Omanghana
Veteran Nollywood actress Patience Ozokwor, popularly known as Mama G, has cautioned parents against shielding their children from every difficulty in life.
Speaking in an interview with media personality and content creator Femi Babs, Ozokwor argued that excessive protection could prevent young people from developing resilience, discipline and independence.
She particularly addressed parents who promise that their children will never experience the difficulties they endured while building their careers and acquiring wealth.
According to the actress, such intentions may appear compassionate but could leave children unprepared for the realities of adulthood.
“The fastest way to ruin a child’s life is to say you don’t want them to suffer the way you did,” she said.
Ozokwor clarified that she was not encouraging parents to neglect their children or deliberately expose them to suffering. Instead, she urged them to allow their children to work through challenges and experience the process of earning what they desire.
“I’m not saying allow them to suffer. What I’m saying is allow them to struggle. Go through the process,” she explained.
The actress also warned that leaving substantial wealth and property to children who have never worked for anything could create entitlement and conflict within families.
She used the example of a parent owning several houses in cities such as Enugu, Abuja and Lagos. Children who do not understand the effort required to acquire those properties, she explained, may focus only on determining which assets they will inherit.
Ozokwor also recalled asking her son to leave her home so that he could establish himself independently.
“My house isn’t yours. Go and work for your own,” she remembered telling him.
She explained that the decision was intended to help him understand responsibility and the importance of building a livelihood rather than depending indefinitely on his parents’ achievements.
The Nollywood star encouraged parents to provide guidance and support while still allowing their children to confront age-appropriate challenges.
She maintained that young people who understand the effort behind comfort and success are more likely to develop gratitude, humility and respect for what their parents have accomplished.
Source: Omanghana
