Gone are the days, it took the whole community to raise a child. Nowadays, if you discipline a child, the parents will tell you to mind your own business.

I remember once, a parent confronted a teacher, even upon realising her son did something wrong. She told the teacher: “I don’t blame you…if you are married and have children, you will understand what it means.”

The issue is not bringing a child into the world… even during one-time sex, a woman can become pregnant. Unprotected sex is a panel and the womb is a channel, both determine your fate if there are no precautions.

The question, is the individual is ready to shoulder the responsibilities of parenthood?

A few days ago, a girl lost her life when a fire gutted a house in a community I lived. She was referred to as an “Unidentified corpse” because the man who picked her for transactional sex didn’t even know her name. What began as an ordinary day ended in unimaginable sorrow for a family…if at all they will get to know them!

That’s the issue…..

A society does not just collapse overnight, it slowly weakens when morals and values are neglected. The children we fail to raise well today will become the adults who would rule our communities tomorrow.

When respect, discipline, honesty and responsibility are no longer taught at home, schools, religious centres, the consequences backfires on the society.

Most parents are busy chasing survival, and because there is no chance, some of these children glue to social media, and strangers.

If you like the stack of all the denomination of cash in your bank account, you can buy the best things of life for your children, but if you don’t raise them with good morals and values, they will be like a doughnut. Think deeply.

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An old proverb says: “It is the carelessness of a man that makes the roof of the house to leak. Whether it is the man or woman, let’s borrow some sense from these words of wisdom.

A roof does not suddenly collapse, it begins with a crack that you ignored. It is the same thing that happens in our lives.

A considerable number of people – including you – and I have passed through this phase.

We procrastinate about things that we should have done a long time ago. We are quick to blame circumstances but forget that we failed to carry out small responsibilities.

Life teaches us that prevention is cheaper than trying to repair things that are broken. So learn to pay attention to the little things that matter.

If you are in a relationship, pay attention to your partner; don’t wait till the love is dead cold. Then you start running around every counselling unit to rekindle the flame. If you neglect affection, that relationship will leak.

A wise person will not wait for the storm to come before climbing the roof. In the family circle, if you don’t raise the children with love and carry everyone along with good communication, the bond of trust will leak.

Friendship leaks when pride and jealousy replaces humility and sincerity. You gossip and put your friends down, then expect them to be nice to you… No! No! No!

Same thing with character….Your off-the-wall attitude does not allow anyone to get along with you… because you feel they should take you the way you are.

Carelessness has a price and someone will pay for it. The little things we ignore today can become a big issue in the future. Therefore, be careful with your decisions, relationships, health and time. Be wise.

• A Tell Media report / By Mfon Etile / The writer works at University of Calabar, Nigeria