OPINION
From my observations of the trending “Jayden behavior,” it is deeply concerning to see an increasing number of children displaying ill manners. Allow me to share a few incidents that have left me reflecting on the parenting standards we’re setting.
The other day, a father came to my shop with his son, around 10 years old, to buy Christmas shoes. I selected a pair and handed them to the boy to try on. The father instructed the boy, “Don’t put them on yourself, let him help you.” I knelt down and helped the boy fit the shoes, only to notice he was standing there with his left hand in his pocket and his right hand resting on my head. Once the shoes fit, they paid, and the father even asked me to remove them again. I complied, but I couldn’t help but wonder about the values we’re instilling in children.
In another incident, a mother brought her 4-year-old child to buy school shoes. After selecting the shoes and as I was packing them, the child suddenly spat on my face and started laughing.
Shockingly, the mother smiled and said, “Don’t do that again,” with no sense of seriousness. It seemed like a game to them. I controlled my temper but was close to losing it. Moments like these make me question whether we’re raising children who respect others.
There are countless other examples of behavior we often ignore or excuse, but these small habits can have a huge impact as these kids grow. Poor manners and lack of discipline don’t just harm the children themselves; they affect the society they live in and the people around them.
I am genuinely worried about the kind of future we are building with the “Jaydens” we are raising. As parents, we must step up and be stricter. It’s our responsibility to guide them toward respect, kindness, and accountability not entitlement.
The Writer is Bajeh Kute Omupakasi
Social Worker, Bachelor’s in Community-Based Rehabilitation
Kyambogo University
