Dr Olivia Gumbo’s latest offering crucial for pare...

Dr Olivia Gumbo’s latest offering crucial for parenting

Zim Now Writer

Although we are well past Fathers’ Day when the book was released, the gist of its contents are imperative, thus making it unique for any day and time.

Dr Olivia Gumbo’s latest book Parenting Children of Influence in the Digital World possesses all the marks of a parenting manual as the author has drawn from her personal experience

The book, which traces the beginning of her journey at the University of Zimbabwe, chronicles parenting tips walking readers through how one can raise children of influence in this treacherous digital era.

The bias the book has on boys is deliberate because the writer herself has three biological sons and two foster ones from the church’s orphanage, who were in Grade 5 and Grade 2.

“So, by God’s design, I am a mother of four princes. Along this path, God has taught me invaluable truths…”

The 16-chapter book has key take-aways at the end of each of the chapters, which allow for readers to recap on the contents of the chapter.

The author writes in the introduction: “As those who have experienced fostering or adoption may understand, this unique journey can open your heart in a particular way where a deep love is planted in your heart for your child because you chose them.” (pix)

Dr Gumbo, a staunch Christian herself, ensures that the parenting she is keen on having people achieve is in Godly ways.

“Godly parenting in the world we live in is not without its challenges, and so we need to live and learn from one another; that is my hope and prayer for this book. As a mother of princes, I have realised that society puts a lot of pressure on the boy-child. There is a frequent expectation that boys will resolve all their families’ challenges. I believe that this, amongst other factors, has led boys to engage in illegal activities to earn money to fulfil community pressures and live up to an impossible standard.” (px)

Dr Gumbo sets out to clarify on why she came up with the book.

“The main purpose of this book is to share experiences and the principles I have derived from them that I have seen work in raising our sons, our princes. These are to help other parents who are raising or planning to raise boys, and perhaps even girls. Obviously, I will give more examples of boys, although I have helped with the raising of some girls in my extended family. Some of what I share in this book has come from wide reading, as well as from what I have learnt from other parents, pastors, and mentors. Only you know your own context, so it is up to you, the reader, to consider what might work for your family.” (pxi)

Parenting also takes into account other external features that can help when one is dealing with the subject of parenting.

“I soon reflected on how social determinants can influence the growth and lifestyle of a child beyond health. Understanding the role these factors play in shaping a person gave me a new perception of life and how the home environment and how children are raised can shape the lifestyle of a person throughout their whole life.” (p5)

Dr Gumbo cites aspects like education as capable of influencing how difficult parenting could be in children with different levels of education because education has a key role in a child’s development.

“… access to education plays a significant role in a child’s development and future. Education varies from the formally recognised academic formation provided in schools but equally includes the spiritual and social realms”. (p6)

“Children with access to quality academic education have higher chances of excelling over their counterparts who experience poorer quality or have no education” (p7)

The book emphasises the importance of parents born in the undigitised world to learn to parent Gen Z and Alpha children to live their lives to the fullest in an appropriate Godly manner.

Gumbo is a PHD holder in Development Studies. She has more than 18 years’ experience in the development sector specifically in human rights, democracy, public sector reform, gender, transparency, and accountability.

She is a social accountability expert who has passion of empowering citizens targeting less privileged groups with information to empower them to be active recipients of quality services in their communities.

Dr Gumbo is a philanthropist who helps people living with disabilities, mainly children in Chiredzi South and she has founded the disability initiative called Research Hub for Children with Disabilities. She has also authored It’s for you Lord, Surrendered to His Will, that is igniting many people to put the Lord first in their lives and calling her to mentor them.