Watching your parents grow old (and trying not to cry or laugh too much)

There comes a day when you look at your parents and realise—wait a minute—they’re not the superheroes who could chase down the neighbourhood chicken or carry a bag of maize on their heads anymore.

It usually hits you in the middle of something mundane, like when your dad spends five minutes trying to remember where he left his phone (it’s next to him on the couch) or your mom can’t recall whether she added salt to the stew.

At first, you might dismiss it as fatigue. “Ah, they just need some rest,” you tell yourself. But then the signs pile up. The once thunderous voice that used to call you for dinner is now softer.

The sharp eyes that spotted your secret stash of sweets as a kid now need glasses just to find the TV remote. And suddenly, it dawns on you—they’re ageing.

But let me tell you, African parents don’t go down without a fight. Try suggesting a doctor’s visit and watch them look at you like you’ve committed a crime.

“Do you think I’m dying? God forbid!” they’ll declare, even as they rub their achy knees.

And don’t even start on diet changes. “Haven’t I been eating fried chicken my whole life? Now you’re telling me it’s bad for me?”

It’s not all seriousness, though. There’s humour in the little moments, like when your dad insists he knows a shortcut, but it turns into a scenic detour.

Or when your mom tells you the same story about that time she sold groundnuts at the market, only now the numbers get more dramatic every time: “I sold 20 bags of groundnuts in one day!”

But beneath the laughs, there’s also a deep ache. Watching the people who once stood so tall in your life become a little smaller is tough.

It’s humbling to realise that the ones who carried you now need you to carry them—literally and figuratively.

Yet, this season comes with its gifts. You start seeing your parents not just as the strict disciplinarians who chased you with slippers but as people with dreams, struggles, and stories.

Your mom’s endless lectures about saving money and being a good girl? They’re rooted in her own sacrifices.

Your dad’s obsession with the evening news? That’s his way of staying connected to the world he’s seen change so much.

So, what do you do? You step up. You listen to their stories—even when they repeat them. You laugh at their jokes, even the ones you don’t quite get.

You help them navigate this chapter with dignity and love, all while sneaking in some healthy meals and a few jokes to lighten the mood.

Because at the end of the day, watching your parents grow old is a privilege.  It’s a reminder that they’ve walked so you could run, and now it’s your turn to walk with them—slowly, patiently, and with all the love they deserve.