Comedian Gbenga Adeyinka, never had a good relationship with his father. He was close to his mother while growing up and now that he is a father, he has realized that not all men with kids deserves to be called a father.
Fatherhood is one of the most amazing gifts from God. It comes with a lot of responsibilities though, he believes “ But I always say that it is not every man who has the capacity to give birth to a son or daughter that is a father. A father is that man who has children and lives up to his responsibilities; he deserves to be called a father. To be called a father is an honourable title.
Talking about fatherhood “I felt good but the first time I saw my son in the delivery ward, I lost control of my emotions. I was overexcited and confused. The nurse had asked me to get some water to bathe my son, I did not know she meant tap water; I went and got bottled water. She said she needed tap water to bathe him. I then went to buy a packet of water. I told them to use what I brought; I was confused. The experience was humbling, crazy, joyful – a potpourri of emotions.
My relationship with my father was not amazing. I had a better relationship with my mother. My parents broke up when I was quite young. But I was lucky to have grown up with a couple of uncles who treated me like their son. I saw the way they related with their children and desired to follow suit. I was surrounded with a terrific family while growing up.”
He spends time with his kids whenever he is free “All my children are in the university but whenever we are at home together, we have a nice time. They harass me and vice-versa. My relationship with them is a special one; I can be extra hard on them and other times very friendly. We relate like friends. When they were younger, we used to wrestle. But one thing I have discovered in life is that most times, these kids are your children not your friends. You must be hard on them and also make them your friends. I punish them when I need to. For example this year, they all went to school and did not call me on phone for a month. During their birthdays, I refused to send them birthday cakes. I wanted to pass a message about how to care for one’s parents.”
