Keep authority even when children pay the bills, Biodun Stephen urges parents

Nollywood filmmaker, Biodun Stephen, has urged Nigerian parents to retain their authority and parental responsibilities, even when their children become the primary earners in the family..

Stephen, recognized for her thought-provoking films, shared this advice in a post on her Instagram page on Sunday, encouraging parents to uphold discipline and guidance irrespective of financial situations.

She stated, “Poverty does not lessen the importance of effective parenting. Just because your child is the breadwinner does not mean that the responsibility of parenting shifts to them, as long as that child is still legally recognized as a child under your household rules.

The filmmaker acknowledged that circumstances in life can sometimes lead children to become the main providers in a household, but she emphasized that this change should not obscure parental boundaries.

“Certainly, life can lead to a situation where the child becomes the breadwinner, but that does not mean we, as parents, should forget our roles and start following the child’s lead.

Stephen mentioned that her post was inspired by a documentary she recently viewed, which illustrated how parents often lose their moral authority once a child starts contributing financially to the family.

“I watched a documentary that deeply affected me, and I see how this situation unfolds here, even on social media. Parents, fulfill your responsibilities regardless.”