By Ewere Okonta
08037383019
ewereokonta20@gmail.com
www.ewereokontablog.org.ng
Let’s talk—parent to parent, heart to heart.
Because there’s a quiet crisis unfolding in our homes, right under our noses. And the scariest part? Many of us are too distracted, too defensive, or too tired to confront it.
In this era of hyper-productivity and fast-paced living, parenting has become more about presence on paper than presence in person. The average father is chasing contracts. The average mother is building a brand. And our children? They’re being raised by iPads, house helps, YouTube, and algorithms.
Yes, let that sink in.
We now measure parental success by how many bills we pay and how many schools we can afford, while the most important education—the one rooted in values, discipline, love, and guidance—is suffering.
Are We Really Parenting, or Just Providing?
Let’s be clear: we’re not bad parents. Most of us mean well. We want to give our kids the very best. We wake up early, we work hard, we pray hard, and we love them deeply.
But here’s the bitter pill: Intentions are not enough. Presence matters more than provision.
We say we’re doing all these things for them—working long hours, sacrificing weekends, hustling for the dream life—but in reality, we may be unconsciously avoiding the hardest part of parenting: the day-to-day investment of time, emotion, and attention.
The Great Trade-Off: Money vs. Morals
Let’s be honest with ourselves. We’ve created a generation of children who know how to use gadgets but don’t know how to greet elders. They can quote TikTok trends but not Bible verses. They speak English with an accent but have no respect for anyone who earns less than their parents.
Our children are tech-savvy but emotionally bankrupt. Bold but not responsible. Confident but not compassionate.
Who is responsible?
Let’s not be quick to blame the devil. Sometimes, the culprit is parental absence wearing the mask of hustle culture.
In many homes today, children are growing up without consistent discipline, without spiritual guidance, without deep conversations—and most dangerously—without examples.
Enter Smart Parenting: The Urgent Alternative
So what’s the way forward? One word: Smart Parenting.
Smart parenting isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being intentional. It’s not about having all the answers, but about showing up with the right questions. It’s not about how much money you spend, but how much time you invest.
It means knowing that your child doesn’t just need school fees, they need your faith, your story, your voice, your values.
Smart parenting is about balance. Yes, go out and build that empire. But also build a strong emotional connection with your child. Attend the PTA meetings. Know their friends. Ask about their dreams. Pray with them. Hug them. Discipline them. Laugh with them.
Benefits of Smart Parenting — To You, Your Child, and Society
1. For You (the Parent):
Smart parenting reduces long-term regret. One day, you won’t measure your success by the houses you built or the trips you took, but by the human beings you raised. When you parent smartly, you build not just your child’s future—you also build a peaceful old age for yourself.
A well-raised child is the best retirement plan.
2. For Your Child:
Smart parenting gives your child emotional stability, moral direction, and inner confidence. They grow up with a strong sense of identity. They won’t need social media to validate them because they already feel loved and seen at home.
Such children become emotionally intelligent, respectful, focused, and resilient—exactly the kind of people the world needs.
3. For Society:
Let’s face it: every unparented child becomes society’s problem. Cultists, fraudsters, bullies, even toxic politicians—they all started from a home where no one corrected them, listened to them, or guided them.
Smart parenting is not just a family issue—it’s a national assignment. If we raise children right, we won’t need to build more prisons, rehab centres, or mental health clinics. We’ll build a saner, safer society.
Why Every Parent Must Embrace It—Now
Because time is ticking. The world isn’t waiting. Children are growing, and so are their influences. If you’re not actively parenting, someone else is—either the internet, their peers, or media platforms with no values and no love for your family.
And here’s the deal: Smart parenting doesn’t mean quitting your dreams. It simply means designing your life in a way that prioritizes what truly matters. It means choosing wisdom over weariness. Presence over perfection.
A few practical tips:
• Have daily or weekly family devotionals—build spiritual roots.
• Create tech-free zones or moments at home.
• Be the first to say “I’m sorry” when you overreact.
• Be the example you want your child to follow.
• Share your failures, not just your success stories.
Final Thought: Reclaim the Home Before It’s Too Late
Our homes are bleeding, and many of us are watching with folded arms. Let’s not just reflect tonight. Let’s repent. Let’s realign. Let’s rebuild.
Let’s choose to be smart parents—not perfect ones, but present, prayerful, and purposeful.
Because at the end of the day, the most important title you’ll ever have is not “CEO” or “Boss” or “Influencer.”
It’s Dad.
It’s Mum.
And that, my dear friends, is a legacy worth living for.
This is my Midweek Sermon from my holy pulpit!
This Midweek Sermon is part of our ongoing series on navigating life’s toughest questions through the lens of faith, family, and modern realities. Share it. Live it. Let it stir something in you.
Ewere Okonta is the CEO of EOB Media. He is a family values advocate. He writes from the Department of Business Administration, University of Delta, Agbor