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You know how it is in a typical Ghanaian home—when a child misbehaves, the insults fly faster than a trotro escaping traffic.
“Kwabena, you this useless boy! You will never amount to anything!”
“Adwoa, if you continue like this, you’ll bring me disgrace one day!”
“This stubborn child will be the death of me!”
Sound familiar? Many of us grew up hearing words like these. And let’s be honest, some of us have turned around and said the same things to our own children. But have we ever stopped to think about the impact of these words?
Words Have Power – More Than You Think
There’s a Ghanaian saying: “The mouth has no weapon, yet it can kill.” In other words, words are not just empty sounds; they can build or destroy a person.
The Bible says it even more clearly:
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and those who love it will eat its fruit.” – Proverbs 18:21
The words you speak over your child’s life are like seeds. If you plant negativity, don’t be surprised when negativity grows. If you plant blessings, you’ll see blessings flourish.
Be Careful What You Call Your Child
Ghanaian parents, let’s be real—how many times have we called our children fools, thieves, or good-for-nothings? We say it in anger, but words don’t just disappear. They sink deep into the child’s heart and start shaping their future.
- If you keep calling your son a fool, don’t be surprised when he starts making foolish decisions.
- If you keep calling your daughter useless, don’t act shocked when she grows up doubting herself.
- If you tell your child, “One day, you’ll be the downfall of this family!”, don’t be surprised when they struggle to succeed.
Words are powerful. What you constantly say about your child is what they will eventually believe about themselves.
A Story Every Ghanaian Parent Can Relate To
Let me tell you a story.
There were two mothers in a village. One always said, “This my son is too stubborn! One day, he will bring me shame.” The other always said, “My son can be difficult, but I know he will grow into a great man.”
Fast forward 20 years:
- The first mother’s son got into trouble with the law. People murmured, “Didn’t his mother always say this?”
- The second mother’s son became a respected leader in his community. She looked back and smiled because she had spoken greatness into his life.
Do you see the difference? The words we speak become the reality our children live in.
Bless Instead of Curse – Even When It’s Hard
I know—when a child is being stubborn, when they’re pushing you to your limits, it’s hard to hold back. But before you say something out of anger, ask yourself:
- Would I want this to come true?
- What if my child grows up believing what I just said?
- What if, instead of cursing, I bless them instead?
Try this instead:
- Instead of “You’re a disgrace!” say, “I know you’re struggling now, but I believe in you.”
- Instead of “You’ll never succeed!” say, “You have the potential to be great.”
- Instead of “You’re a troublemaker!” say, “You have great energy—let’s find a way to use it positively.”
It may feel strange at first, but trust me, you are shaping their future with your words.
You Never Know Who Your Child Will Become
Some of the greatest people Ghana has ever known were once stubborn children. Imagine if their parents had cursed them into failure.
What if Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s mother had said, “This boy talks too much, he will never be great!”? What would have become of his illustrous life?
What if Kofi Annan’s father had said, “This quiet boy will never amount to anything!”? Would he have led the United Nations?
You don’t know what destiny your child carries. That same “stubborn” child might be the one who brings wealth and honour to your family tomorrow.
So, the next time your child misbehaves, take a deep breath. Instead of cursing, bless them. Instead of speaking negativity, speak life. Because one day, when they succeed, you’ll be the one standing proudly, saying, “That’s my child!”
