With schools having reopened last week, here are ten types of parents you’re likely to encounter. Which type are you, or which type was your parent when you were growing up?
The complaining ones
This group and the government don’t see eye to eye. Year after year, they find something to complain about. According to them, the Ministry of Education has done nothing right, they lament the lack of books, rising school fees, overly long holidays, and much more. And heaven help the school if it makes a mistake, because these parents won’t hesitate to take on the management.
The last minute
These parents, even their own kids, returned from shagz just the night before schools reopened, mere hours before the term began. They are the ones caught in a last minute rush, queuing at the bank to pay school fees. By 8p.m., you will find them at the local fundi getting their child’s uniform repaired. You can’t help but wonder where they were for the last two months?
Concerned lot
They are exceptionally well-prepared. We can give them a straight A for punctuality. These parents sorted everything in advance: school fees paid, uniforms ready, and even a bit of home-schooling to ease their kids back into the school routine. They are deeply involved in their child’s education, so much so that they even know which teacher is heading for maternity leave and the baby’s gender!
The don’t care
They go with the flow — as long as their child is in school, they don’t question anything about school-related activities. They don’t bother asking why the government made certain decisions as long as their child is attending classes, they are perfectly content.
Nagging ones
They ensure their kids get to school and even visit to check their new sleeping arrangements. They are keen to know all the friends around their kids and their upbringing, even which kids come from single parents homes. This type doesn’t just befriend the class teacher but also the school chef. They stay informed about menu changes and are aware of any unfortunate incidents in the neighbourhood, thanks to their close connections with the security guard.
The Stranded group
They already spent the money intended for school fees, unlike other parents who sacrificed big projects to ensure their child settled in school first. This group, however, made a major blunder— some might say they bit off more than they could chew. Now, they have no choice but to call the school and negotiate for their child to be allowed back, promising to pay the fees later or offering produce such as maize, beans or cabbages as payment.
The editors
They will edit shopping list accusing you of being a spendthrift. Why would you need three different types of bar soap? They’ll prioritise the least important items for the child and remove the most preferred ones all while telling you storos from their time, about how they did things differently and how this generation has it easy. They will also go through the child’s homework, critique the hand writing and teach you how capital ‘P’ and small ’f’ should be written. And now, you’ll have to change that too.
Absentee parents
They know nothing about the school or the reopening schedule. The school could even move locations, and these parents would only find out on the very morning it happens. They are completely clueless about anything related to school. Yet, you’ll still find them complaining alongside other parents about the education system.
The Judas (betrayers)
This type will betray their kids in front of the teachers and the school. When they discover their child didn’t complete their assignments, they’ll act as if they had warned them repeatedly but were ignored. Some will even go as far as siding with the teachers and giving the child a beating—just to protect their reputation.
The ones that overdo
They buy new sets of uniforms every year, even when the child doesn’t need one. They go the extra mile in everything. To them, school reopening is a major event. They ensure their kids have all school supplies as if it’s a competition with other parents.