My most valuable asset

Everyone has something that is most important, most valuable and sometimes, irreplaceable. If you ask every parent today what their most valuable asset is, I am sure their first answer will be ‘my child(ren)’, especially mothers. Some will say this by default whereas in reality it is their gadget(s) – phone, tablet, computer, bags, perfumes, shoes or even TV. While some will be sincere but indirectly put the child(ren) above everything else; their hope, expectation, value, personal purpose/fulfillment/achievement is placed on their so called valuable asset, and they somehow get disappointed when the child lives out his/her own dream, instead of becoming their aspired mini-version.

For someone like me – a content creator, blogger and social media expert, I am certain you know what my most valuable asset will be. Of course your guess is right! It is indeed my smart phone (in this context o…lol!). I have all my documents, my entire activity calendar schedule, all my ideas written in it. I have all my new-inspired write-ups in it. I have all my strategy in it. In fact, my phone is the mini-brain I carry around – or let me say, it’s my mobile robot. Don’t think that I have abandoned the Holy Spirit as a Christian, or neglected my relationship as a wife or delegated my role as a parent, or have become lazy as a business owner…and have cleaved to my smart phone. No! Somehow, this gadget of mine has had a way of wrapping up itself for me to fulfil most my roles, purpose, assignment and achievements. (at least I can say that I have been able to control it, and not the other way round.)

Alas! It got damaged. It was just a day before my most publicized conference on Whatapp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and on the blog; ‘The Intentional Parenting conference 2.0’. I thought its no ‘big deal’ so I was able to calm down till after the conference. Somehow, it came back up and went back off again! Oh no! … all my files and documents especially those that are not on the external memory card and those not backed up on google – gone! My tears can’t bring them back, my complaint  wouldn’t do anything about it… gone and gone and gone forever. Then I wished I had backed up my memo, I wished I was writing more on paper, I wish I had repaired my damaged tablet, at least I wouldn’t be off all social media platforms completely especially instagram, I wished I had noted all my passwords somewhere I can reach, I wished and wished and wished…but my wishes cannot give solutions to the damaged that had been done. It was just a slight mistake and my phone is gone.

How does this affect parenting, or the essence of this blog? I’m definitely not looking for a pity-party, or someone to give me a new phone (though I wouldn’t mind at all…lol!). I learnt some great lessons that are related to parenting as a result of the damage that happened to my phone exactly three weeks today and I will like to share with us. Hmmmmmm…here are the three lessons I have learnt so far;

1.      As a parent, I should not live my life without a back-up and my main back-up should always and only be God and not my idea or experience or my spouse, my career/business, my children, my will or my anything because it is only God that remains forever. As women sometimes we think we have everything under control. We try to be the multi-task expert, the super-hero mum and the most valuable asset in the home; in our husband and children’s lives but NO we are not. Some men think the same way also; they are the prophet, provider, protector and all-in-all in their home. Hmmmmm…what will happen to you when your back-up isn’t around for unavoidable reasons?

2.      As a parent, my most valuable asset should be ME, and not anything or anyone else. Parenting should not be a hindrance to my personal development. My children’s time with me is limited – 5 years, 10 years, 20 years or at most 30 years. One day they will leave my house for good, to start their own lives too. Will I still be relevant/useful to myself, society and even my family when they are gone?  Will I have to start afresh or feel neglected/rejected/frustrated?

3.      As parent, my spouse, children, career or anything should not be the source of my happiness. No matter how much they try to be there for me and make me happy, they will not always be. This is not as a result of their wickedness neither is because they hate me, but they are simply human.

Everyone has something that’s most important, most valuable and sometimes an almost irreplaceable asset. What is yours?