Did I ever tell you about the mother who took drastic measures to enforce discipline in her home? You know how some of our kids, in a fit of frustration, slam their bedroom doors with the force of a WWE wrestler? Well, this particular teenage girl went a step further—she not only slammed her door but locked her mother out. True story!

I call this one: 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞𝐬

Read or listen through and tell me how your parents would have handled this one.
It was a peaceful evening in Joanne’s household. Well, peaceful until Joanne made the ultimate ‘parenting mistake’—calling her teenage daughter to help with chores.
Joanne: “Makena, come clear the table.”
Silence.
Joanne: “Makena! Table! Now!”
Still, silence—except for the muffled sound of giggling from Makena’s room. The unmistakable sound of a teenager on a call with her form two friends.
Joanne marched over and pushed the door open. There sat Makena, sprawled across her bed like a queen, phone in hand, lost in teenage banter.
Makena (into the phone): “Ati what? He said what to you at lunch? Wueh! And then—”
Joanne: “Makena. Table. Now.”

Makena turned, one eyebrow raised. This was not part of her evening plans. She put her hand over the phone speaker.
Makena: “Mum! I’m talking to Asha and Shiro—it’s important!”
Joanne folded her arms. Oh? Important? More important than the mountain of plates waiting on the table? She was about to launch into her classic African Mother Speech No. 4: How I Did Everything at Your Age Without Complaining, but Makena was already back to her call.
Makena (ignoring her mother): “Eeh, sorry guys, my mum is just being extra. So, you were saying—”
Joanne: “Extra? EXTRA? We shall see extra today.”
Before Makena could react, her mother snatched the phone right out of her hand and held it hostage.
Makena (gasping): “MUM! I was in the middle of—”
Joanne: “And I am in the middle of raising a responsible human being. Go clear the table.”

Makena stormed off to the dining area, muttering things under her breath that only dogs could hear. Joanne hanged up and placed the phone on the bedside table in Makena’s room.
Plates clanked aggressively as she cleared the table like she was on a demolition site.
When she finished, she stomped back to her room and, with the dramatic flair of a Nollywood actress, SLAMMED the door shut.
Joanne: “Oh, so this is what we are doing now?”
A second later, click! The door was locked.

Joanne stood there, blinking. A locked door? In her house?
She took a deep breath. There were two options:
1. Knock and try a calm, civilized approach.
2. Remove the door entirely.
Guess which one she picked?

Makena went to bed that night feeling accomplished.
Makena strutted into school the next morning feeling victorious. She had pulled off the ultimate teenage power move—locking her mother out of her room. And guess what? No shouting match, no threats, no “Wait till your father gets home!” Just pure, glorious silence.
Clearly, her mother had accepted defeat.

Makena spent the day bragging to her friends.
Makena: “Guys, last night, my mum was just there standing outside my door, powerless! I locked her out, and she didn’t even say anything! I have finally established boundaries.”

Her friends gasped in admiration. Boundaries? A luxury many of them only dreamed of. Makena felt like a trailblazer, a revolutionary in the war against unnecessary chores and parental dictatorship.
By the time school ended, she was still basking in her historical victory. She walked home with an extra bounce in her step, ready to reclaim her queenly position in her room.
Then she opened the front door.
Silence.
Strange. Her mum usually greeted her with a passive-aggressive “Welcome back, my dear—there are dishes in the sink.”
She proceeded cautiously to her bedroom, preparing to flop onto her bed and scroll through TikTok in peace.
She reached for the door handle…
But there was no door.
Just an empty doorway staring back at her.
Makena blinked. Maybe she had come to the wrong house? Maybe this was a prank? Maybe—

Makena (screaming): “MUM!!!”
Joanne appeared in the hallway, sipping tea, looking very pleased with herself.
Makena (horrified): “Where is my door?!”
Joanne (calmly): “Oh, the door? I called a fundi (carpenter). We had it removed. Now you never have to worry about anyone barging into your room ever again.”
Makena’s jaw dropped.
She stormed in—or rather, walked straight in, unobstructed—and found her room exposed. No door meant no privacy. No privacy meant…

Makena: “MUM! This is—this is—ABUSE!”
Joanne took another slow sip of her tea.
Joanne: “No, darling. This is parenting.”
Makena stood there, stunned, as her younger sibling walked by and waved from the hallway—something that had never been allowed before.

And just like that, her great victory turned into the worst loss in teenage history.
Now, in some parts of the world, this might trigger a lengthy heart-to-heart discussion, possibly followed by therapy and a “feelings journal.” But in this African household? Oh no. This mother had no time for negotiations. Instead, she did what generations of African parents before her would have done—she removed the entire door.

Some may call it extreme, but let’s be honest—African parenting is a mix of wisdom, quick reflexes, and the ability to enforce discipline in ways that are both effective and unforgettable. Because in an African home, you don’t own a bedroom. You borrow space within your parents’ house. And if you disrespect the landlord? Well, let’s just say structural adjustments will be made.

Lesson learned. And the door? It remained off for a respectable amount of time—long enough for the girl to understand that in this house, respect isn’t a suggestion. It’s a way of life.

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𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲:

𝟏. 𝐁𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐆𝐨 𝐁𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐖𝐚𝐲𝐬

Makena wanted privacy and personal space, but she forgot that respect is a two-way street. If she had respected her mother’s request, she wouldn’t have lost her beloved door. Sometimes, the very thing we fight for can be taken away when we misuse it.

𝟐. 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐀𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐝

Teenagers may think they are outsmarting their parents, but African mothers are playing chess while their children are still figuring out checkers. Joanne didn’t argue, didn’t shout—she simply acted. A lesson for every child: never underestimate the quiet response of a determined parent.

𝟑. 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬

Makena’s decision to lock her mother out led to a consequence she never saw coming. Every action we take, whether in defiance or obedience, has results. Sometimes, the consequence isn’t immediate, but when it comes, it hits hard—like a missing bedroom door.

𝟒. 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐆𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐚 𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐖𝐚𝐲

Had Makena responded with a simple, “Okay, Mum, let me finish up and I’ll clear the table,” she would still have her door, and her privacy. Respecting authority—even when we don’t feel like it—saves us from unnecessary battles and teaches responsibility.

𝐒𝐨 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐌𝐲 𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲?

𝑩𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝑩𝒆𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 by Jemimah Nzola Jemimah Nzola

It’s a 40-week pregnancy journal designed for expectant mums, filled with weekly prayers for the unborn baby—a gentle yet powerful reminder that parenting starts long before birth.

You see, in the story of Makena and her mother, we’ve seen the classic battle between teenage defiance and parental wisdom. Makena thought she had won by locking her mother out, but in true African parenting fashion, her mother had the last laugh—or in this case, the last door removal.

Now, imagine if Makena’s mother had started praying for her long before birth—not just for a healthy pregnancy, but for wisdom, obedience, and respect in her child. Perhaps, years later, instead of a door-slamming showdown, Makena would have been the teenager who simply said, “Yes, Mum!” and cleared the table. While we can still pray and end up in this same scenario, we have to try our best: And prayers for our babies is a foundational place to start. 

𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲

Parenting isn’t just about discipline after the child is born; it’s about covering them in prayer before they take their first breath. The moment you know a baby is growing inside you, you are already shaping their future—not just with nutrition, but with words of life, Scripture, and faith-filled prayers.

This book, Blessed Beginnings, is a beautiful guide for mothers who want to start the journey right.

✔ Pray over your baby’s heart and character

✔ Declare blessings over their purpose

✔ Ask for God’s guidance in your parenting journey

Because one day, when they stand at a crossroads—between obedience and slamming doors—your prayers might just be the gentle nudge that keeps them on the right path.

So if you’re expecting, or know someone who is, this book is a must-have! Because the best way to prepare for a child’s future battles is to start praying today.

To find more about Jemimah, and her inspiring work, please visit https://africanauthors.net/jemimah-nzola/

Meet the Author

Jemimah Nzola is a devoted wife, mother, and passionate advocate for holistic wellness. With an unshakable faith and a heart for families, she boldly champions the cause of all-rounded well-being—spiritually, emotionally, and physically.

As an author and wellness enthusiast, Jemimah draws from both personal experience and professional expertise to inspire others on their journey. Her book, Blessed Beginnings – A Prayer Pregnancy Journal, is a heartfelt guide designed to uplift and support expectant mothers through the transformative season of pregnancy. Infused with warmth, wisdom, and faith, her writing speaks to the beauty, challenges, and divine purpose of motherhood.

Beyond her writing, Jemimah is a dynamic voice in the wellness space, seamlessly blending holistic nutrition insights with practical encouragement for women and families. Whether through her words, advocacy, or personal testimony, she is on a mission to empower others to embrace wellness in every aspect of their lives.

She resides in Nairobi, Kenya, with her family, where she continues to inspire and uplift others through her work, faith, and passion for life.

With Christian Literature Communications – CLC Kenya

With Christian Literature Communications – CLC Kenya

African Christian Authors Book Award – ACABA

CLC Kids & Teens

Patrick Omukhango

Jackline Ingasian