DALM | Thanking Those Seemingly Thankless Jobs

Diary Adventures of LagosMums: DALM: Thanking those seemingly thankless jobs

My children’s school is teaching the students to appreciate support staff and community helpers. I did not think so much of this until two days ago. 

As I drove down streets of Lekki I saw the men who are clearing the gutters. Not only are they working in the scorching sun, they are barely dressed in any protective gear against the gutter filed with murky dirt and filth. I see no clean drinking water nearby or soap and water for them to use to wash their hands. How do they get clean when they want to have lunch? They are working to clear the gutters to reduce flooding for you and I in preparation of the rainy season! I confess I might not have ordinarily thought much about this if not for my son talking about community workers 🙂 

I have been driving myself around, as my driver decided not to show up to work and I have to say that I have an appreciation for the job drivers do! Navigating rough roads and avoiding potholes is a real task. I know how many potholes I landed in and also know that if my driver had landed in these same potholes… he would have gotten an earful. 

What about having to deal with tight parking spaces or keeping directions in my head? I know how I reel off orders telling the driver I am going to Aunty Bee’s house in Ikoyi, from where I am going to my male tailor in Dolphin and I fully expect the driver to remember all the directions and get me there in order.

My child’s class took a walk to the drivers room in their school to see where drivers rest and take a break from the sun during school runs. The school is exposing the children to several types of community helpers and teaching them how to appreciate them. These things might seem small on the surface but are necessary building blocks for children to learn to appreciate everyone’s job. Adults can do well to pay more attention and appreciate everyone’s role in society.  

We parents should focus on raising children who are appreciative and understand that everybody contributes through their various jobs. It is a real ecosystem and we cannot do away with any one group of workers. Your job in the bank is not more important than Lastma on the street of Lagos directing traffic.

We thank everyone who does their job well! So next time try smiling and waving at Lastma. 

photo source: nairaland, thefrontnewspaper