Furaha za kuwa mzazi ni nyingi. Fikiria kurudi nyumbani baada ya siku ngumu ya kazi na kukaribishwa na uso wenye tabasamu wa mtoto wako mzuri. Fikiria siku ambayo mtoto wako alitamka jina lako kwa mara ya kwanza. Au wakati ule ulipomwona akipiga hatua zake za kwanza kuvuka chumba...

The joys of parenthood are many. Think of returning home from a hard days work to be greeted by the smiling face of your beautiful baby. Think of the day your child said your name for the first time. Or the moment when you saw them take their first steps across the room...

Kumbukumbu hizi ni za aina ambayo kila mzazi atazithamini maisha yake yote. Lakini hali ya upole na usafi wa mtoto mchanga haiwezi kudumu milele, na mawazo yako kama mzazi hivi karibuni yataelekea kwenye mambo ya baadaye. Mwanao au binti yako atakua kuwa mtu wa aina gani? Atakuwa na marafiki wa aina gani? Je, watatimiza matumaini na matarajio yako, na kuwa watu wenye heshima, watii, na wema?

These are the kind of memories that every parent will cherish for the rest of their lives. But the sweet innocence of a new born baby cannot last forever, and your thoughts as a parent soon turn to matters of the future. What kind of a person will your son or daughter grow up to be? What kind of friends will he or she come to know? Will they fulfil your hopes and expectations, and become respectful, obedient, upstanding individuals?