Seven (7) year old Joshua is perched on the branch of a breadfruit tree sobbing hysterically and anxiously anticipating his mothers arrival. He sobs even more as he envisions the stinging lashes that were promised to him by his mother over the telephone. Joshua was suspended for one week from school for hurling insults at his teacher after she attempted to discipline him. His mother Mary storms in the yard bellowing his name.
MARY
Joshua, Joshua, where that lazy, long belly Godforsaken, troublemaking ingrate of mine? I cant go with he you know, he just like he father, a good for nothing brute. Joshua, come, come, a say come, I would deal with you. Hooooooow you mean to tell the teacher that I say if she want child to go hit to go Springfield and look for she two? Alllll I simply say is for you not to let the teacher and them ill-treat you, because I know you dont have any behaviour.
Joshua climbed down from the breadfruit and stood in front of his mother sniveling. He has an apologetic look on his face.
JOSHUA
But Mommy you did say it, you tell me son in front of Aunty, when I tell you that teacher always a hit me. You and Aunty was talking about teacher. You say tell that woman that I Mary Stone from Half Down Road say to go Springfield and look for she children them if she want child to hit. It was the same day we had saltfish and dumplings.
MARY
Look me cross with you Joshua, what I going do with you! What you bawling long water for I aint hit you YET. Stop crying I aint raising no panty man in here. Sometimes I wonder what I was thinking when I decide to go through with you, when I had know that that lying thieving wretch of a father who you coming just like was going leave me. Joshua, what I going do with you eh! I spoil my life! I had YOU! I was young, well I was younger. I had a life. I had dreams. I could have been a model, me Coca Cola bottle shape used to mad the man and them, WATCH ME NOW! I could have been a lawyer or a doctor, but no you reach, you reach, is fast I did fast, and now boy you still fast. Joshua what I going do with you! You ruin me life!
Mary started pelting licks across Joshuas back like wild fire. She chastised Joshua severely for his wanton behavior.
MARY
Every man knock on me door you run them. How you think I going find a man to help me with you? Where you think you clothes and so does come from? Peter come here you calling the man wrong name. After all man, he aint have to know that other man does come here to me, nothing wrong with having a few friends. Johnny come here you stare the man too hard and going ask he if you could call him Daddy. The man take it make runway. Percy send you to buy a little rum and some cigarettes, you tell you Granny make the woman curse off the poor man. Lord Percy eh, Percy hmm! He was the BEST! Tom only lash me a few times because I was rightfully out of my place, Joshua, you asking the man-What you hitting my Mammy for? Boy, boy, boy, I want you to learn manners and keep a childs place. When I getting my licks, let me take them in peace, tell me something, who does put in for you when you getting you licks and them, who, who? Tell me! Sam doing a few transactions from me place, in private and you go chat in front you uncle knowing that he is a police. How I going get a man, when you acting up like that. I could tell you one thing. I could tell you one thing for sure, you Joshua Stone, cannot be my man, that is one thing for sure.
The other day I send you to borrow two lime from Annie tree, you get catch, you tell she that I send you. What I going do with you? You too stupid! You too moo moo. Last week Sukey come argue with me, ready to bring police and all. Pure jail work the woman was calling for. Sukey saying how I thief she black pig. I bring down all God and tell she NO, not me Mary Stone. You going jump in, saying, Sukey, you lie, that aint the one Mommy tief, she tief the black and white one. Joshua, what I going do with you? You almost give me a jail! I done! I done! Now take you duncing, hard head self and go do the homework that you hard back, mash up, long mouth teacher give you to do!
Society, parents and we actually wonder why there are so many juvenile delinquents in our society? We manufacture them right at home. Mary is cultivating societys future menace. She is providing an environment that would guarantee Joshua the title of St. Kitts and Nevis or even the Worlds Most Wanted. Joshua grows up seeing his mother being abused. He is more than likely going to abuse women. He wont respect women. He grows up seeing his mother encouraging alcoholics, gamblers and drug dealers. The probability is that he would mimic that lifestyle. Joshua grows up seeing his mother stealing, even if it is a simple lime, he may become a thief. Children need positive role models in their parents. They need positive reinforcement. Children are sponges. They soak up everything and then regurgitate it when they think that the timing is appropriate. Joshua is a prodigy. He is ignorant to that fact and so is his mother. Mary has very low expectations of Joshua. According to her, from the day he was born he has brought nothing to her life but pure grief. Joshua is a burden. If Mary continues to tell Joshua that he is a good for nothing brute just like his father, these words would be lodged in his mind and Joshua knowing that his mother expects nothing better from him would act and behave as he is expected to by his mother, as a brute. Children are innocent. It is the parents as well as societys responsibility to protect them. A child does not have a say in the matter of being born. Parents have to realize that the child is your ultimate responsibility. In St. Kitts and Nevis we have many prodigies. A prodigy is defined as a wonder child, gifted or a phenomenon. Parents you may be ignorant to the fact that you have a prodigy on your hands. Your child may be ignorant this fact as well because you are not reinforcing positive behaviour. You are not doing your part to ensure that that child may reach his or her fullest potential. Create and environment that is conducive to your child reaching his or her full potential. Your child is saying, Mommy, Daddy, please UNLOCK THE VIRTUES IN ME!