I’m dreaming of a ‘Naija Christmas’….. (just like the ones I used to know!)🎶 🎼

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As I prepare to somewhat wind down major activities for the year and activate ‘holiday mode’, I’ve found myself looking back at what Christmas holidays used to look like back then.

In the early 80’s while in-between (out of country) postings, going to the ‘village’ was like the greatest adventure and highlights of our lives.

Those road trips where looking out of the windows, stopping to buy all possible road side delicacies 😁and actually chatting with each other was enough entertainment to keep busy for the whole 7-9 hours travel time!

Now it’s Christmas season 2021 style where things are quite different… (COVID, inflation, bad roads, relocations, climate change, etc) change is a constant we are getting more familiar with now, right?

Also recently I’ve enjoyed a number of conversations with friends and a few people who had said they don’t believe in, nor celebrate Christmas.

Christmas is the time of year marked to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, especially by Christians, which is also marked by many other extras such as Santa, Christmas trees and more.

Even though the season may not mean the same thing to us all, at least you can find ways to maximize the extra days off such as:
* Making time for family (visit, bonding activities or video calls just to connect)
* Show kindness to the less privileged, this season and beyond.
* Volunteer to spend time with elderly ones or others who may be alone (of course wear your masks and sanitize please!)
* Kick up your feet and relax a little!!

Oh and of course, if you’re a Netflix and chill kinda person, make sure you add ‘A Naija Christmas’ to your watch list, my new fav!

Excellent acting from the cast and nice twist to the storyline- many hilarious scenes by#kunleremi #efeewara #abayomialvin and totally loved church girl #Ajike 😊
Shout out to the producer, #KunleAfolayan and cast, quite an enjoyable one. 🙏🏾

So we’re getting close to 2022…right around the corner, let me wish you a very Merry Christmas and happy new year in advance!

Let’s make it all count, see you in the next season!

Emem Opashi
(The Unconventional Educator)

www.ememopashi.com

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When I look back, I can see a clear thread in my life’s work: I have always been supporting families from diverse backgrounds.

My first ever post-university role as a teaching assistant in a multicultural international school opened my eyes. What began as simple conversations where parents would stay back a little to talk about academics gradually deepened into discussions about behavior concerns, home dynamics, and sometimes even their marriages. I started to notice a pattern; the classroom often reflects the living room. Behind every child’s performance is a family story.

The idea for this book was planted more than 5 years ago. While hosting one of our large-scale annual events, we were observing a group of dynamic youth making a solid presentation and the question on most people’s lips was ‘what school are they in? Which school are they representing?

Everyone was admiring the results of what we these young students had probably practiced extensively over time.

On the flip side, while serving on the Senior Leadership Team at a high school, we were having a conversation with the principal and other team members, referring to some of the prevalent behaviors seen amongst students such as a reduced regard for school attendance, lack of respect for adults and other stuff. Coincidentally, the principal and I chorused at the same time “well, we created this!” and then burst out laughing!

We Created This is a culmination of those years, the experiences, observations, hard reality-checks, practical tools, and solutions I’ve gathered along the way. “If we helped shape the patterns we see today, then we also have the power to shape better ones.”

This book is designed to be a clarion call to parents, a call that rises above the noise, the distractions, and the ever-changing narratives about what it means to raise a child in today’s world. It is a call to awareness, to intentionality, and to courage.

At a time when systems are stretched, values are shifting, and the pressures on families are real and unrelenting, parenting cannot be passive. This book invites parents, caregivers, and all who play a role in raising the next generation to step fully into that responsibility, not with fear, but with clarity and purpose. It is a reminder that parenting is not just about

meeting needs, but about shaping lives. Not just about hard truths that cannot be ignored, and practical insights meant to guide, not overwhelm you. This is not a book of perfection, but of awareness. Not a set of rigid rules, but a framework for thinking, responding, and engaging more intentionally with the children entrusted to us.

This clarion call is not meant to alarm, but to awaken. To remind us that the environments we create, the values we model, and the conversations we choose to have (or avoid) all contribute to the kind of adults our children will become and, ultimately, the kind of society we are building together. Because behind every system are people. Behind every statistic is a child. And behind every child is a family whose influence matters more than we often realize. May this book meet you where you are, but not leave you there. May it challenge you, equip you, and most importantly, remind you of the profound role you play. The call is clear. The time is now.

There are loads of treasure and nuggets embedded in each chapter, dive in and enjoy.

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