Mary Assumpta Gidudu 

Uganda Catholic women Apostolate

Family love is indeed a vocation and path to holiness. Mothers and Fathers are called to take the joyful journey of family love. The truth is that many fathers and mothers are finding it very difficult to enjoy this God given vocation because of various situations. There are situations that pause great challenges to individuals and really rob them of the joy of motherhood and fatherhood. The vocation of motherhood and fatherhood takes us to the thought of a family unit the smallest building block of the society. In the family units today there many challenges not limited to domestic violence. In the family unit we may find other forms of violence such sexual violence, emotional violence and physical violence. In the view of this forms of violence we find that the joy of motherhood and fatherhood is robbed and rendering every other member of the family vulnerable to any form of abuse

Children need parents not fathers and mothers, because the journey in promoting family Apostolate starts at home. We have continued to meet challenges as motherhood and fatherhood is not being enjoyed by many mothers and fathers. This scenario leaves very many children missing out in enjoying Family love. In our mission of promoting family Apostolate in Uganda, we need to see to it that mothers and fathers enjoy family love together as parents working together sharing love, development and happiness. That’s what our children want to see. Culture of any society is fast natured at home where the family lives. Whatever the norms, values that are there to be handed to the next generation starts at home. This calls for a strong parenting culture that mothers and fathers have to adopt.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization - UNESCO defines culture as the set of distinctive spiritual, material intellectual and emotional features of society or social group that encompasses not only art and literature but life styles, ways of living together value systems, traditions and beliefs (UNESCO, 2001) According to UNESCO, culture can enrich lives and help build inclusive, innovative and resilient communities. It can also help protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage. In Uganda, culture plays an important role in nurturing the children in. the nature of extended families of the parents, uncles, aunties, cousins and grandparents play a pivotal role of parenting in a holistic manner. To enjoy motherhood and fatherhood both have to be role model parents that’s; they are available for each other in the family and care for each other’s wellbeing. Parenting is like Team work whereby each member has a percentage of the effort to put into home chores that make family love real.

All over the world growing children need that kind of supportive family environment that their parents can offer them so as to grow well and become useful members of the society.

In our teachings, what we need to put in place is ongoing formation for fathers and mothers to be so that the children find them along the way to complete that family circle. Sensitization of mothers and parents can be done in small Christian communities where community members sit in small groups, hold interactive talks and discuss issues that affect them in their communities. In most cases solutions to their challenges are within their reach in their communities. Although some challenges may require referral systems, as long as they have been identified in the community solutions can be obtained.

There are many good practices that we want to see mothers and fathers enjoying in each family

We know that each child needs a supportive family background for them to achieve life objectives.

In reality Love or qualities of love are first reflected at home. It’s in the nuclear family that love can be transmitted to its members. Mothers and fathers are expected to show that they really care for each other and the children’s welfare, education and much more. For parents to enjoy motherhood and fatherhood then two have to demonstrate friendship before their young ones for that quality of love to be seen in daily living amongst the growing persons.

There are many growing persons that have very limited contact with friendly persons. This calls for more sensitiztion on the area of parenting and the value of family love. Mothers and fathers should share empathy for each other. It’s very unfortunate that in some families there are single parents but still this does not mean that it’s the situation that can not be mitigated through tapping into the extended family for support. Spiritually and prayer is one aspect mothers and fathers should embrace most. Family love is promoted through prayer.

Mothers and fathers should inculcate the spirit of prayer to their family members from a very tender age that’s when children will never part from it. It’s very unfortunate that many mothers and fathers world over are weak in involving their children in prayerful lives while still young.this has led many young persons to be unrully and of course making motherhood an fatherhood a miserable vocation. “The family that prays and works together stays together”.

Another important practice that parents can model for their children is Respect. This is respect for self and others including nature. Mothers and fathers have to express respect for each other in front of their family members. Children learn by doing so respect has to be acted out in daily living.

When family members practice respect, they find it easy to blend with others in the society.

We have to bear in the mind that those good practices, values and norms are handed from one generation to another through socialisation. Passing a desired culture from one generation to another is the greatest business of mothers and fathers. Only then can fatherhood and motherhood be enjoyed.

Article for Women's Voice 63