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THE<br />
OGUDA’S<br />
stage requires a different approach to<br />
parenting. As the children grow, we<br />
too must facilitate our own growth.<br />
What worked 5 years ago cannot work<br />
today. Education is key and we would<br />
encourage parents to talk to other<br />
parents who’ve walked the walk or<br />
to read books to help them navigate<br />
through life with their children.<br />
These are some of the things we have<br />
incorporated to help us with our<br />
children.<br />
We also actively pray for them and ask<br />
God to fill the gaps in those places<br />
where we may have fallen short.<br />
Q. Share with us some tips to keep a<br />
marriage alight<br />
Mr Oggudah<br />
• Never stop dating<br />
• Don’t just say ‘I love you’ show it in<br />
your actions<br />
• Be an Encourager<br />
• And be accountable<br />
Mrs Oggudah<br />
• Be respectful in your approach to<br />
matters<br />
• Look nice & smell good<br />
• Eat well, get a good night’s sleep<br />
and hit the gym regularly to keep<br />
your body in shape<br />
• Never forget to balance being<br />
yourself, an independent person<br />
while also being interdependent<br />
with your spouse<br />
• You cannot give from an empty<br />
cup<br />
Q. In conclusion, what advice would<br />
you give to other families out there<br />
based on your experience?<br />
• Be patient, hard times come but<br />
they never last<br />
• You can get inspiration from other<br />
families and marriages but keep<br />
in mind none are ever the same<br />
so refrain from comparing. Even<br />
the most perfect family has its<br />
challenges. Run your own race.<br />
• Laugh and love more. It’s never too<br />
serious. Life is too short to hung<br />
up in bitterness and unforgiveness.<br />
Let it go. Whether it was your<br />
parents, a teacher or whoever let<br />
you down. Let it go. Extra baggage<br />
will easily destroy a family that had<br />
a chance to be great.<br />
• Communicate and extend grace<br />
to one another. Just as you make<br />
mistakes others make mistakes<br />
too. Be gentle with each other.<br />
• Pray and eat together. Make it a<br />
point to come together to pray<br />
for each other and encourage<br />
one another. Also, create a<br />
culture where everyone comes<br />
to the table at least once a day<br />
for a meal. Research shows that<br />
there is nutritional, health, social<br />
and mental benefits to eating<br />
together. In today’s busy lifestyle<br />
in the quest for success, it’s easy<br />
to neglect the very foundation of<br />
who we are, which is family.<br />
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