If you’re a parent, who, because of financial constraints or some other justification, has sent your children to live with relatives or acquaintances, it’s time to get them back. If you’re currently contemplating such an action, stop, and think. It’s the worst thing you could ever do to your children.

Here’s why you shouldn’t farm out your children.

Children are despised

In 7 out of 10 cases, parents who sent their children to live with relatives or acquaintances do so simply because they themselves, due to financial problems or time constraint or plain self-centered greediness, can’t cater for the kids, and once this becomes evident, you’ve earned the contempt of whomever the children will end up with.

Yes, the relative may readily agree to your request and come all smiles to take the children away, but be not deceived. There’s a scornful face beneath that veneer.

Soon, your chosen custodian will get down to business and your children will inherit and feel the contempt, the derision, the disrespect that your action has created—disrespect that’ll bash their fragile egos and cause them to grow up with little or no self-esteem.

Children are mistreated

Besides being despised, children are extensively mistreated. Let me tell you something I once witnessed. Not too long ago, I travelled to Anloga to visit a friend, and while leaving I encountered a 6 or 7 year old child with a big basket filled with freshly harvested maize atop her head. She was literally crawling under the load, lumbering at such a slow pace, with her face all contorted from the exertion and pain of bearing such a burden. I stopped her and took off the load, which I even found not easy to lift.  Who gave you this to carry,” I had asked

“My aunt,” she said, breathing profusely.

“Why did your aunt gave you this heavy load to carry?”

“She said since I’m old enough to eat I’m also old enough to work.”

I remained silent, and walked behind as she led the way to where they lived. Before we could reach the house she stopped me and asked that I should put the load back on her head, explaining that if those in the house see that she was helped by somebody, they will beat her endlessly.

See that? Relatives or acquaintances, who are supposed to cater for your children, never care a hoot. The food they give them to eat even pains them; so much so that they must mistreat your children as a form of repayment. So, why farm out your children?

Children are squeezed to the Max

Can you endure another story? I know a girl who recently completed Junior High School and was sent to live with an Aunt in Tema. But the woman isn’t interested in sending her to school.

The poor girl now works in a bar the Aunt owns. She wakes up at 4:00 sharp to do her chores in the house, and goes to open the shop at 5:30 a.m.

And do you know when the poor girl goes to sleep everyday? Midnight.

Yes, that’s how generous relatives and acquaintances you sent your children to live with can be. They are always very generous and always very kind-hearted toward the poor children.

Of course, not all guardians will mistreat and misuse children placed in their care, but most will. I can stick out my neck and say 9 out of 10. Absolutely.