INTERVIEW WITH DORRIS.

Dorris with her daughter Victoria at their home in Olympic

 photo credits,

 

Wycliffe Muge

Dorris aged thirty is a mother of three children. I was interested in interviewing her because of her experience in raising her kids along with eight foster kids.

I hope you will find it eye-opening and inspiring.

Me: What inspired you to decide and raise other kids apart from yours?

Dorris: I love children, everything behind all this is my love for children I find it bad seeing children suffering in the streets sometimes I wish I could make a children's home for all the loitering kids around. My happiness is when I see my kids happy and contented and with God's help I do all I can to keep them well.

Me: How do you relate with your kids?

Dorris: I cannot say it is easy relating with them but what I do I become more friendly with them, I learnt that when I build a good relationship with my kids they become more open to me and they take my advice. But also when kids tend to be stubborn I have to discipline them I never want it to be about spare the rod and spoil the child, I have to tune them to the right tone even if you say you leave it to the teachers they will make mistakes in school and you will be called to solve them so it is all about you to correct your children.

Me: Have you ever had arguments with your kids?

Dorris: Yes. We have arguments almost all times. You know when kids reach adolescents stage they tend to believe in what their peers tell them and ignore what their parents tell them or rather they are not capable of differentiating which is the advice to follow whether from parents or kids.

Me: What kind of arguments do you have with them?

Dorris: Sometimes when you tell to make time to read instead of watching is war. They also fail to understand that there is time for meals and there is time to use their phones.

I also have arguments with them about doing household chores they tend to leave almost all the work to the maid.

Me: How do you solve the arguments?

Dorris: In the television problem I preserve time for them to watch the TVS and also for doing other things but not all the kids are always the same there are those stubborn ones that have to be forced to do the right thing, about the household chores the elder ones wash their own clothes excluding the younger ones. Most importantly is to treat all your kids equally, I never want to make any of my kids feel superior over the others this has made them grow up loving and treating each other equally.

Me: How is your kids reaction on your stand of solving the problem?

Dorris: They become sad, they behave like am trying to deny them their freedom, but what I know is that am helping them and from them I will harvest good fruits. Kids always feel they are right but I make sure am strict and they have no choice but to follow my ways.

Me: How do you find parenting?

Dorris: It is hard. I remember what my parent used to go through. All in all, I do my best to give the best I can with the help of God. You have to be firm so as not to fall.

Me: Would you advice anyone aspiring to be a parent to become one?

Dorris: It is hard to be a parent but I cannot advise anyone not to be a parent because if you fear you will never gain experience. For those planning to be parents if you decide to be one be strong and focus because from the experiences you will know how to advise your kids and always remember to be a living example to your kids, do not tell your kids something is wrong when you alone you are doing the same thing.

Me: Do you enjoy being a parent?

Dorris: Yes. It is fun to see my kids around and when they go to upcountry the house becomes so dull.

Me: What are some of the difficulties you go through as a parent?

Dorris: It is hard to provide basic needs and as the world is changing, we are in a world that kids demand more and more each time but I work hard and make sure my kids have the life I want them to have.