voted and they were removed and replaced...

Here we go again! Gubernatorial elections and all held on Saturday. This time around, after the presidential election, it's been an all out war. The broad daylight intimidation, the clear violence and instigation of violence but our police force said should be regarded as a joke, stealing of ballot boxes without any hassles... I watched several video clips from different centres where INEC officials plainly told voters that results would not be uploaded at the polling units but at the centre and that their superiors were aware and anyone who wasn't comfortable with this could choose not to cast their vote. How about Kogi state, where it is presently speculated that the Governor kidnapped INEC officials who weren't playing by the APC rule. We've had so many celebrities trade words with persons and some even went as far as uploading each other's picture to say nasty things and unfriend each other. It's a given that we have rights and freedom but aftera...

Everywhere from Facebook to Twitter, social media platforms all buzzing with the status 'Happy international mother's day'. A beautiful to see that all over the world mothers are celebrated. Not everyone however fits into this class. That a woman biologically birthed a child doesn't automatically make her a mother. A mother is one who nutures a child with affection, care and love, who in all ways, protects her child and even might be willing to give it all up to see her child happy and succeed. Therefore, an Aunty, cousin, random stranger, might be a better mother than a child's biological mother. How about those who have no kids due to miscarriages or for whatever reasons, medical or not but have been trying for one? What about the neighbour, Aunty/Uncle who have taken up the responsibility to mother a child? How about the men who are the real ones mothering the child or for whatever reasons have become single parents and are doing well at it? Today in ...

There's nothing more beautiful than being the reason for something beautiful. There's one way of making this happen: GIVING!   The word giving makes most people going in the other direction especially in this economy. They just assume somebody's after their money. Giving however goes beyond cash. Ever seen someone who was gifted with true love after having loveless relationships? They soak it up like a sponge. Giving could mean just being a friend and being there for someone in need Lending a helping hand, a listening ear, words of advice or encouragement, sharing knowledge, a meal, a smile, a referral and many more are other beautiful ways of giving. Give of yourself, give from your heart, give with love cos a heart that loves keeps no scores, it's accepting and accommodating. The reward of giving isn't only one sided you gain the joy of knowing that a person has the reason to smile because of you; you're blessed with great friends; nobody forgets h...

Loud cheers, music, dancing, having eaten to our fill, we wholeheartedly wished her a happy married life. Just like the snap of the fingers Onyi became a straight madam. Her husband was blessed to be running a business of his own however, catering for Onyi and and her endless truckload of needs was basically making her hubby go round and round. Onyi was making new clothes for every Sunday, changing hairdo like water and more. Many people set themselves up for undue pressure and so, they begin to do all manner of things just to meet up. Gradually, the finance of the family began to dwindle but that did not stop Onyi. We sure might have met these kind of people who live basically to show people not because they have, but because they want to belong, they want to be seen and they want people to perceive them in some kind of crazy . Well, I'm writing to inform you that no body really care about all them fake, flashy things  Today, people are more concerned about what you ha...

One chore to another, dishes, dinner, kids assignment and then preparation for the kids lunch for the next day. On and on I went throughout the night, fixing this and that. Before I knew it, the night was far gone. It was past 2am when I decided to call it a night. Next morning we went rush rush rush, off to school and the day began unfolding. I had a conference to attend , rushed there early so I could be sitted very comfortably before the conference began. Few minutes into the conference and I found myself sleeping. Wasn't a joke. I looked cool, had planned for this conference long ago, only to go drifting in and out of sleep throughout the conference. Whether we like it or not we deserve rest, our bodies, mind deserves rest and when we fail to give it, our body takes the rest for itself and in severe cases, it just shuts down.  Haven't we heard severally of people who were driving and slept off, leading to accidents or death? The same way we take our cars for ser...

Today, I couldn't help but go all over the place in celebration. No no no no, I didn't win a lottery but today feels that way as it's the birthday of someone who has been there for my family and I.  Stood by us when others bailed on us, spent his money , tie and energy to get my family smiling again. We didn't start off this close. In fact we were just colleagues in the office and we went about our work everyday. Of course, God being so kind, I've always had this disposition of giving a smile, being friendly and more. Many years down the line and my family got into a major problem. Guess who showed up and carried the matter on his head?  Same colleague. Life presents to us opportunities daily to meet and bond with people. Well, it might not go strictly based on the way we planned but then the emphasis is on being friendly and making ourselves friendly. You never know how or when any relationship will save you. Life as well, is short, so value every time ...

Overheard a man telling his wife 'It's just pregnancy oh and you're doing like this. My mother had 9 children and it didn't stop her from doing anything. See, pregnancy is not an illness so get up, fix me dinner and take proper care of this house' The truth however is that pregnancy and child birth is a journey where you're made to walk the thin lines between life and death.  I remember a lady in my church who midway in her pregnancy, got blind. Her husband funny enough is a Doctor. They went up and down running tests and all, nothing was found, many days later, her sight came back. Severe headache was the first indicator for me that I was pregnant. Experienced it in the pregnancy of both kids. Then for my second, I developed a very bad ear pain. There are so many women who suffered pregnancy induced illnesses. Some minor stuffs like headache, weight gain, but others come up crazy and even near death. High blood pressure, low blood pressure, growths,...

Writing with so much excitement as I just completed a task I thought was impossible. Well, it's braiding my daughter's hair. I do try to fix it sometimes for her but never tried out something serious. Given how cranky she gets whenever she's making her hair, every salon appointment is always a nightmare for me. Today, after washing her hair, I thought to myself, why not make her hair yourself. It wasn't the usual quick fix and I was wondering how we'd get through because the minute I started making it, she was began crying and wouldn't sit still. I encouraged myself and got on with it. Hours past and it looked like we were just getting by but then like the proverb, slow and steady wins the race. We crawled, cried, took breaks but we finally got it done and my joy knew no bounds. First I was saved of the inconvenience of a salon, then the amount I would've spent making the hair and then lastly my confidence was boosted and I discovered I could do ...

Ever rendered help to some persons and then encountered a little challenge and they were the first to laugh at you? Ever gone out of your way,above and beyond just to wipe away tears from a person's eyes,only to have them be the reason you shed tears? Ever given your last to make a person, only to have the person established and he turns to fight you? Ever stood by and for a person only to have them suddenly distance themselves from you in your trying time? Well,I say nobody has a monopoly of anything; good or bad . Life is funny, it's full of ups and downs and you can't escape it. No one exists and all his days are filled with milk and honey,  We all have had challenges and as far as life is concerned, we keep encountering challenges until we breath our last but what's important is - Never laugh at anyone in their moments of pain - Be a source of comfort and strength not pain or denying your friend because he's in need. Be not wear in you well.

Thanks to the resilience and strength inbuilt in every Nigerian, we are still surviving the illogical and untold hardship been meted out by our government. One way the Nigerian people have been able to maintain their sanity is by turning everything no matter how tough, into a comedy. Memes, videos, cartoons, anything and in any form that would make us end up in stitches and rolling on the floor in laughter. On this backdrop, Nigeria suddenly seems to have a new anthem courtesy of the presidential election. Everywhere you go Elluuuupppp! 71 Hungry and angry? Elluuuupppp! 72 Frustrated about the state of our nation? Elluuuupppp! 73 More than ready for a change in our nation for the better? Elluuuupppp! 74 Obi 75! Obi nwa nnem 76! The new anthem is seriously living rent free in our heads🤣🤣🤣🤣 It's played in clubs, parties and I won't be surprised if it's played  in church tomorrow.

It was all going smooth until I got to Uncle Chijioke's store. I told myself to stay focused but my eyes betrayed me and at the exact moment I laid my eyes on the TV, Boss was trying to shoot Actor and everybody shouting 'Noooooooo!' And that was how I got stung by the virus and forgot my reason for being out there. You see, Uncle Chijioke had a bar close to the pharmacy. It was always busy because he had a TV and you could trust to watch the latest Nigeria movie or live football matches in his bar. Of course as kids we were forbidden from entering there but we perfected the art of hiding or standing by the entrance to watch. That bar has been the source of many floggings because just like me kids forget what they're sent. There I was, until my younger brother came to tap me and said mummy asked him to come call me. Instant brain reset! I quickly ran into the nearest store and got toothpaste and klin and ran back home. Of course my Mum stood outside waiting ...

There's simply no way around it except to say that our leaders are wicked, selfish and out for nothing but their personal gain and wellbeing. The news of crazy things politicians have been doing to win the people's sympathy and buy their votes have been eye opening. Prior to this time, it was business as usual, the political class was sure of rigging so they basically shared peanut food items during the elections and have the people elect and e en re-elect them back into office. However since the just concluded presidential elections, those running for office have been put on their toes. The tone has changed from sharing peanuts to tangible results to prove one's competence. Let's take Lagos as a case study, with the elections  just days away, the Lagos state governor decided to authorize the release of impounded cars free of charge with claims that their offences were minor and negligible. Yet an incident made news of a man whose car was impound for nothing...

Every social media handle has been going agog in celebration of the women and indeed it's such a blessing. As a woman, I think about how I have to fit into the million roles, from wife to mother, sister, daughter and the responsibilities that accompany each role. Rising up early to get things ready for the day, being the last to retire to bed late at night. Everyday round the clock, you must think about how to properly run your home. For those who stay at home, it doesn't end with the kids going off to school, you get to do the chores at the speed of light and hope to have accomplished if not all, something significant before their return. Those who work outside the home have the added responsibilities of running their businesses or working efficiently at their jobs then coming back to play their domestic roles. Today I choose to celebrate a special group of people who the society have labeled as though they're outcasts 'THE SINGLE MOTHERS'. These people...

N869billion or cowries? It was a very shocking thing to today to hear the federal 'gunmen' of Nigeria say it needs N869billion to conduct census. They are nothing short of gunmen because they've stolen almost every and anything imaginable without shame, conscience, remorse or any form of accountability. They've stolen so much from the masses. From their votes, to resources meant for projects that would better the lives of citizens. How does one explain a snake swallowing billions? Then another time, it was reportedly monkey that stole billions as well. For this government, nothing can be shocking as well as impossible. N869billion to count what? How many Nigerians do we have? If 1million Naira were to be shared to every Nigerian, we'd still have enough change left. I can't help but wonder how the mind of our politicians work. The common man can barely eat as the prices of everything in the market has trippled, yet salaries has remained the same, some...

It's amazing how the tides have changed, like some kinda wind blew to reset everybody's brain.   And perhaps if we were to give a true picture of what's going on in our nation, a new wind is really blowing. By this time previous years, the youth would be more bothered about every other stuff asides the main thing going on and giving their attention to it. It would have been a season for moral judges, show lovers and even those who cared less. Shows like Big Brother Naija would've been sweeping the airwaves and majority of the people's status or some football talks and even silly little problems. And then came 2023 election. Like a joke, there's been a mighty revolution amongst the youth and almost everyone, young and old for once has taken the nation Nigeria and it's affairs seriously instead of the usual hiding of our head in the sands and being unconcerned. Yes, something bigger than we have been used to has taken over our nation. It's inde...

Different delicacies made, fridge stocked up and it was a battle of the best aroma. Anyone who stepped into the house was sure to eat to his/her fill. If there's anything I've found I love doing is turning out delicious meals and the satisfaction of it all is watching people enjoying the meal so, every chance I get I cook and cook. Here I was, done with cooking, from soups to stews and having outdone myself, I stared at it all with no appetite whatsoever. Was I terribly hungry? Yes So I opted for the old and well trusted meal that never fails; garri! Other times, I resort to biscuit and milk or any snack and juice/yoghurt. This has always been my weakness; cook cook cook and eat none until a million days later. I find it enviable that people cook and dish out the meal and begin to eat. Some won't even wait for it to get down from the fire before they start feasting, others would eat and eat I would finish cooking and the ordinary thought of dishing the meal has ...

Three years after so much pressure I consented to visit Jide. It was clearly written that Jide was so into me. By all standard, he was every girl's dream. I had suffered too many heartbreak and just wanted to be alone for awhile.  However, I bowed to the idea of a visit and he was all over the moon. You know how one does that killer kinda dressing and moves when you know they're interested in you? That's how I landed at Jide's Cool music, superb lunch, wine flowing, then we decided to Netflix and chill only for me to hear.a loud rumble. It was none other but my stomach. I tried my best to do this thing at home before stepping out today but there was no show so I packaged myself and went on this date. Her I was, sweating profusely and wondering how I'd tell 'Mr Crush' that I needed to use the toilet for No2. Another rumble, twists and turns and I had to open up. Finally I catwaled to the toilet with the last drop of shakara left in me but the minu...

'Turn to your neighbour and say, I will marry well' said our Pastor. Of course I turned to my neighbour and repeated what the Pastor said. No sooner had the statement left my mouth than I realized I was actually talking to my hubby.  Guess what made it even more ironical? It was our wedding thanksgiving and hubby and I were given special seats in the front row in church. As though that was not enough, the Pastor caught me as I was repeating those words to hubby and fell into serious laughter, proceeded to share it with the church and got everyone doubling over in laughter. 'Maxwell Precious'  This was like the hundredth time the nurse was calling this woman's name. I was seething with anger and couldn't wait for my name to be called. How can the nurses keep calling somebody who was absent meanwhile they left us sitting here. And to think I forgot my snacks at home, today of all days. There I was stewing until the nurse asked me 'Madam, what is yo...

The past week had been filled with loads of activities and t opped off by the almighty presidential election. Of course due to the suspense on and the subsequent outcome of the election, my family was so caught up in the gloom and despair that we forgot yesterday was my brother's birthday. My brother Em is a very cool guy. He virtually went along with all of us and said nothing until very much late into the day when we remembered. I literally uploaded his birthday pictures on my status by 11:47pm. That's how caught up we all were. Of course we did our best to make it up to him but it taught me a lesson. Life is never static, you'd always have different experiences which you may not be able to control; the good, the bad and then some but in all these don't forget to live. The world would never stop for you so live. Do not allow the activities going on around you dictate how you live. Don't get so lost in these things that you wake up to the realization th...

Today, almost everyone seems to carry a cloud of resignation. No, it wasn't much of a surprise. The outcome was long predicted and expected but then again we had that little candle of hope burning in our hearts for that miracle, so we prayed. We prayed!  In our closets, we prayed In gatherings, we prayed On the street, in our hearts, day and night, rain or shine, WE ALL PRAYED! Then we took it a step further and went to work Sensitizing our family, friends and everyone around us We made it out sole duty to make sure that everyone around us understood what this election represented, what they needed to do and what not to do. Finally, we voted! Fought the thugs Fought the officials who tried rigging Stood endlessly for hours on end just to vote, and we did. Few days later the outcome as predicted, was announced. The people gave it a big shot. For the first time in the history of this nation majority chose to exercise their franchise Only to have the end results make all e...