Timothy Mulondo – What I would do differently from my father.

Updated on
by
No Comments on Timothy Mulondo – What I would do differently from my father.

“In 2005 I was walking back home from school, tired and sad. I met my father along the way and he took me for ice cream at Zinello’s. We then walked back together as I ate my ice cream. That’s one of the most beautiful memories with my father that I will always keep forever and ever.

My dad told me to be very committed in whatever I do and to work hard. He treasured hard work, and he would always ask me to put extra effort into my academics. He taught me to be smart because he always dressed well; clean shoes and shirt tucked in, that was him. He told me to look presentable at all times. If there’s one thing he always emphasized, it was education. Studying was very special to him. He told me, “Your books will take you to places that you have never imagined.”

He was very tough, he didn’t drink or anything but he never spared the rod when he had to and I know he wanted me to be a better man. I think there’s a thing about African fathers, you never know how they feel. It’s hard for them to express their love but when I look back at his actions, for example the sacrifices he made to ensure my school fees was paid on time, I know he loved me and I loved him with all my heart.

My father is one of the best things that ever happened to me. I think one of the things that I would do differently from my father would be telling my kids how much I love them and also supporting them when they venture into anything else besides academics. For him his first and I think the only priority was academics.

I remember this one time when I became an assistant head prefect at school. I was very excited so I went back home to share the good news with him. The reaction I got was different. He was so mad. “I didn’t take you to school to become a prefect, I took you there to study and excel,” he said.

This broke me. Look, it was my classmates that actually identified me as a leader and pushed me to run for the position. Campaigning was so easy for me. I was confident, eloquent and articulate, when I won, everyone else was happy for me, from my classmates to the teachers. They were all proud of me. I mean I was addressing a school assembly of a thousand students but the only person that meant everything to me, that mattered to me in this world didn’t approve. So, when I got to senior 5, the students and teachers wanted me to become head prefect but I had to turn it down because my father had warned me against running for any leadership position.

I felt like I was never enough for him. I strived so much to please him by studying hard and excelling in my class so that he didn’t have any room to say my grades were deteriorating because of my position as assistant head prefect. I was made chairperson for the student council and I served in that position. My father was smart, intelligent, principled and aggressive and a tough man. He was at the same time loving, loving as an African father of course.”

***********************

This story is part of the project called “#MyFatherSeries” that we are carrying out with our friends at Humans of Uganda. We hope to share a series of life stories of different boys and men about their experiences with their fathers or father-figures. We hope this will bring healing of relationships and an opportunity to celebrate fathers every day. Above all, our prayer is that all men who share and read these real life stories will discover the heart of God the Father through our encouragement and community.

Thank you for reading! God bless you.

We are building a united force of men walking proudly and courageously in wisdom, knowledge and understanding of our identity in Christ. Surrendering our pain, fear, shame and guilt to Him. We believe every son needs a present father who raises them to be men who are spiritually, physically, financially, socially and emotionally strong through discipleship and mentorship.