Loud whispers: calm down

By Erelu Bisi Fayemi_

From the mouth of a naughty little boy with the most admirable persuasive skills From a beloved child whose mother is teaching a valuable lesson in consequences.From one who we all recognise in every innocent little face around us

Two simple words of the most profound wisdom

Calm Down

Yes, Mummy is fed up and angry

She has told him not to do it, whatever it is, over and over

Like most children his age. Words are meant for entry into the left ear and exit from the right

So Mummy decides to drive home her message with some permanence. Somewhere in the center of his brain before it finds the door out again. The game is up. Mummy is mad as hell, no surprise there, all mothers can relate

A child who has no fear of authority becomes an adult who is fearless in all the wrong ways. Something those struggling to parent in this day and age have to contend with

‘Old School’ Mummy is not about to be found wanting. Poor boy was afraid of getting the beating of his little life

I got mine when I was nine years old. Back in the day, there were no threats of being beaten. There was no room for negotiation. You just got a sound beating. With no notice, no theatrics, no videos, no opportunity to plead your case

If you were asked what you did wrong, you got beaten if you knew why. If you did not know what you did wrong, your beating was doubled. If you cried you got beaten, if you didn’t it was tripled

This is 2020, so the little chap was able to change the narrative with two words

Calm Down

We are all angry over one thing or the other. There is something that ails us, bothers us, makes us cry or keeps us awake at night. Now from the mouth of a terrified little boy we can see our way through

Calm down. Tomorrow will be better. For the hard of hearing who need to hear, here is an opportunity. Calm down

When you do, you will hear the rumblings of the bellies of the hungry. You will hear the groans of the sick who have no means of a cure. You will hear the painful cries of the unclad women wailing for justice. You might even hear the whimpers of the millions of children wandering the streets with no hope

Calm down

Two words that should flash like neon lights. For those living life on the fast lane on real and imaginary superhighways. My mansion is bigger than yours. My bag is more expensive than yours. My wedding cost more than hers. My wristwatch can buy a house. My car says I am not your mate. My jewelry is real not fake

Calm Down

Did you hear? What did he say? Say that again, You don’t mean it! Really? Where? When? How?. Calm down

Mind your own business. For those who are not content with their blessings. And are blind to the full cup so heavy it has to be held with both hands. Yet ignore words of restraint to chase after promises of a bigger cup. And now find themselves bereft of both cup and contents

Calm Down

Little Master ‘Calm Down’ also has a demonstration of ‘Calm Down’. He lies down to show Mummy how she should ‘Calm Down’

Let us follow his example. We can Calm Down by lying down. We can Calm Down by laying down. We can hold our anger and sharp tongues. We can still our fingers from typing mischief. We can have a humble spirit that leads us to the realisation that it is not always about us

We can stop bearing false witness. We can desist from false prophecies and ignore false prophets. We can find stillness in helping others. We can shift our anger to purpose

Calm Down

Now the smart fellow is an Ambassador. He will go around preaching a message of peace and love. The Governor wants to meet him. The little Ambassador’s words have resonated with him

In this season when we are all fighting for our lives one way or the other. When we do not know who wakes up before dawn comes. Or who departs before sunset

Calm Down

Maybe I should have said that to my mother all those years ago. The days of the slippers, belts and custom-made sticks. Only problem is I would not have been here to write this!

Calm Down. Calm Down. Calm Down.

Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi is a Gender Specialist, Social Entrepreneur and Writer. She is the Founder of Abovewhispers.com, an online community for women. She is the First Lady of Ekiti State