Featured Mom Jacintah Mwangi

Posted by kenyanmom in Featured Mom, Mom Stories, The Mom Life      2 comments

Nov
20

Our Featured Mom this week is Jacintah Mwangi, a stay-at-home (by choice) mom of 3. Jacintah chose to quit her lucrative secretarial job to bring up her family.

Image Courtesy of The metropolitan Museum Of Art.

We had a few questions for her:

Kenyan Mom: How Many children do you have?

Jacintah: Three.

Kenyan Mom: What experiences with your children are most memorable for you?

Jacintah: What can I say? Every day is an experience with my little ones. If one is not learning to walk, the other is teaching them the alphabet sometimes I just sit and watch them in awe!

Kenyan Mom: We always assume that we are here to teach children, then we end up learning from them. Have you had your children ‘Teach’ you something? What?

Jacintah: It is a classroom in my house! And I am not just talking about me learning. They are always teaching each other. With such patience that is amazing! Of course once in a while they will get frustrated at each other but surprisingly, they are back at the lessons again. If adults had such patience…

Kenyan Mom: Breakfast. The most important meal of the day. What’s in your children’s breakfast tray?

Jacintah:We are messy breakfast eaters. Between porrige and toast and tea and chocolate, throw in a fruit here and there, we are quite covered.

Kenyan Mom:Balancing work and children, any 2 tips that you would give us Moms that works for you?

Jacintah: My children are my work. I knew with the three I wasn’t going to handle both work and raising my babies. One was going to suffer and I wasn’t going to let my children or husband suffer, so I chose to stay at home. Now balancing between housework and children? That’s easy! I get them all involved!

Kenyan Mom: Independence is what we Moms seek for our children. How do you get your children to help around the house, thus fostering this independence?

Jacintah:As I mentioned earlier, I am a stay-at-home mom. That means that whatever I do in the house, I have a little helper with me. They are eager to help around, because they know they later get time to play with mommy.

Kenyan Mom:Any child, from toddling age has an activity they gravitate towards. What extra-curricular activity do your children enjoy most?

Jacintah: Running. After each other mostly. One holding an insect, one screaming the younger one just following along. Playing ball. We do that alot. It’s the only game I can keep up with anyway.

Kenyan Mom: What is your rule regarding snacks and what would you prefer your children have in their snack box/plate?

Jacintah: We frequent the market a lot, so fruits, crisps or any other handy snacks are allowed. I have hearty eaters, so I do not limit them.

Kenyan Mom: Instilling discipline. Are you pro or con ‘Spare the rod spoil the child?’ What other methods work for you and your children.

Jacintah: I am not too much into spanking. It makes the others sad. However, the time-out punishment works very well! No one wants to hear they have been locked in the bedroom while others are having so much fun outside.

Kenyan Mom:One last word to all of us Moms.

Jacintah: I made a choice to stay at home. To raise my children. While I understand this is not a choice for everyone, prioritize your family. You need them as your pillar of strength. When they are happy, you are happy.

Kenyan Mom: We all have products that we cannot do without in our houses. What product do you prefer?

Jacintah: My Choices are:

Margarine: Blueband
Cooking Oil: Elianto.
Detergent/laundry soap: Omo.
Toilet Cleaner: Harpic.
Air Freshener: Glade.
Bath Soap/Gel: Dettol.

She made a conscious choice. To quit her job and bring up her family. Work can wait. She is my hero. If you are a mom and you’d like to be featured on The Kenyan Mom, click on the image below and you could be next!