Time for fathers to give a hand - Andile

Andile Ramaphosa and Bridget Birungi after the giveaway

What you need to know:

  • Lessons. Every parent has their style. Andile Ramaphosa and Bridget Birungi Rwakairu told EDGAR R. BATTE about their tips on parenting.

Bridget Birungi and Andile Ramaphosa celebrated their union with okuhingira (traditional marriage) ceremony recently, which set them on course to further cement their relationship. They are now building a future. “We are planning to build our family and home here in Uganda and consolidate that. Like any couple, we are looking at building a future together and a meaningful life, not just for us but for our communities where we come from,” Ramaphosa, son of South Africa’s president, Cyril Ramaphosa said.
Part of the exclusive love story this newspaper got from the couple, including the first son talking about the importance of parenting.
Fathers ought to show interest
The couple have a baby and they are keen on showing interest in raising their child. And however basic it sounds, Ramaphosa, says as fathers and mothers, the interest should go beyond dropping them off to school, welcoming them back home and taking them to bed.
“One thing that I have learnt from Bridget is that I have to show some serious interest in raising our baby. I have to learn about what the baby is going through and what is happening. This will improve the experience of the child,” Andile explains.
He adds, “When I think of the role of fathers in communities, I found that we show little interest and it is a problem. It is absurd. We can show interest in many ways. I’m not saying that every man has to go and change nappies tomorrow. No, showing interest in the child’s development, spending that hour every day will make impact in that child’s growth experience.”

Father solve problems
According to Birungi, by fathers showing interest in their child’s development, they contribute to helping a mother, in sharing roles. “You contribute to solving problems. No man is an island and sometimes as a mother, you imagine that you know it all with your child and then a father just chips in and holds the baby, and suddenly the baby is not crying, and is quiet and happy,” she argues.

Attitude
With Ramaphosa showing interest, Birungi says it has made her a better mother because she realises that she cannot do it all.
“Once he comes in, and offers advice on how to handle a certain situation, it always helps in supporting the parenting side of raising our daughter Aine.”

Not about reading
There is a quote he read and contextually refers to which had something to do with what makes a good parent. The question was if reading more on how to bring up a child made a good parent, and the answer was ‘no’.
“The answer was what made a good parent is wanting to read more and to know more. It is not about access to resources but the attitude to raising children,” he explains.
And Birungi adds, “One of the best principles I have adopted with our daughter is patience and listening and with knowledge I have gathered from different media. The vital tip I would give to every parent is, listen to your child and once you understand your child, parenting becomes easier.”
Always remember that there is no one-size-fits-all approach in child rearing. What works for one will not necessarily work for the other.